By now, just about everyone has seen some of the various television commercials that feature the new Dodge Dart. Some people have complained that the edgy advertising campaign has proven to be annoying. Nevertheless, it has helped Dodge to set the new vehicle apart from countless other cars in the same class. Nevertheless, customers should never buy a car solely on advertising anyway.

Sources say that the 2013 Dodge Dart will get 41 mpg with the Aero Package. Drivers might see this as an ironic situation. Optional extras usually drive down fuel efficiency numbers. Dodge says that the Aero modification is an implementation of “MultiAir Technology,” which apparently delivers the best combustion possible at any speed. This appears to largely be focused on increasing low engine rpm torque.

A 2-liter automatic Dart is only rated at 35 mpg highway. While this might still be a fairly decent figure, the efficiency drops down to 24 mpg in the city. A few commentators have criticized Dodge for including obsolete technology in the design. On the other hand, those same people weren’t so quick to criticize the Aero package. It seems that most of the criticisms focus on Dodge’s marketing campaigns as opposed to the vehicle itself.

Louvers in the grill are installed to control the rate of combustion on cars that feature the package. This is a huge boon to those who drive at a constant speed. A good deal of literature has been written extolling the virtues of hybrid cars. However, this package proves that the conventional engine is still going strong. Many drivers will probably opt for something like this if they feel that the boost in fuel economy is worth the money.

Optional extras are usually a waste. They reduce the efficiency of automobiles. Some drivers who are looking for purely practical rides will even opt for manual windows if they can. Each extra adds something more to the car that can go wrong. Dodge has a long way to go to convince levelheaded drivers that they need an additional extra. However, the Aero package is a good start towards developing a better class of conventional car.

Drivers may end up flocking to this sort of thing in droves. Considering the current state of the industry, Dodge might want to make a few changes to their marketing scheme. On the other hand, market figures could eventually prove that the critics were completely wrong the whole time.

Drivers can seldom say that practicality and sports cars go hand in hand, but the Toyota 86 proves that they can. Whether one wants to call it a Scion FR-S or the Hachi-Roku, this coupe is surprisingly useful. While it may only have two doors, they open up quite wide. This means that drivers would have a decent opportunity to fit things into the vehicle. The back seats fold down, which can help to increase storage space when trying to transport larger items.

The fuel economy is the most amazing feature of this car. The combined fuel economy actually exceeds 30 mpg. Highway economy exceeds 40 mpg. This is pretty impressive for what’s marketed as a sports car. However, Toyota had to make some cuts to ensure that the economy and cargo space were kept within acceptable limits.

When drivers take a look at Scion FR-S models on the lot, they’ll notice how limited their options really are. They can choose automatic or manual transmission, and some come with shift paddles on the steering wheel. There’s only one interior color, and there are only seven stock paint choices. Toyota was clearly thinking practicality when they designed the vehicle.

Many drivers will associate these changes with the austerity measures everyone seems to be taking these days. Everyone has been asked to tighten his or her belt a bit. However, one might ask if car companies should have really been doing this sort of thing all along. After all, a lot of optional extras are really unnecessary. While regular drivers might want a flashy car, they still look for reliability and sensible design.

Most people wouldn’t associate a four-cylinder boxer engine with a sports car, and Toyota is certainly taking a risk with this model. Hatchback vehicles are becoming popular, and these utility cars are sort of aimed at the same demographic as the Scion FR-S. However, that doesn’t mean that something this unique isn’t going to attract a following.

Plenty of safety features come standard in the car. Even though it’s not exactly a stereotypical soccer mom vehicle, Toyota might think to try and market some of the more mundane points of the Hachi-Roku’s design. They’re trying to prove that style and ordinary features can exist in the same body. Whether the 86 will make waves in the industry or sink to the bottom has yet to be seen, but drivers shouldn’t be surprised if other auto manufacturers try to bolster sales by offering similar vehicles.

Hyundai and Kia were known as affordable economy brands for the longest time. While they are both coming into their own, Kia is now threatening to come out ahead with a new hatchback model. Both companies started to post substantial sales figures around five years ago. These figures were given a boost because of the low cost of ownership. Hyundai and Kia were also known as reliable brands. No one should go around messing with a formula that works. However, Kia is bucking the system and developing a European style hatchback that some commentators feel is reminiscent of the VW Golf.

The vehicle is apparently based on the Kia Ceed. North American drivers may not be familiar with this vehicle since it has made much more of an impact in foreign markets. Ceed motor vehicles have been made in Russian and Ukrainian factories, but Kia must not have felt that the model had sufficient sales figures to end up on US lots. This might have saved them from irritating drivers who prefer to purchase new cars made in the United States. Companies like Kia and Hyundai have built many facilities in the United States, and this has certainly helped their popularity. If the new hatchback does land in American dealerships, Kia might want to produce the car here.

Interestingly enough, the engine could be slightly underpowered. Theta II 2.0-liter engine blocks generate 274 hp in the Kia Optima. The new hatchback probably wouldn’t feature a full sized Theta II. Then again, anything in that horsepower range is impressive. While Kia motor vehicles might be stereotyped as family cars, they’re actually pretty powerful. Advertising executives could play this up, especially if they want to go up against the used markets.

There are probably plenty of used VW hatchbacks for sale. Other makes are possibly becoming more popular as well. Drivers are definitely keeping their cars longer. People want practical cars that are going to last for a while. Hatchbacks can be rather efficient, and they feature plenty of space. Making a practical car flashy is an interesting idea. While many automakers have tried to make flashy cars into practical vehicles, few designers have focused on doing things the other way. Car owners who wouldn’t otherwise buy a serious vehicle could be attracted to this new Kia if it does indeed come on the market.

Most industry sales figures focus on how much regular car brands are able to move their motor vehicles off the lot. Nevertheless, few drivers would call Jaguar a regular car brand. Events tagged with the Salon Prive name are usually rather classy, so people probably expect to see Jaguar well represented at this year’s Supercar Show.

With showings at the Supercar Show and the Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elegance, Jaguar is putting a lot of effort into their Salon Prive marketing techniques. The automaker wants to take this opportunity to get the word out there about their new models. The British brand will put the XJ Ultimate, XF Sportbrake, XK Special Edition and the XKR-S on the showroom floor.

However, Jaguar wasn’t content to simply make their presentation solely focused on cars. Jaguar’s zany executives apparently will feature exhibits on aviation, technology, horology, jewelry, marine engineering and other automotive ventures. Marketing staff seems to think that they can perfectly integrate these exhibitions with their cars.

Salon Prive’s new Tour d’Elegance event will also feature Jaguar. The event is scheduled for September 5th and will take up a good chunk of territory between the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park in Epsom and the Syon House in West London. Though they are largely focusing these efforts on their European customers, it’s not hard to believe that Jaguar feels that American drivers will also take notice.

The Salon Prive itself will take place on September 5th-7th in Syon Park. Comparatively few drivers from around the world make it to the show. That being said, it’s hard to say that a car show of that size is in any way small. Attendance is never really light, and this should help the Jaguar brand attract plenty of attention.

While most Americans probably won’t take notice, car enthusiasts certainly will. Jaguar probably considers enthusiasts to be their top clients. The company makes a special breed of car, and it takes a special breed of driver to own one. Marketing towards their own demographic has helped Jaguar to achieve relatively high sales figures. On the other hand, economic conditions and fuel prices haven’t really helped the sales of sports cars or luxury vehicles. In that respect, Jaguar might be fighting an uphill battle.