Hummer a Big Hit at the Hospital with Kids

Hospitals across the United States have received donated hundreds of child-sized, HUMMER battery-operated vehicles to their pediatric units. The vehicles are being donated by HUMMER dealerships under a program called "Courageous Kids." The HUMMERs are used by young patients who may "drive" themselves into surgery or for other medical procedures. The goal of Courageous Kids is to help reduce the anxiety that frightened children often experience when undergoing medical treatment.

"We believe this mode of transportation definitely beats a gurney ride and can help take young patients' minds off their fears," said Martin Walsh, HUMMER general manager. To date, hospitals in Michigan, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Washington, and Texas have begun replacing gurney rides with self-driven HUMMER rides in style.

Ford Syncs Up With California Laws

As California prepares to go "hands-free" this summer, Ford is ready to help the 29.7 million cell phone subscribers in California with its state-of-the-art Sync in-car communications and entertainment system, developed with Microsoft. California drivers don't have to buy a new bluetooth handsfree headset to comply with the law if they already own a Sync-equipped Ford vehicle.

Ford Sync provides consumers the convenience and flexibility to bring digital media players - Apple iPods, Microsoft Zunes, and other MP3 players - and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones into their vehicle and operate the devices via voice commands or with the vehicle's steering wheel or radio controls.

"Americans, on average, commute 30 minutes each way every day, and in California, commute times are longer," said Hal Dewsnap, Los Angeles regional manager Ford, Lincoln Mercury. "Sync  helps people stay connected while minimizing distractions during their commute by keeping their hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road ahead."

Carnival of Female Friendly Dealers, Part Two

by Ask Patty Staff
Wouldn't it be great if you could walk into a dealership as a woman and have a pleasurable buying experience? We certainly think so! And because it's so important to Ask Patty, we make sure there are dealerships all across the country that are certified as "female friendly"! These Certified Female Friendly dealerships have undergone special training to create a safe and comfortable environment where women feel welcome. Ask Patty trained and certified dealers are also held to a high level of customer satisfaction to help make a woman's experience of purchasing and maintaining her vehicle a pleasant one.  You can use the AskPatty dealer search on to easily find one in your area. Let's meet some of our newly certified dealers around the country!

Carnival of New Female Friendly Dealers, Part One

by Ask Patty Staff
Wouldn't it be great if you could walk into a dealership as a woman and have a pleasurable buying experience? We certainly think so! And because it's so important to Ask Patty, we make sure there are dealerships all across the country that are certified as "female friendly"! These Certified Female Friendly dealerships have undergone special training to create a safe and comfortable environment where women feel welcome. Ask Patty trained and certified dealers are also held to a high level of customer satisfaction to help make a woman's experience of purchasing and maintaining her vehicle a pleasant one.  You can use the AskPatty dealer search on to easily find one in your area. Let's meet some of our newly certified dealers around the country!

America’s Wackiest Signs

Hagerty Insurance, a collector car and boat insurer, conducted a nationwide contest for America’s funniest, craziest and most outrageous road signs. Hagerty customers across the U.S. submitted nearly 250 photos of road signs, local business signs and homemade signs.

“Our national contest was launched during the peak travel season so we could garner the best signs from across the country in a variety of settings,” says Hagerty Insurance CEO McKell Hagerty.

Day Three NAIAS - Diversity Driven By Design in Detroit

GM held a very interesting panel of designers and media all with multicultural backgrounds and perspectives on how their backgrounds influence new vehicle designs and are they reflective of the preferences of the urban , LGBT, minority and female car buyers. These are segments auto makers can no longer afford to ignore with their tremendous buying power in the ever changing and fiercely competitive landscape they are all facing in 2008 and beyond.

GM has a commitment within their own design teams to be inclusive and increase this influence by hiring more multicultural talent and nurturing their ideas. It was one of the most interesting panel discussions I have attended the past few years and gave me much to reflect on about how AskPatty.com can do a better job reaching the multicultural woman car buyer in 2008.

