Keeler BMW Wins The Center of Excellence Award

Keeler BMW is proud to announce that they have received the prestigious Center of Excellence award for its strong performance in 2009.

This year, there were 21 BMW Centers awarded this honor - an elite group that outperformed their peers in "the three core competencies of operational excellence, outstanding brand representation and the consistent delivery of a premium customer experience."

Congratulations to our outstanding staff of sales and service professionals at Keeler BMW! Everyone on our staff does a terrific job, and it's great to see them recognized for those efforts!

Storm Aftermath at Keeler Motor Car

After shoveling our driveway, getting the kids to daycare (thank you Mapleleaf Daycare for being open!) and making it down the Northway to Latham I arrived at Keeler Motor Car to an awful mess. I forget (and take it for granted since I'm not in Sales) that our Managers, Sales and Service Staff have the dreadful job of snow cleanup.

If a big storm is expected the "cleanup" begins the day before when they have to get as many cars as they can indoors. The next day is the real test when they are tasked to clean the snow off the entire inventory of vehicles, move all the cars for the plows, wait for the plows to do their thing, then move the entire inventory back into place. It is a strenuous job to say the least but they have it down to a science here at Keeler Motors! So, I would like to say thank you to all the staff here at Keeler Motor Car Company for all of their hard work today and any other day we have a snow storm - it does not go unnoticed! Here are some pics of today clean up.

MINI Connected for iPhone to Debut in Geneva

*22.02.2010 * Press Release
*World-first in-car entertainment technology integrates the Apple iPhone.

*Safe, convenient, intuitive control of all functions via the MINI operating system.

*World debut of in-car web radio.

*MINI Connected brings enhanced user functionality and customization to the MINI-exclusive, Mission Control.

Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey - February 22, 2010... MINI Connected, a new technology unique to MINI, opens up a new dimension of in-car entertainment. The new system will make its debut at the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show next week.

MINI Connected.MINI Connected offers new options to further enhance the driving fun associated with the brand by intelligently connecting the driver, his MINI and the outside world. The new MINI Connected system will be launched simultaneously with the MINI Countryman, as an option on the newest member of the MINI brand lineup.

With MINI Connected, MINI is the first carmaker to offer a newly developed USB interface with functionality that enables such a high level of integration of the iPhone into the in-car audio and infotainment system. This MINI-exclusive technology provides the basis for unprecedented integration of Smartphone functions, and takes the in-car integration of modern Smartphone telecommunications, entertainment and online functions to a whole new level.

The innovative iPhone interface provides robust data exchange capabilities, allowing a range of infotainment, navigation and communication functions to be used on board the vehicle. MINI Connected also allows functions to be enhanced or personalized to the driver's individual preferences.

Click here for the entire article.

MINI Countryman Video - First Exclusive Look!

Next week the MINI Countryman will celebrate its world premiere in Geneva and right now, we have some never-before-seen driving footage for you. Courtesy of MINI Youtube Channel, we’re enjoying again the funky, intriguing and lively MINI videos.

Carrying the tagline, “Life is out There”, the MINI Countryman video can be summed up in just a couple of sentences: it is a giddy montage of footage that packs a lifetime’s worth of adventure into a snappy few minutes. It is about drawing a connection between the increased interior space of the Countryman, which is the roomiest MINI yet, with living large, expanding horizons, seizing the day



As a recap, MINI Countryman is entering the market with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines; the power range extends from 90 hp in the MINI One D Countryman all the way to 184 hp in the MINI Cooper S Countryman.

At the high-end of the line-up, the 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine comes for the first time not only with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection, but also with fully variable valve management.

The Countryman gets a standard six-speed manual transmission; a six-speed automatic transmission is optional.

MINI Cooper S Countryman and MINI Cooper D Countryman come equipped with the MINI ALL4 all-wheel drive, an electrohydraulic differential positioned directly on the final drive varying the distribution from front to rear in an infinite process. Under normal driving conditions up to 50 per cent of the engine’s power goes to the rear wheels, under extreme conditions up to 100 per cent, offering a new, high-traction rendition of that agile handling so typical of MINI.

