The 2009 model vehicles began emerging early in 2008, showing technology buffs what they like to see, lots of new gadgets and innovations designed to make the cars safer and more fun to drive. Their websites also show some interest in environmental and economy issues, but fun, luxury, good looks and performance seem to have top priority.
Keep in mind that most of these vehicles were probably designed before consumers started worrying about four-dollar-a-gallon gasoline.
The early 2009 lineup includes the Toyota Venza, the Subaru Forester, the Lincoln MKS, the Honda Pilot, the Cadillac CTS-V and the Nissan Maxima. Some of them have been shown in auto shows, some have been seen in a few television commercials, but their full profiles were found on their sophisticated websites.
Much of the New Technology Still Being Sold as Options
According to their imagemakers, they’re all "all new," but the newness and innovation vary from model to model. Much of the newest technology is still being sold as optional equipment on some models.
Nissan describes its 2009 Maxima 4-door sedan as "thrilling" and "sophisticated" with such features as:
- Rear sports seats
- An " Intelligent Key" that unlocks the door and starts the car with the touch of a button,
- Bluetooth hands-free calling,
- Touchscreen navigation
- Bose audio with Ipod interface and 9.3 gigabyte music box hard drive.
Subaru hopes to sell its 2009 Forester with a new theme, "Love is what makes a Subaru a Subaru." One Subaru website video shows a melancholy owner of an old Forester driving it to a tree-shaded spot in the country called "Subaru Heaven," aka a junk yard. There, he says, the old car has "a chance to live on, one part at a time." Then he is off to purchase a new Forester featuring all-wheel drive, a safety pedal system and a "low-emission engine."
Ford is selling the "intelligence" built into its 2009 Lincoln MKS. It has "Intelligent Access" with its push button starting system and an "Intelligent All Wheel Drive System" to give it "enhanced road grip." According to the Lincoln web page, Adaptive Headlamps "turn up to 20 degrees with the steering wheel angle and vehicle speed to light the road ahead." It’s auto high beam switches to high intensity when there are no other vehicles nearby.
Honda's website promotes its 2009 Pilot as "Ride Ready." Features include:
- Side mirror turn signals for additional safety
- An "acoustic" windshield to reduces outside noise
- A display system which shows, among other things, when tire pressure is significantly low
- Front head restaints which move forward and up when the car experiences significant rear end impact
- Side curtain airbags to provide protection in case of a side collision or rollover
Toyota says on its website that its 2009 Venza "will raise the crossover vehicle to new levels by combining a unique blend of sedan refinement and sport utility vehicle functionality." It is targeted at North American "active ‘boomers’ and young couples with small families." The Japanese company boasts that the Venza was designed in California, engineered in Michigan and assembled in Kentucky
Cadillac promotes the technology and power of its 2009 CTS-V. Its V-8 engine will deliver 550 horsepower. The Cadillac website also boasts of its " Magnetic Ride Control, an industry-first Performance Traction Management program and the addition of a new automatic transmission with paddle-shift control."
References: Lincoln.com, Cadillac.com, Nissan.com, Subaru.com, Toyota.com and Honda.com websites.
For more information on 2009 and 2008 models see Advertising 2009 Model Cars and Best Luxury Sedans of 2008.
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