NAIAS Day Two - Green, Green is Green They Say in Detroit

My day started out at the GM OnStar Radio Station with a rather heated debate on live radio with Cliff Banks of Wards Dealer Business, host Harry Douglas of Car Concerns, Peter Oppewall of www.evtransportal.com,  a very informative site about alternatives in transportation,  and myself about whether car buyers really want green cars or are we being forced into greener more eco-friendly choices by our government, 35 MPH cafe standards and auto makers or do car buyers really care more about fuel economy, less dependence on petroleum based fuels or protecting the environment, how about you??? Almost every manufacture here in Detroit during NAIAS is introducing or chattering about their fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles announced and/or coming soon during this show.

A very strong message that the auto makers  as a whole are committed to giving us all many more green car choices, very encouraging and exciting stuff! Do you want to go green and will you pay a bit more for a green vehicle even if you will make it back over the life of the vehicle in cost savings on fuel? There are some real beauties just on the horizon......please leave your comments on this topic!

NAIAS 2008 Day One Show Coverage Live From Detroit

Reporting live from Detroit and NAIAS on all the new unveiling and happenings here at the auto show. Much talk and excitement over the many new choices in environmentally friendly vehicles, wild design concept cars and elegant new designs.

The Chevrolet Malibu is the 2008 North American Car of the Year, and the Mazda CX-9 is the 2008 North American Truck of the Year.

Fashionistas Strut Their Stuff at GM Style Event 2008

Although the cars were to be the stars at this years GM Style event, it appeared to me to be Detroit Fashion Week and a fashion extravaganza for the women AND men in attendance and on stage, a visual smorgasboard of beauty, class and style on display.  Designer labels from Prada to Chanel paraded, primped and posed in a array of fashion statements on this chilly evening on the riverfront in Detroit, upstaging the GM 2008 line-up of vehicles just a bit in my book.

Kid Rock did Rock the house as did Mary J. Blidge as GM North American President Troy Clarke and many other GM executives who came from all parts of the global GM organization to attend; Maureen Kempson Darkes - GM President Middle East, Africa and Latin America, Terry Johnsson who was was promoted to GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East vice president, Middle East Operations, on June 1, 2007 , Jill Lajdiack - General Manger Saturn, Ed Peper - General Manager Chevrolet, Carlos Barba head of design for GM Brazil and many more all beaming with pleasure and I am sure pride at yet another successful kick off for the North American International Auto Show 2008. GM and their 2008 vehicle line-up has got some style going on!

It doesn't get any more chic than GM Style, a glitzy kickoff to the North American International Auto Show packed with an estimated 1,800 invitation-only guests.

( Kid Rock)

They're On a Roll: Sweet Chihuahua Pups Get Some Wheels!

 For those who follow the progress of North Shore Animal League America's famous Chihuahua trio, Venus, Carmen and Pablo, there's news: these charming dogs, born without their front legs and rescued by the League from a Virginia shelter, now have front-wheel drive, in the form of carts that will assist their mobility.

The three have been practicing getting about and eating using their new, custom-built, aluminum carts with Velcro-held polar fleece padding for comfortable body support and lightweight foam wheels. Constructed by Eddie's Wheels of Shelburne Falls, MA, the carts, used for 10-minute periods at a time, help the dogs maneuver and eliminate some of the stress on their lower spines from walking on their hind legs and from the lack of proper posture

 

Celebrate Hometown Heroes with the Volvo for Life Awards

Forty semi-finalists in the 6th Annual Volvo for life Awards are waiting for your vote. Nominees are in the running for a $100,000 charitable contribution and a Volvo car for life. You can vote for winners in four categories: Safety, Quality of Life, Environment, and the Butterfly Award (youth only). Cast your votes before January 7, 2008 and celebrate the season of giving!

Volvo Cars of North America will award three finalists in each category, based on your votes. One top winner in each category will receive $100,000 for their charities. Two runners-up in each will receive $25,000. And one top winner will get the "America's Greatest Hometown Hero" title and a new Volvo car every three years -- for life!

