This week’s test drive is the all-new 2012 Cadillac Escalade E-S-V, when a REGULAR Escalade just isn’t enough. The first thing I have to get across to you is size. The E-S-V is 20-inches longer than a regular Escalade. Think Chevy Suburban, but the similarity ends there. Carrying up to 8 in luxury, it’s big step up from your mini-van. Speaking of big steps up, running boards automatically fold out to greet you as you step into this tall ride sitting atop beautiful 22-inch wheels. Inside, you’re greeted by leather stitched seats, a leather-clad dashboard, real wood trim, cup holders that heat or cool, and mirrors that warn if someone’s in your blind spot. This quiet super comfortable cabin also has a huge amount of cargo space. Your view outside is lit by brilliant L-E-D headlamps – the first of their kind. Performance is incredible. The 6.2 liter V8 gives this huge Flex-Fuel SUV a 0-60 time of 6.8 seconds. Handling is great, with road-sensing suspension that adjusts in the blink of an eye. There’s a lot to like in this vehicle and, with a sticker of $85,000 in our top-of-the-line Platinum version, there should be.
Enjoy this nice video of car dealer Tim Miller as he takes you on a tour of the fantastic 2012 Escalade ESV. Tim’s with Schwan GM Auto Center in North Dakota.
Let’s face it…there’s a lot of pent-up demand for new cars. People have been sitting on their wallets but it looks like people are buying again. We don’t see blockbuster numbers but it’s encouraging that sales have been up for the past six months. Read more about it here.
Free Gas! Wow, now that would be a great deal. But it’s, essentially, the same deal I’m getting when I plug the electric car I’m driving into a public charger. As an incentive, the chargers I’ve plugged into have not cost me a penny. I don’t own an electric, but I’m currently testing a Chevy Volt and had a Nissan LEAF a few weeks ago. They’re great cars and, along with the free gas…I mean electricity…I’m getting all charged up. Read more about my experience at charging stations here.
Sometimes, you have to drive with your ears. Listen to that roar. It’s the V6, 24 valve sound of the Infiniti G37X…a luxury sport sedan that gives you 328 horsepower and All Wheel Drive. The G37 handles great, and though the ride has a stiffer, sporty feel, it’s just want you want in a car like this. Any concerns about giving up comfort went out the window when we took the G37 on a road trip. Two hours, from highways to country roads, and we found the cabin pretty quiet, the car responsive, a thrill to drive, and the sporty seats a comfortable fit. Our G37X All Wheel Drive Limited Edition carried a sticker price of nearly 45-thousand dollars. But the G37 starts at only $36,200. Compare that with some of the competing luxury sports sedans and you’ll see that you get a lot for your money with the G37. Learn more at the Infinity site.
Take a quick ride with us in the Juke! The Juke’s aggressive styling is a blend of curved steel, eye catching tail lights and a bold front end with turn signals mounted high. Inside, the red center console, inspired by a motorcycle gas tank, leaps out at you. Press the start button and you find the Juke is as much fun to drive as it is to look at. The All Wheel Drive sure footedness impressed me during my test drives. So did the pickup, the feel of the ride and the finish of the interior. The Juke ride was a little harsh on rough roads but wasn’t a deal breaker. The peppy Juke has a 4 cylinder 1.6 liter turbo, gets 27 to 32 miles per gallon. Our All Wheel Drive version had a sticker price of $24,000. The Juke offers fun, sporty, economical performance.
This says it all. Fired up my original 1987 Mac SE with a 20 megabyte hard drive. It could hold about 2 of today’s digital photos. The smiling Mac face tells you this is not MS-DOS. “I’m your friend…this is gonna be fun.” That’s what Steve Jobs built into all these products that so many of us have embraced. I like to say he gave technology a soul. A great user experience every time. What was your first Apple experience that wowed you? Music, video, publishing? Thanks, Steve.
Hurricane names are taken from six lists of names that rotate. Here are the lists of names. If a hurricane extremely destructive it’s dropped from the list. The names reflect the names that are common to the regions affected. Here’s a great Hurricane Irene video from NASA. IRENE
I’ve never had a good answer from cell phone companies as to why they won’t instantly turn a stolen phone into a paperweight. Each phone has an electronic serial number and the companies can use that ID to render the phone useless. Wiping a sim card clean, yanking the phone number, are all nice ideas but making the phone useless would be even better and help deter crime. Apparently, they do it in Europe and one US Senator is pushing for it here. He says it’ll help cut down on cell phone thefts. The Trib has the story.