The MINI Countryman comes as standard with four seats, while a three-seat bench is available as a no-cost option.The cabin, among other things, gets a standard multifunction steering wheel with cruise control a center rail system that allows each passenger to store objects.

Source: BMWBlog

The Long Game: 18 holes, 850 miles in an E-Class Diesel

Think "extreme sports" and you probably imagine mountain climbers without safety lines, skiers diving down vertical cliffs or base jumpers toppling off freshly finished skyscrapers. And when you think "golf?" That's right: badly coordinated clothing and a very long walk to get a gin & tonic.

It's a safe bet that you don't think of wombats, dive-bombing crows, water hazards that may contain deadly poisonous snakes, and a journey to the next tee that could be hundreds of miles. But then, you've never played golf Australian style. Oh, yes, it's extreme.

The Nullarbor Links is an 18-hole, par 72 golf course that starts at Kalgoorlie in western Australia and traverses some 850 miles to Ceduna in southern Australia. I'm going to need a bigger golf cart. Six-inch wheels and a nice frilly sunshade on top just ain't going to cut it.
A Mercedes-Benz E250CDi, on the other hand, looks like a much more tempting solution. And as it's diesel-engined, the fuel tank range should be huge. Range is important out there.

As we pick the car up from a local Mercedes dealer, he imparts a warning that serves as a good indication of the journey ahead: "Whatever you do, avoid hitting wombats. They'll rip the front of yer car off. Imagine hitting a cement-filled water trough -- I've seen a good wombat strike write a car off."

So we'll be avoiding wombats, then. As we set out for Kalgoorlie, the Merc settles into a relaxed but quick-ish gait. Even a couple of years ago, this Merc's performance would have been unbelievable -- here is a small displacement four-cylinder diesel that generates 204 hp, hits a top speed of nearly 150 mph, and goes 0-60 mph in a shade under 7.7 sec. For those who remember the bad old days of bad old diesels, these are phenomenal figures. The real kicker is, the Merc manages to do all this and remain refined. Sure, it'll never be as whisper-smooth as a good gas V-6 or V-8, but once it's rolling, you'll forget there's a diesel under the hood.
Problem is, even in the vastness of the Nullarbor Plain, we can't exploit the car's performance potential. If I had my way, we'd be cruising at 100 mph-plus, but the cops are everywhere -- in the air, hiding in bushes, lurking in unmarked cruisers. And they really take it personally if you speed, which seems ridiculous in this landscape of unreachable horizons.



Read the rest of the article here.

Source: MotorTrend

Keeler Motor Car 3rd Annual Indoor Sidewalk Sale

Don't forget - this weekend is the 3rd Annual Keeler Motor Car Indoor Sidewalk Sale. We will have over $20,000,000 of pre-owned, used and new car inventory from the most respected names in the business and they will all be under one roof! To see our entire inventory go to http://www.keeler.com/ and click on the pre-owned inventory button. This sale only happens once a year - you will not want to miss it!

MINI USA launching Laurel Sport Edition

When's the last time there was a car like the Mini? When people aren't busy buying the same car in slightly different lengths and heights, Mini is painting them slightly different colors and charging more. It appears the last one, the Rally Clubman, sold so well that Mini's got another special edition in the works called the Laurel Sport.

There will be 300 Laurel Sports offered in the U.S., 100 for each the hardtop, Clubman, and convertible. They arrive next month, just in time for the Olympics to be over, but the aim here is "classic British style." That means a John Cooper Works aero kit, driving lights, 17-inch alloys, black mirror caps, special door sills, side skirts, and stripes. And that's not all: There will be a summer version and a winter version, the former getting performance tires, the latter with all-season tires and the Cold Weather package.

