The 2011 ChevroletEquinox will again comewith a laudable array ofstandard features — even inbase LS trim. An impressiveselection of luxury ameni-ties kicks in as you ascendthe model line or peruse theoptions sheet. EveryEquinox comes with head-protecting curtain sideairbags that cover bothseating rows and aredesigned to deploy in a sidecollision as well as whensensors detect an impend-ing rollover. Also standardis GM’s OnStar assistancewith complementary one-year service. It includesautomatic crash responseand enables OnStar person-nel to unlock the vehicleremotely or even diminishthe engine’s power if your

car’s been stolen. Powerwindows, locks, and mir-rors will again be includedin the base price of everyEquinox. So will air condi-tioning, keyless remoteentry, and tilt/telescopesteering wheel with audiocontrols. Bluetooth cell-phone connectivity willlikely continue as standardon 2LT and LTZ modelsand optional on LS and 1LT.Two-tone leather uphol-stery, USB iPod interface,and an audio unit withhard-drive music storageare among available fea-tures. A navigation system,

rearview camera, and dual-screen rear-seat DVDentertainment also areoptional. The 2011 Equinoxwill again be among the fewSUVs in this price range tooffer a power liftgate as wellas a remote engine-startsystem that also activatesthe climate-control andoptional heated seats. Basewheels should again be 17-inch alloys with 18-inchalloys available at extra coston the LT models and theLTZ. The 2011 LTZ willlikely repeat as the onlyEquinox with body-colorbumpers and chromed doorhandles and the only oneavailable with optionalchrome-clad 19-inch alloywheels.

The CTS coupe is one ofthose cars that love thecamera, and it’s no lessstunning in the flesh.Walking around the car, onenotices several aspects ofthe design easily missed inphotographs, such as theparallel “light catcher”lines helping to break upthe tall body sides, thetastefully glitzy twin cen-ter-mounted tailpipes, theremarkably seamless-look-

ing joint between the body-side stamping and the roof,and the center spine thattravels all the way back overthe car’s huge rump. Thewindshield is two degrees“faster” up front than thesedan’s, and the razor-sharp taillamps and theCHMSL spoiler also haveaerodynamic-enhancingproperties. The only unfor-tunate bits are credit-card-sized spacer panels abovethe recessed, solenoid-actuated door releases; theymar an otherwise perfectwaistline. In any case, thereis visual drama from everyangle, and it works.

Inside, most CTS sedancomponents are importedwithout change, althoughthe mood is intensified dueto a lower mounting pointfor the seats, droppingoccupants roughly an inchlower into the dash andconsole architecture.

The window sills arehigh, making arm-out-the-window cruising a bit awk-ward, but surprisingly, thesuper-high rear end doesn’tgobble up every shred of

rearward vision. Cadillac’s product plan-

ners wanted to give thecoupe a higher focus onperformance. They startedby skipping the sedan’sentry-level 270-hp, 3.0-literV-6 and making standardthe direct-injected 3.6-literV-6. It delivers 304 hp and273 lb-ft of torque, availableat 6400 and 5200 rpm,respectively.

As in the sedan, thisengine comes with six-speed manual or automatictransmissions, the latterfeaturing manual shiftingcapability via the shift leveror buttons on the back ofthe upper steering-wheelposts (right for upshifts, leftfor downshifts). All-wheeldrive is available, althoughwe didn’t have the opportu-nity to drive a CTS soequipped; the only cars wedrove were rear-driverswith automatics. In that

configuration, the final-drive ratio is up to 3.73:1from 3.42:1 to add somespring to the coupe’s off-the-line step.

A unique-to-the-coupeexhaust system not onlydirects spent air throughthose sexy center-mountedpipes but also allows a bitmore sound to tickle thedriver’s ears in the process.