Ask Patty Around the World Blog Carnival: December 19, 2007

Welcome back to the AskPatty Blog Carnival where Wednesdays provide a midweek fix of interesting automotive tidbits from around the blogosphere. Hanukkah is past and we're ramping up for Christmas, so grab your red Santa hat and take a sleigh ride around the Auto world with Patty.

Suni over at Vox.com is lamenting her truck's dead battery. Get yourself into the Christmas caroling spirit and sing along with her: "Tis the season to get lifted: ha ha ha ha ha, ha ha, ha..... ha! Guess I will have to get the horse riding apparel and spurs together now. My truck battery is DEAD." We know your pain Suni.

We searched Google for 'pink cars' again, and this week we found a pink car auction. In this month's listings, serendipitously has got a pink 1971 Datsun, a pink Daihatsu, a pink BMW, and a pink Mitsubishi. Dig deep to find the pink accessories and the piece de resistance, a Pepto-Pink Bugatti Veyron. No shortage of pink cars here. No Ma'am.

In Women We Trust asks "Is the tail wagging the dog, or have WE become the dog?" She continues, saying "The power shift is happening, to people first and then it will settle in on women's ideals...Never thought I'd say this, but thanks George, because of you the public now knows for sure that it can inspire, teach, and lead itself very nicely and in an orderly fashion.

Here at AskPatty, we work with a lot of different manufacturers, and always appreciate the assistance their PR reps provide us when we need information about their products. Jason Vines, Chrysler's PR chief, was among our favorites: His outspoken style frequently got him in the headlines, though for the most part, his comic personality worked to his advantage. Sadly, Jason made a sudden departure last week leaving many journalists to wonder what happened. All Cars All The Time is just one of the many blogs to comment on his exit, and even posted a classic Vines Video to help us celebrate his unique personality. See you real soon, Jason!

Welcome to Mootown. The Detroit Auto Show (aka NAIAS) will be held in just a few weeks, and the Detroit Free Press says Chrysler wants to herd cattle down Jefferson Avenue help unveil the redesigned Dodge Ram. "It could look like 'Red River,' " a person in on the idea said, referring to the classic John Wayne Western. Chrysler is known for its showmanship, particularly at the annual auto show at Detroit's Cobo Center.

Speaking of Detroit, Ford invited a large group of journalists to its Quality Center at the Rouge River plant last week to give us a sneak peek at some of the products the company will display at January's NAIAS show. The Detroit News presents a nice summary of the information they are allowed to share. For the rest, we'll all just have to wait until the embargos break.

I don't know which I like more about Jalopnik: their editors' satirical reporting, or their readers' satirical commentary. In either case, here's something from the Jalopnik dudes on a new system Mercedes-Benz is developing that can determine whether a driver is restless or sleepy, and offers audible warnings to alert them. It's a useful system, but Jalopnik thinks it should offer more, saying "How about linking up with a GPS system to force the car to stop at the nearest convenience store for an energy kick, or maybe automatically rolling down all of the windows?"

Did you know that the color of your car can reveal quite a bit about your personality? Well, a report at news.theage.com.auto shares information from SheBuys.com.au, an online car magazine for women, that claims red cars are (unsurprisingly) for those who see themselves as outgoing and fiery, while black signals stylish and mysterious, and grey or silver are the hardworking and ambitious ones. My sedan is "Mystic Blue," which is supposed to mean reliable and calm. Calm? Have you read our blog on hugs, not horns?   

The Wall Street Journal reports that Honda plans to launch a small car by 2009 that uses a new "affordable" gas-electric hybrid engine as well as diesel-powered versions of its larger vehicles as part of a strategy to improve fuel-efficiency of its U.S. models. With the new subcompact hybrid, WSJ says Honda is aiming to cut the hybrid premium to less than $2000 -- about what a consumer pays for a satellite-based navigation system as optional added equipment.

According to the Washington Post, WANADA, a 225-member group, is a major force in terms of its political power and the nearly $12.25 billion its members contribute annually to the region's economy. But the story here is WANADA's new chairwoman: Tamara C. "Tammy" Darvish, 44, one of the most powerful women in the nation's auto retail business. Read more about Tammy at the Washington Post.