If you're still reading this and haven't called your Mini dealer already, prices will be $29,695 for the hardtop, $31,445 for the Cooper S, and $34,545 for the convertible.

New MINI Clubman commercial

MINI Clubman: Having this much room could get you in trouble, just ask Barry!

Keeler Motor Car 3rd Annual Indoor Sidewalk Sale

This weekend only - the 3rd Annual Keeler Motor Car Indoor Sidewalk Sale. See below for details! Hope to see you here - you won't want to miss this sale!!!

New BMW Film "Chosen"

After a warm reception with the first film Ambush, BMW Films introduced Chosen to the online community. Chosen tells the story of The Driver picking up a young child exiting a boat from China. The Driver, played by Clive Owen, is tasked with safely transporting the child to a hideout for the mysterious monks. After The Driver receives a gift from the child, the pair immediately find themselves under siege on the icy wharf.

Thankfully, The Driver came prepared with his 2002 E39 540i with the requisite 6 speed manual! Ironically, the duo find themselves up against three vehicular villians – all of which are some form of DaimlerChrylser product – perhaps BMW further driving home a point? In looking for an exit to the snow and ice-laden wharf, the E39 surprises nobody with its ability to grip and put the power down as it handily outdoes the three struggling would-be captors.

The 5 Series manages to look like a graceful, well-trained ballet dancer gliding across the landscape compared to the awkward, stumbling competition as they careen from one snow bank to the next. Once free, the short story takes an interested turn as The Driver comes to the rescue of the little boy once more.

Chosen, the second of five shorts by BMW Films, was directed by internationally-acclaimed director Ang Lee. The Taiwanese director had already received much attention by this point in his career – just coming off of the worldwide success of the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – the film that made Ang Lee a household name in North America. Lee was also known for his direction of the British film Sense and Sensibility. However, acclaimed for its well-orchestrated and fluid fight sequences – many of Crouching Tiger’s techniques and inspirations can be seen throughout Chosen in the well-crafted dance-like car chases. During the production of Chosen, Ang Lee was coincidentally working on his first summer blockbuster Hulk – Marvel Comic’s story of mild-mannered Dr. Banner who, due to a science experiment gone wrong causes anger to turn him into a green, hulking beast. If you watch carefully, Lee pays homage to his own yet-to-be-released movie during Chosen.

Tune in next Sunday for The Follow by Wong Kar-wai.




Source: BMWBlog

Video: Confused.com wraps accident-prone UK street in bubblewrap. Hope they recycle.

UK site Confused.com exists to answer questions about things, especially things that cost car owners a lot of money – like insurance, for instance. To make the point about how car accidents can utterly wreck your insurance premiums, the site has wrapped a whole street, and everything on and around it, in bubble wrap. The avenue chosen was Somerville Road in Worcester "as having generated one of the highest numbers of accident claims in the UK." The rest is air-filled history. See the video below to see the amusing before and after.



Source: Autoblog.com/confused.com

Next-Generation Honda Ridgeline coming for 2011 model year

The last few years have been unkind to the Honda Ridgeline. Higher fuel prices have made trucks less appealing in general, but at five years old, the Ridgeline is also nearing the end of its lifecycle. Honda's sales of its first-ever truck dipped more than 50 percent compared to 2008, and a revision will be necessary to boost sales over the next few years.

According to PickupTrucks.com, that new model could be coming soon – very soon. The second generation Ridgeline is scheduled to debut for the 2011 model year and will have a host of improvements, including better fuel economy, a more aerodynamic design and less weight. There's no official word on when the 2011 Ridgeline will make its debut, but we shouldn't have too long to wait.

To see our current Ridgeline Inventory at Keeler Honda click here.

Source: Autoblog.com

2011 BMW 1 Series Spy Video

2010 Chicago: Honda Odyssey Concept Unveiled; Will Debut This Fall

Some concept vehicles are more production-viable than others and Honda's new Odyssey Minivan Concept looks like just about all it needs to hit the streets is a set of license plates. That's a good thing. It's slated to hit showrooms this fall.