On the road, these alter-ations change the characterof the CTS. Acceleration isstrong, thanks to that moreaggressive final drive.Handling feels consider-ably sharper as well,chalked up to the combina-tion of the wider (by twoinches) rear track, stag-gered-width wheel-and-tire combos (235/50 frontand 265/45 rear with the18-inch wheels; 245/45front and 275/40 rear withthe 19s), stiffer springs, andthicker

PAGE 2 | NORTHSHORE AUTOMOTIVE | SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2010

2011 CADILLAC CTS COUPE

2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

See the 2011 Cadillac CTSCoupe at Levis today

The Cadillac CTSCoupe can be seenat: Levis ChevroletCadillac316 E. Howze BeachRd., Slidell

Phone: 985-643-1800Visit www.levischevy

cadillac.com

The 2011 ChevroletEquinox can be seenat: Levis ChevroletCadillac316 E. Howzee BeachRoad, Slidell

Phone: 985-643-1800Visit www.levischevy

cadillac

Levis Chevrolet Cadillacpresents the 2011 Equinox

While exterior changesare limited to a new lou-vered hood, front bumperand grille, most of the 2011GMC Sierra 2500HD’smechanical and structuralcomponents (includingframe, engines, transmis-sions, suspension, andbrakes) have been rede-signed, strengthened orimproved. Like all Sierras,the 2500HD is available in awide array of bed sizes,wheelbases, drive types andcab sizes, as well as a vari-ety of trim levels.

The standard 360-horse-power 6.0-liter Vortec V8engine’s new camshaft pro-file helps the engine pro-duce more torque lower inthe rpm band, for improvedlaunch feel and a greaterfeeling of overall perform-ance when towing a trailerand at higher altitudes. Therevised and optional 397-hp/765 lb-ft of torque (335-

hp/685 lb-ft of torque withBox Delete option) B20biodiesel-capable Duramax6.6-liter diesel is more pow-erful and durable, and theAllison 1000 transmissionis stronger for 2011. Thestiffer, fully-boxed frameimproves durability andride, while supportingincreased capability. Theredesigned torsion barfront suspension allows fora greater front Gross AxleWeight Rating (GAWR).The rear suspension useswider leaf springs - nowasymmetrical to reduceaxle hop - that contribute toimproved ride and handlingcharacteristics and increa-sed rear GAWR. Largerbrakes deliver smoother,more immediate and confi-dent-feeling performanceand diesel engines now

include an exhaust brake.Stability control, hill startassist and a trailer swaycontrol system are stan-dard.

Available featuresinclude mobile WiFi, USBconnectivity, rear back-upcamera, Bluetooth connec-tivity, XM satellite radio,OnStar 9.0 and a navigationsystem.

The Denali trim, avail-able on the 4WD crew cabshort-bed, is new for 2011and features a unique grille,body color bumpers, pol-ished forged alloy wheelsand chrome accents.

A new frame, animproved Vortec V8, a newDuramax diesel and revisedAllison transmission, newfront and rear suspensions,and an improved brake sys-tem combine to make GMC

Sierra 2500HD one of themost capable line of truckson the road.

The Dodge Ram 1500offers bold styling with anaggressive “grille-forward”design, interiors with pre-mium materials and inno-vative features, and bigpower from a choice ofengines, making it ideal forwork and play.

The Ram 1500 providessomething for everyonewith the choice of three cabstyles (regular, Quad andCrew cabs), three wheel-bases, 4x2 or 4x4 drivetypes, and 3.7-liter V6 or4.7-liter V8 or 5.7-literHEMI V8 engines. A multi-link coil spring rear suspen-sion (in place of a tradition-al leaf spring suspension)improves ride and handling

characteristics without sac-rificing payload and towingcapability. Standard safetyfeatures include side cur-

tain airbags, stability con-trol, traction control andtrailer sway control. Heatedand ventilated front seats,

heated rear seats, heatedsteering wheel, poweradjustable pedals, rearparking sensors, and a rearbackup camera are avail-able. Electronic and info-tainment choices include amultimedia system with30-gigabyte hard drive,navigation system, SIRIUS

Backseat TV and a rear-seatDVD entertainment sys-tem. The RamBox cargomanagement system, avail-

able on the Crew cab,includes lockable, illumi-nated storage bins built intobed rails.