Andrea Learned comments on cars, houses, and philanthropic practices inspired by women, saying, "It is amazing what details filter up from within a gathering of female architects and female homebuyers in a very male-dominated industry." She also exclaims that it's "amazing how women inspired the Malibu,

Here's something fun as we wrap up this week's carnival: Joshua Held and The Compass Group have animated a fun flash video of Santa and his Reindeer chorus singing a rousing rendition of "White Christmas." We especially liked the Reindeer solo, but that Santa can surely sing! Merry Christmas to all our AskPatty friends and family.

Ask Patty Around the World Blog Carnival: December 5, 2007

Ho Ho Ho! Here's your first Holiday treat from AskPatty! We're moving our Blog Carnival to Wednesdays for a midweek fix of interesting automotive tidbits from around the blogosphere.


The Car Blog brings us this tidbit about a second collaboration between Volkswagen of America, Inc. and First Act. The two companies are joining to support Operation Happy Note, a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to sending deployed soldiers musical instruments, by donating 250 First Act electric guitars and amps to those service men and women expressing an interest in music. Operation Happy Note has received hundreds of requests for instruments from soldiers stationed overseas.

On the way to Thanksgiving dinner, this blogger's  "Service Engine Soon" light lit up on her dashboard and she spent a good while fretting over what it might mean. Her service manager told her that that women are generally better than men at actually following recommended maintenance on their vehicles, including paying attention to warning lights. He speculated that men think they can take care of things themselves but underestimate how complicated automotive work is these days - and end up having caused more damage by ignoring the routine and early warning signs. Waddoyaknowaboudat?

Maserati Quattroporte, the $115,000-worth sedan, with 400 horses under the hood, boasts of a mix of power and prestige in chic Italian doses. But, according to a post at bloodycar.blogspot.com,  the automaker has seen a growing number of women coming into dealerships ready to buy the car. "There are a lot of reasons a woman would like the Quattroporte automatic," said Maserati Spokesman Jeff Ehoodin. "They are much more pragmatic and that leads them to the sedan, and the automatic transmission certainly makes it more appealing because it is easier to drive. And look at it, it's beautiful." Yes, it is. I'll take mine in red.

This just in from Springwise:  Catering to urban dwellers in North America and the UK, Zipcar's car sharing fleet is rentable by the hour with gas and insurance included. Which allows customers to use the vehicles whenever they need them. To make finding those cars easier, Zipcar has unveiled a new mobile tracking system. How it works? Suppose a Zipcar member buys an expensive antique chair at a shop in Soho (be it New York or London). To find a car to haul it home in, they simply access Zipcar with a GPS-enabled cell phone to find the nearest vehicle and make an instant reservation, unlock the car by pressing the company's membership card to the windshield. Customer takes home the chair, then returns the car to a designated parking space. How easy is that?

Cynthia D'Amour recently received an invitation to attend Michigan State's Business School's 42nd annual executive forum. However, she noticed that all seven speakers were men. She was flabbergasted that in 2007 the MSU Business School believes it is okay to create a major business seminar with no women as part of the program. Hmmm....

Bob Kocher at the Daytona Daily News shares an informative feature on the recent development of electric vehicles, from Porsche's debut of an electric vehicle at the Paris World's Fair, to Tesla's high-end electric Porsche beater, to Chevrolet's future Volt electric beater. You're sure to get a charge out of it....

According to this news release at BodyshopBiz five female industry leaders were recently honored at the ninth annual Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry Awards program held in Las Vegas.  "The Most Influential Women program recognizes outstanding leadership in the collision repair industry and sets an example for others to follow," said Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes Americas director of marketing, Tim Loden. "Our 2007 honorees reflect great passion and commitment, and they challenge each of us to make a difference in the area of the industry that we serve." Way to go, ladies!

Hey, check  out ZChickZ.com,  a site dedicated to women who drive Datsun and Nissan Z cars. Saying the every member brings something to give the site its unique character, it's a fun place where women can share their passion for driving in the Z car tradition! It includes aftermarket tuning tips, photo galleries, and much more. Cruise on by and share some of the Z-car love.