A full inch lower than the current production Odyssey and 1.4-inches wider, the Odyssey concept is clearly aimed at attracting new buyers with sleeker, sportier styling. A steeply-raked windshield, "lightning-bolt" beltline, and tapered rear roof line all help to rework the popular people-mover for the new decade. Projector beam headlights and LED taillights fall in line with current design trends and Honda's larger chrome grille is found front and center. The Odyssey Concept's more aerodynamic look is also said to be functional, with a lower drag coefficient to help increase fuel economy.

Speaking of fuel economy, the production 2011 Honda Odyssey is expected to achieve 19 city/28 highway mpg on certain versions. Does that mean the Odyssey will receive a four-cylinder engine option a la 2011 Toyota Sienna that just hit showrooms? Most likely. The '11 Sienna is the new minivan to beat in the revitalized segment, and is capable of 19 city/26 highway, which according to Honda, the Odyssey narrowly beats. So what will change from this thinly veiled concept when the 2011 Odyssey arrives in the flesh? Well, those diminutive boy-racer mirrors won't make the cut and we're skeptical of those aggressively-styled rocker panels. The interior won't be quite as flashy as the design sketches suggest, and we're also not sure if Honda will be able to integrate such flush-mounted door handles. But generally speaking, at least from the exterior, what you see is pretty much what you'll get.

Source: Honda

Keeler Honda wins the 2009 Honda President's Award

Congratulations to Keeler Honda who was just awarded the prestigious Honda President's Award from American Honda. Keeler Honda is the only dealer in the country to have won this award 11 consecutive times. Congratulations to Rensselaer Honda and Carbone Honda for also winning the 2009 President's Award.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG web special

Experience the SLS AMG web special: Extreme motor testing, behind the speed statistics and of course YOU behind the wheel!

Go to: http://www.sls-amg-special.com/com/en

You can always browse our Mercedes-Benz inventory at www.keelermercedesbenz.com

The Mercedes-Benz Center at Keeler Motor Car Car - Mid Winter Service Specials

Print or mention that you saw this on the Keeler Motor Car Blog and receive the following great service specials at the Mercedes-Benz Center at
Keeler Motor Car Company!

Keeler Motor Car is proud to represent 5 of the 20 Finalists for the 2010 World Car and Performance Car of the Year!

The countdown has begun in preparation for the 2010 World Car of the Year (WCOTY) and Performance Car of the Year (PCOTY) awards ceremony that will be taking place on April 1 at the 2010 New York Auto Show.

A total of 31 cars made up the original list of candidates for the 2010 World Car category, while 15 cars made up the list for the 2010 Performance Car category, but now these lists have been whittled down to just ten finalists.

Now in their seventh year, the World and Performance Car of the Year awards are an independent global accreditation to name the best new car on the market, as selected by a voter group made up of established automotive journalists from around the globe.

To be eligible, a car has to be in production and sold in at least five countries and on two continents, which meant many American manufactured cars didn’t make the list. The final winners will be picked by a team of 59 judges and announced during April’s New York event, however, the list will be whittled down even further to just three finalists in both categories at next month’s 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

2010 World Car of the Year top ten finalists:
Audi Q5
BMW X1
Chevrolet Cruze
Kia Soul
Mazda3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Opel/Vauxhall Insignia / Buick Regal
Porsche Panamera
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Polo

2010 Performance Car of the Year top ten finalists:
Aston Martin V12 Vantage
Audi R8 V10
Audi TT RS Coupé / Roadster
BMW Z4
Ferrari California
Jaguar XFR
Lotus Evora
Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG
Nissan 370 Z
Porsche 911 GT3
Porsche Boxster / Cayman

Kansas City man wins trip to England for logging most topless hours in a Mini

Ever wonder what possible use the Openometer could have? The tiny dashboard gauge is found only in the Mini convertible and tracks the number of hours a Mini motorist has been driving with the top down. Cute, sure, but hardly as useful as, say... a speedometer or fuel gauge. Well, David Loveall and over 400 other Mini Cooper Convertible owners across America found the Openometer very useful as they participated in the Open One Challenge.