NORTHSHORE AUTOMOTIVE | SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2010 | PAGE 3

The Dodge Ram 1500can be seen at:Lakeshore ChryslerDodge Jeep330 Howze BeachRd., Slidell

Phone: 985-641-9595Visit lakeshorechrysler.

com

Lakeshore Chrysler is the place to seethe 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab

2010 DODGE RAM 1500

Brian Harris Autoplex featuresthe 2011 GMC Sierra Crew Cab

The 2011 GMC SierraCrew Cab can beseen at: Brian HarrisAutoplex239 Howze BeachRd., Slidell

Phone: 985-643-2277Visit www.brian

harrisautoplex.com

2011 GMC SIERRA CREW CAB

Small cars no longer haveto be cheap cars. From thelook of it, the Mazda 2 adds“genuinely attractive” tothe list of newly discoveredsmall-car attributes.

The U.S. car will foregothe 1.3-liter inline-foursavailable in Japan andEurope in favor of a morepowerful 1.5-liter four-cylinder.

Fuel-economy ratingsare about what we’d expectof the segment: 28 city/35highway mpg with the stan-dard five-speed manualtransmission, 28/34 withthe optional four-speedautomatic.

There are two models tochoose from: Sport, startingat $14,730, and Touring,starting at $16,185

Standard equipment onthe Sport model includes

ABS, stability control, trac-tion control, electric powersteering, air conditioning, afour-speaker sound systemwith auxiliary input, key-less entry, and 15-inch steelwheels. Upgrading toTouring trim nets alloywheels, a six-speaker soundsystem, upgraded seat fab-ric with red accents, foglights, a roof spoiler, achrome exhaust tip, a tripcomputer, cruise control,and a leather-wrapped

steering wheel with insetcruise and audio controls.

A sign of the times: theMazda 2 will feature a

brake override system thatcuts engine power if bothbrake and accelerator ped-als are depressed.

Get excited over the 2011 Mazda 2at Brian Harris Autoplex

The 2011 Mazda 2 canbe seen at: BrianHarris Autoplex 239 Howze BeachRd., Slidell

Phone: 985-643-2277Visit www.brian

harrisautoplex.com

2011 MAZDA 2

Courtesy of ARA Content

All motorists want theirvehicle to last on the road

and perform at its best. Asthe summer finally beginsto wind down, it’s impor-tant to make sure your caris properly prepared for

cooler weather and week-end road trips.

Sometimes vehicle main-tenance can be one of themore daunting aspects ofautomobile ownership. Formany drivers, spending afew hours under the hoodor taking their car into thedealer can be like having atooth pulled - necessary,but painful.

Lifelong automotiveenthusiast Bob Long,Gumout spokesperson andhost of the nationally syndi-cated “AutoWorld Radio,”the “Motor Trend Radio”program and “The LongDrive” feature, has helpededucate drivers about theirvehicles for more than twodecades. He has a few sim-ple tips for maintainingyour vehicle’s longevity andhelping to avoid preventa-ble repair costs down the

road.“As a passionate car

enthusiast, I constantlystress that there’s no substi-tute for preventative main-tenance. A little TLC can goa long way when it comes totaking care of your vehicleand avoiding repairs,” saysLong, an automotive expertwith 25 years in the indus-try.

With a little planningand some willpower, thereare a few smart and easyways to get your vehicleready for the road. The keyis to plan ahead and knowthe basics. Below are a fewessential maintenance tipsfrom Long that can pay offin the long run.

• Change your oil regu-larly

A regular oil change isthe service most likely tohelp prolong the life of your

vehicle, and it’s especiallyimportant to keep in mindbefore you head out on anylong road trips. Changingthe oil, not just topping itoff, with a high-qualitymotor oil that meets thespecifications recommend-ed by your vehicle’s manu-facturer can help yourengine get the lubricantprotection it needs.