According to the Ventura County Star,   branding and diversity were the focus of this female BMW executive's speech at a recent at California Lutheran University Corporate Leaders Breakfast. Verena Kloos, president of BMW Group DesignworksUSA was the first female speaker in the three-year history of the breakfast series, where she spoke about how brands proliferate in our society. As president of DesignworksUSA, she has been recognized as one of the "100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry" by Automotive News. CLU Interim President Howie Wennes called her "one of the most effective women in the automotive industry today."

Yahoo!@ Autos partners with Forbes to post a great article on what author Bengt Halvorson feels are the "Best- And Worst-Selling Vehicles Of 2007." Describing them as the 10 sets of wheels sprinting off showroom floors, and the 10 languishing on lots, the feature is illustrated by slide shows of all the vehicles included. Number one best selling? Ford F-150. Number one worst selling? Cadillac XLR. 

Ask Patty Around the Auto World Blog Carnival: November 27, 2007

Thanksgiving is past and we've all enjoyed our day of thanks and feasting, so while you're nibbling on the very last of the leftovers, why not relax with the AskPatty blog carnival? It's full of informative automotive tidbits and it won't expand your waistline.

According to msnbc.msn.com, a telling - and very Californian - scene unfolded at last week's Los Angeles Auto Show. Carmakers showed cleaner cars ranging from GM's hybrid Silverado pickup truck to Volkswagen's clean-diesel Jetta and Honda's FCX Clarity zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle.


His or hers? Women are in driver's seat when it comes to car sales, says Cosby Woodruff, calling most of the shots when buying a car and knowing what features they want in a vehicle. Nobody at AskPatty is surprised to hear this!

"He said, she said," part one:  Christopher Barger, General Motors' director of social media brought the GM brand to a "Manic Mommies Escape Weekend." He said "while being the only man in the room for the entire gathering made me the natural target of much good-natured ribbing and banter, I can say unequivocally that I was made a welcome member of the group." Cool. Christopher, you're welcome at AskPatty, too!

"He said, she said," part two: The first Manic Mommies Escape is over, and already they're thinking about what went well and what they could've done better. Sponsor Christopher Barger from GM, the only man in the room, was a great sport, taking the "husband bashing" in stride. Those Manic Mommies also like Christopher!

The Porsche Sport Driving School in Alabama has inaugurated classes exclusively for women. Denise McCluggage participated in the initial two-day program held September 18-19 at the school's gorgeous campus, the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham. One difference about the women-only group, says chief instructor Rich Hull: "The first day, they're a little tentative. Steep learning curve. The second day releases smiles of attainment as capability blossoms--along with plans to return."

Bengt Halvorson of Forbes identifies the "Year's Poorest-Performing Cars," saying "These 10 sets of wheels are the market's biggest losers--unreliable, fastest-depreciating, least safe and most recalled... Besides a standout number of recalls, we looked specifically for below-average reliability, high depreciation, and NHTSA ratings below four stars and/or IIHS results of "Marginal" or "Poor." If you're shopping for a car, don't skip this one.

Chop Shop Customs shares AAA's Assessment Tool for Senior Drivers, saying "AAA Roadwise Review: A Tool to Help Seniors Drive Safely Longer is a scientifically validated screening tool developed by AAA and noted transportation safety researchers. This tool allows seniors to measure, in the privacy of their own home, the eight functional abilities shown to be the strongest predictors of crash risk among older drivers." If you're questioning the skills of an elderly driver, this is an informative article.

In this interesting item, Popular Mechanics showcases the top five Next-Gen Cop Car gadgets saying "Hollywood and CSI notwithstanding, enforcing the law isn't a particularly high-tech endeavor. But a piecemeal revolution is underway, with individual agencies testing a variety of gadgets for their patrol vehicles."

In a second collaboration between Volkswagen of America, Inc. and First Act, the two will support Operation Happy Note, a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated solely to sending deployed soldiers musical instruments, by donating 250 electric guitars and amps to those service men and women expressing an interest in music. Cool!