Kansas City's Loveall logged some 555.55 hours of top-down driving in his Mini, after driving across the country and visiting every one of the 48 contiguous states in the union. He took some of America's greatest back-roads, like Route 66 and US 50, avoiding the freeway at all costs and often camping roadside in a tent.For his dedication to the open-air cause, Loveall is being awarded with a free trip to England to visit the Mini factory in Oxford. Click here to read the full article.
Source: Autoblog.com

BMW Certified Pre-Owned No-Cost Maintenance OR 0.9% financing offer

Über-Inspected, Certified, with No-Cost Maintenance.

What are we thinking?

We think our Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are pretty remarkable. So for a limited time you'll enjoy our BMW No-Cost Maintenance Plan. That mean you'll pay nothing for maintenance up to 6 years or 100,000 miles. Or, if you prefer, take advantage of our 0.9% financing. The choice is yours. But remember, before these exceptional offers, before the rigorous certification, and before the exceptional value, first, it's a BMW.

These offers are valid only for qualified customers who finance a Certified Pre-Owned BMW through BMW Financial Services and a participating BMW Center. Not all BMW Centers participate. To qualify, you must enter into a retail installment sale contract between February 2, 2010 and March 31, 2010 at a participating BMW Center.

*The free maintenance offer is valid for up to 6 years or 100,000 miles from the original in-service date, whichever comes first, on '07 MY 3, 5 and 7 Series CPO models using standard BMW Financial Services rates. Only certain contract lengths are eligible. Contact your local BMW Center for participation details and vehicle availability.
**Financing starting at 0.9% APR is available on Certified Pre-Owned 2007 model year 3, 5, 6, 7, X3, X5 or Z4, and on 2008 model year 3 and 5 series (M models excluded). Financing starting at 3.9% APR is available on Certified Pre-Owned 2007 M models.
***Protection Plan, backed by BMW, provides coverage for 2 years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first) from the date of the expiration of the 4-year/50,000-mile BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Offer expires: 03/31/2010

Virtual iPhone Phrasebook

When it comes to the latest and greatest technology, I just can't get enough of it. I might not understand half of it but it sure is fun to read about it on blogs/Twitter/Facebook, watch on YouTube, etc.

I just saw this link on Twitter and felt compelled to click on it. First of all because I love France and it's language and second I Love the iPhone (even though I don't own one...YET!) and all the apps you can download.

This has NOTHING to do with the automotive industry but I just had to share. Click here to read the article from Wired or just watch the video below:

Hear what some of our Keeler Mercedes-Benz customers have to say!

Comments from our some of our Keeler Mercedes-Benz customers:

"Show My Appreciation"
Dear Dan,
I seldom write letters to employers, but I felt it was necessary to show my appreciation for your assistant service manager, Joe Palumbo.

My ML350 had a major electrical problem and Joe was on top of it from day one. He kept me advised of the problem and did his best to see that I received service that was prompt, courteous and reasonably priced.

It is a credit to Keeler Motor Car Company and Mercedes-Benz to have such a person as Joe, where service lately seems to be a lost art.

Joe does his job professionally and is an asset to your company.
Sincerely,
William Ellis

"Customer Satisfaction"
Dear Mr. Keeler,
I wanted to tell you about the positive experience I had dealing with Lynn Larson in your Mercedes-Benz dealership. I purchased a C300 4MATIC from Lynn in November, 2009.

I had visited your showroom earlier in the year. Lynn took us on a test drive of some automobiles, made her very polite sales pitch and we went on our way. She followed up a few times but i wasn't ready and told her I'd be in touch.