• Protect critical engineparts

Just because you can’tsee a problem, doesn’tmean it’s not there. Beforetaking a long trip or if youdrive a lot, visit a trustedprofessional and make sureyour car is properly tuned.According to the U.S.Department of Energy, reg-ular vehicle maintenancecan improve gas mileage byan average of 4 percent.

If your car is experienc-ing poor fuel economy,decreased horsepower, hes-itation and/or rough idling,consider using a fuel addi-tive to help your vehicle’scritical engine parts work

more efficiently. With acomprehensive range ofproduct formulations forjust about every type of car,truck, diesel or flex-fuelvehicle, all Gumout FuelSystem Cleaners are a one-stop vehicle maintenancesupplier. All Gumout FuelSystem Cleaners helpreduce carbon buildupdeposits and emissions. Byremoving deposits in thefuel system, the combus-tion efficiency is improved,which in turn improvesmiles per gallon (MPG) andperformance.

• Keep your tires proper-ly inflated

Make sure your tires areat the correct pressure andnot over- or under-inflated.According to the U.S.Department of Energy,keeping tires at the correctpressure can improve yourgasoline mileage by about3.3 percent.

Proper air pressure isalso essential for automo-tive safety and optimumdriving performance.

PAGE 4 | NORTHSHORE AUTOMOTIVE | SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2010

Tips to keep your vehicle running its best

The Sorento LX is Kia’sentry into the cross-overutility vehicle (CUV) seg-ment. Completely redes-igned for 2011, the Sorentonow features unibody con-struction and a morestreamlined and modernappearance.

The Sorento is available

in front-wheel drive (FWD)or four-wheel drive (4x4) infive or seven-seat configu-rations. A 175-hp 2.4-literfour-cylinder or a 276-hp3.5-liter V6 are the twoavailable engine choices.Base FWD models use asix-speed manual transmis-sion, while all others use a

six-speed automatic trans-mission. All-speed tractioncontrol, stability-control,four-wheel anti-lock discbrakes, overhead curtainairbags, anti-whiplash headrestraints and ignition dis-able are just a few of thestandard safety featuresoffered. 18” alloy wheels,

dual-zone automatic cli-mate control, satellite radio,steering wheel audio con-trols, heated front seats,navigation system and arearview camera are allavailable.

The Sorento has beencompletely redesigned for2011.

CHECK OUT THE NEW2011 KIA SORENTO LXAT LAKESHORE KIA

The KIA Sorento LX canbe seen at:Lakeshore KIA330 Howze BeachRd., Slidell

Phone: 985-641-9595Visit lakeshorekia.com

2011 KIA SORRENTO LX

With a little planning and some willpower, there area few smart and easy ways to get your vehicle readyfor the road. (Photo courtesy of ARA Content)

Courtesy of ARA Content

Windows down, musicturned up, friends gigglingin the back seat, freedom . . .it’s the moment allteenagers dream of - gettingtheir drivers license.

Teen drivers are ofteneuphoric with this newsense of independence.After all, getting a driverslicense is a big rite of pas-sage.

Teens are inundated, andrightfully so, with statisticsand horrific stories thatpoint to the dangers of driv-ing while intoxicated.However, new researchshows that distracted driv-ing is among the leadingcauses of auto accidents,and the problem is gettingworse.

“Although laws havebeen put into place in thespirit of eliminating dan-gerous distractions for driv-ers, it’s critical that parents,teachers and influencers atlarge talk to teenagersabout the dangers of driv-ing distracted,” says DukeDaugherty, vice presidentof auto at Fireman’s FundInsurance. “It seems harm-less to take your eyes off theroad for a few seconds to

send a text, or change thestation, but those few sec-onds could cost the loss oflives, and a lifetime ofangst.”

Research complied bythe National HighwayTraffic Safety Administra-tion estimates that distract-ed driving caused 6,000deaths and 500,000 injuriesin 2008. And data showsthat these numbers are con-tinuing to grow.