This just in from Mother Jones: Suckers Wanted: How Car Dealers and Other Businesses are Taking Away Your Right to Sue. Mandatory arbitration provisions, forcing people to waive their legal rights, have become standard fare in consumer contracts. Now, Congress is beginning to push back--and the business community is mobilizing for a fight. Wow.

Mazda CX-9 Named SEAMO 2008 Family Car of the Year

The South East Automotive Media Organization (SEAMO) recently honored the 2008 Mazda CX-9 with the inaugural “Family Car of the Year Award” during the group’s sixth annual media ride and drive event, held at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia.

“We are honored to receive this inaugural award from journalists in the southeast,” says Dave Sweet, group manager, Product Strategies, Mazda North American Operations. “The CX-9 3.7L is our newest and most exciting vehicle that combines the utility of a family vehicle with seating for seven, and the power and ‘zoom-zoom’ of a sports car. With a new blind spot monitoring system for 2008, we know that families and fun seekers will enjoy the ride while benefiting from the many safety features. Family cars should be a joy to drive and this award demonstrates that fun and functionality make a winning combination.”

Vehicles were judged on family friendliness through eight categories: safety, capacity, accessibility, value, amenities, ergonomics, NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) and styling. A maximum score of 100 points could be awarded for each ballot. The CX-9 scored 91.

National MS Society Recognizes Key Contributors - Susan Rokosz, Ford Motor Engineer Honored

Southfield, Mich., November 19, 2007  - Birmingham resident Pat McDonald, the past President of the National MS Society, Michigan Chapter, has been recognized for her 28 years of service and personal contributions in the fight to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis (MS). This newly created award, entitled the Patricia A. McDonald Legacy Award, will be held in her name and presented to others who follow in her footsteps through lifelong efforts on behalf of people with MS.

McDonald, who still contributes her time and expertise as a volunteer for the Society, is greatly respected and admired.

The award was presented at the National MS Society’s 2007 Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Luncheon held at the Troy Hilton Hotel.

Also recognized was Birmingham resident Susan Rokosz, Ford Motor Engineer, and major player in development of the da Vinci Awards fund raiser benefiting the National MS Society. Now in its eighth year, the da Vinci Awards salute an approach to the design of products, services and environments to be usable by as many people as possible regardless of age, ability or circumstance.

“We congratulate these women for their accomplishments and vigorous efforts on behalf of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society,” remarked Elana Sullivan, the new president of the National MS Society, Michigan Chapter.
   
For every dollar donated to the local National MS Society Chapter, 87% goes to research, programs and services for more than 18,000 people living with MS in Michigan.

MS stops people from moving.  The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t.  We help each person address the challenges of living with MS through our 50 state network of chapters.  We fund more MS research, provide more services to people with MS, offer more professional education and further more advocacy than any other MS organization in the world.  The Society is dedicated to achieving a world free of MS. We are people who want to do something about MS now. Join the movement at www.nationalmssociety.org.

Dubai Motor Show Sights, Sounds and Highlights

The Dubai Motor Show, which ends today, has proved a success all round, with impulsive motor heads buying with the heart (as well as with huge wedges of cash, obviously) and a promising turnout of visitors and trade representatives every day.

Attracting the biggest crowds were the numerous ostentatious offerings, namely muscle cars, concept designs and custom-made dream machines, which appeared more at home on a mantelpiece than Sheikh Zayed Road.

Most people flock to the Dubai Motor Show for that wow factor, and to take a first-hand look at cars they have little chance of ever being able to afford. There seemed little point, then, of the mid-range models, such as people carriers and about-town runabouts, bothering to turn up. After all, why would you want to go and gawk at a Peugeot 308, when you could sit in traffic and watch hundreds of similar vehicles for free?

It was a week for the high rollers of the motor world, including Aston Martin, BMW, Bentley, Ferrari and Lamborghini, as well as some new unveilings for the region.

Luxury living is the theme here in Dubai and the Dubai Motor Show reflected this and more and in all ways. Here is a pictorial of some of the sights, sounds and highlights, a virtual eye candy feast for the eyes of this American Car Girl.