Around November 19, 2009, I received an email from your comppany with a great offer. I called up Lynn that day and told her I wanted the car. She said, "Great, red or black?"When I picked up my new Mercedes-Benz 2 days later, I arranged to meet with Lynn at a time of day when I hoped it would be a little sloer and she should take the time to show me how everything on the inside panel worked. She was kind enough to show us everything we needed.

Lynn Larson is a true professional. She is a great salesperson and is an asset to your team. I made sure that each time I returned, it was to meet with Lynn. I knew she was the person I wanted to do business with in your organization.
Sean Lally

"I highly recommend the dealership"
This is a terrific dealership. I expect to get my next car at Keeler. I highly recommend the dealership to my patients, friends and colleagues.
Patricia Fennell

"Keeler Mercedes-Benz Service"
No other Mercedes-Benz dealer that I have dealt with even approaches Keeler's level of taking care of its customers and being accessible and supportive.
Leonard J Laub

"Very refreshing"
Lynn Larson was probably one of the best sales persons I have met at a car dealership. She just showed me what I wanted to see and listened to me. Very unusual and refreshing.
Denise Petersen

"Mercedes-Benz Center at Keeler Motor Car Company"
FANTASTIC service! Very consistent and the staff always goes above and beyond.
John D. Flory

2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo - Short Take Road Test

This may be hard to accept, but what you see here is a BMW that’s not really conceived to please Bimmer loyalists in the U.S. That’s because this inflated version of the 5-series sedan is aimed at expanding markets where vehicle priorities differ from our own. China, for one.

If that seems peculiar, remember that the booming Chinese market is the main reason Buick survives while other GM brands have perished: We’re talking about people more interested in comfort, space, and prestige than ultimate driving.

Not that this swollen five-door is deficient in basic BMW dynamic virtues. Yes, its, uh, generous dimensions—3.9 inches longer than the 2011 5-series sedan on which it’s based, 1.6 inches wider, 3.8 inches taller—make the regular 5s look svelte. Our test car weighed almost 2.5 tons (4939 pounds), which is a staggering 891 pounds more than the last 550i we tested [November 2006].

Nevertheless, the 550i GT prances right along with its tidier stablemates, sprinting to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and covering the quarter in 13.6 at 105 mph. That’s a wink quicker than the sedan in that 2006 test. The GT’s 400-hp, 4.4-liter direct-injection twin-turbo V-8 churns up 40 more horses than the naturally aspirated 4.8-liter in the 2006 test, but the real key to the GT’s performance is the turbo V-8’s massive torque—450 pound-feet, a gain of 90—plus instant throttle response and a very slick ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.

If the GT’s acceleration is surprising, its agility is not. BMW’s chassis engineers have already shown us remarkable skill in mass management with the M versions of the even heavier X6 and X5, and the GT is another example, albeit not as extreme. Body motions are limited, with noticeable roll-stiffness distinctions through the three suspension presets; grip is respectable, at 0.86 g; and if the optional ($1750) four-wheel active steering lacks on-center feel, it’s a welcome feature in high-speed cornering and also makes the GT surprisingly handy at parking-lot speeds.
True to BMW’s dynamic standards, ride quality is supple and braking performance is excellent (160 feet from 70 mph to standstill). Plus, the GT has specific advantages: presidential-limo head- and legroom in the aft cabin, replete with adjustable seats (part of a $3650 option package); nifty configurability to the cargo compartment and rear hatch; and exceptionally low noise levels.

On the debit side, there’s fuel economy (if that’s the right word): 15 mpg city and 21 highway per the EPA, 16 mpg in our test. The price is $65,775 for the base model (including a grand for the guzzler penalty), $4500 more than a standard 550i. And options add up at a frightening rate: Two GTs came to us for evaluation—the first was loaded to the tune of $90,925; the second not quite so loaded, at $80,425. Whew.

Source: Car & Driver

Watch Michael Schuhmacher as he does the impossible in the SLS AMG. Is it still a car? What do you think?