Research also shows thatteen drivers are four timesmore likely to be involvedin a distracted-related colli-sion than any other agegroup.

In general, three types ofdistractions are most dan-gerous for teenagers on theroad. These distractionscan be visual (actions thatrequire drivers to take theireyes off the road), manual(actions that require takinghands off the steeringwheel) or cognitive (actionsthat require drivers to taketheir minds off whatthey’re doing).

Local agencies, policedepartments and focusgroups have put into placeprograms intended toinform teenagers of thedangers of distracted driv-ing, but it’s crucial for par-

ents and schools to keep thedialogue going so teenagersunderstand the urgency ofthe problem.

“Encourage your teena-gers to be completely alertand fully focused on theroad and their surround-ings while driving,” saysDaugherty. “Parents needto model good behavior infront of their kids by nottexting or making calls thatdistract from driving. If weall take steps to show howimportant this is, we willsee a drop in the behaviorby teens.”

Discuss and stress thefollowing driving guide-lines:

• Keep both hands on thesteering wheel and eyes onthe road (use mirrors).

• Avoid cell phone use -Cell phones are the numberone distraction for teenagerdrivers. Cell phone use fallsunder the categories ofvisual, manual and cogni-tive distractions. Mobiletechnology has made tex-ting, surfing the Internetand social networking alltoo easy.

• Encourage teenagers toavoid using their phones,for anything at all, untilthey are safely pulled offthe road and parked.

Devices are available to dis-able cell phone use in autos.

Drivers younger than age

20 represent the highestproportion of distracteddrivers involved in fatal

crashes, according to theNational AutomotiveSampling System (NASS).

The Regal’s appearanceconfirms its cosmopolitanpedigree; it would notappear out of place in anymodern city, from SanDiego to Shanghai. As amidsize sedan, the new caris smaller and more tautlysculpted than any previousmodel bearing the Regalname. With Buick’s signa-ture grinning grille, its mus-cular shape was met withpositive responses.

Furthermore, the choiceof two four-cylinder en-gines rather than the his-torical dependence on V6sin the model line speaks of amajor identity shift.

The new Regal’s baseengine is a 2.4-liter inline

four with 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque, and it featuresdirect-injection and vari-able valve timing, as befits a

21st-century powerplant.The high-performanceoption is a turbo 2.0-literwith 220 hp and an impres-

sive 258 pound-feet fromjust 2,000 rpm.

GM estimates that the2.4-liter normally aspiratedengine will achieve 30 mpgon the highway, and theturbo will get 29 mpg. Bothengines pedal through six-speed automatic transmis-sions with manual-override

capability, but these are twodifferent units—one aHydra-matic, the other anAisin—and the gear ratiosvary quite a bit to takeadvantage of the turbomotor’s wide torquespread.

Designed to meet newfederal crash-test standardsfor 2012, the Regal’s bodyshell offers a 25 percentimprovement in torsionalbending resistance com-pared with the outgoingmodel. The Regal’s suspen-sion consists of Mac-Pherson struts up frontwith aluminum lower con-trol arms and an aluminumfour-link setup in the rear,both ends equipped with

direct-acting, tubularantiroll bars.

An electronic adaptive-damping shock systemcalled the Interactive DriveControl System (IDCS)—which features three push-button selectable programs:normal, tour and sport—isavailable for the turbomodel.

Steering mechanismsdiffer between the base andturbo models.

The standard car gets aconventional hydraulicsteering assist, while theturbo enjoys a variable-level system that backs offas the speed increases toprovide a firmer steeringfeel.

NORTHSHORE AUTOMOTIVE | SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2010 | PAGE 5

Test drive the 2011 Buick Regal at Brian Harris AutoplexThe 2011 Buick Regal

can be seen at: BrianHarris Autoplex239 Howze BeachRd., Slidell

Phone: 985-643-2277Visit www.brian

harrisautoplex.com

2011 BUICK REGAL

Teach your teen the dangers of distracted driving

PAGE 6 | NORTHSHORE AUTOMOTIVE | SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2010