southern automotive journal june 2013
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Southern Automotive Journal provides news trends and perspectives to professionals in the automotive collision industry including, independent repair shops, collision shops and new car dealers. Circulation area includes the southeast United States.TRANSCRIPT
Southern Automotive Repair Industry Conference
ASA Encourages States to Ban Property, Casualty Insurers from Using Most Favored
Nation Clauses
Mississippi Attorney General sent a letter to Insurance
companies
Motor Vehicle Parts Suppliers are Nation's Largest Employer
of Manufacturing Jobs
U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Antitrust
Oversight Hearing
Maine Legislature Holds Hearing on Right to Repair
Legislation
June 2013
Stingray Please Turn to Page 4
COLLISION NEWSwww.southernautomotivejournal.com
Chrysler 300 SRT8
2014 Kia Sorento SCRS Executive Director, Aaron Schulenburg addresses
the Southern Automotive Repair Conference
Southern Automotive JournalP.O. Box 675097Marietta, Ga 30006-0009(770) 321-9920
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IN-HOME: Dec. 1, 2008
DEALER NEWS
Chevrolet is redefining modern perfor-mance with the all-new Corvette Stingray. And only a Corvette with the perfect balance of technology, design and performance can wear the iconic Stingray designation.
The 2014 Corvette Stingray is the most powerful standard Corvette model ever, with an estimated 450 horsepower (335 kW) and 450 lb.-ft. of torque (610 Nm). It is also the most capable standard Corvette model
2014 Corvette Stingray, Engineered To Race, Built For The Road
ever, able to accelerate from 0-60 in less than four seconds and achieve more than 1g in cornering grip.
Both coupe and convertible ver-sions of the new Corvette Stingray take advantage of lightweight mate-rials, advanced manufacturing tech-niques and technology transfer from
Parts You Need A Name You Trust
BMW
Toll Free Direct Fax
Acura 800.899.7278 770.422.3138 770.590.4154Audi 877.625.5393 678.795.3500 678.352.3450Bentley 866.204.9264 678.352.3577 678.795.2957BMW 800.622.2021 404.296.8644 404.297.9134Honda 866.362.8034 770.306.4646 770.306.4640
800.522.3324 404.292.0831 404.296.8701877.625.5392 770.281.8645 770.281.8646
Jaguar/Porsche 877.724.3030 864.281.1115 864.478.1438800.966.5398 770.514.7408 770.590.4132877.495.3987 678.795.2050 678.795.9606
Nissan 800.647.7278 404.292.4774 404.297.6962Toyota 877.594.8696 678.832.4300 770.552.2365
866.204.9106 678.795.3472 678.795.2941
Serving the Automotive community Since 1918
AcuraNalley Acura
770.422.3138 800.899.7278 770.590.4154
AudiJim Ellis Audi
770.955.2580 800.253.8242 770.952.6199Nalley Audi
678.795.3500 877.625.5393 678.352.3450
BMWCentury BMW
256.532.4570 800.236.8456 256.536.0361Nalley BMW
404.296.8644 800.622.2021 404.297.9134
ChryslerJim Burke 205.320.7320 866.320.7320 205.458.4452Benchmark
205.823.5237 800.633.4304 888.815.5238Hayes
770.963.6263 800.241.8124 770.237.8174Ferrari
Ferrari Maserati of Atlanta 678.802.5000 800.522.2345 678.802.5018
FIATFIAT of Birmingham 205.823.5237 800.633.4304 888.815.5238
FordAllan Vigil Ford
770.960.1208 800.324.3814 770.960.6268Gwinnett Place Ford
770.813.6825 866.665.9318 770.622.6156General Motors/Saturn
Ivan leonard Chevrolet 205.823.5428 800.239.5100 205.979.3048
Rick Hendrick Chevrolet678.957.5300 888.339.7278 678.957.5310
HondaGwinnett Place Honda
678.957.5151 800.277.8836 678.957.5156Nalley Honda
770.306.4646 800.367.9834 770.306.4640Tameron Honda
205.433.7651 800-467-0699 205-443-7656Hyundai
Jim Burke Hyundai205.320.7320 866.320.7320 205.458.4452
Tameron Hyundai 205.433.7652 800-467-0699 205-443-7656
Serra Hyundai205-856-6600 800-426-4351 205-853-7530
Infinti Crown Infinti
205.985.4200 800.476.4669 205.402.2243Nalley Infinti - Marietta
770.281.8645 877.625.5392 770.281.8646Nalley Infinti - Decatur
404.292.0831 800.522.3324 404.296.8701Izuzu
Jim Burke205.320.7320 866.320.7320 205.458.4452
JaguarJim Burke
205.320.7320 866.320.7320 205.458.4452Nalley
864.281.1115 877.724.3030 864.478.1438KIASerra Hyundai
205-856-6600 800-426-4351 205-853-7530
MaseratiFerrari Maserati of Atlanta
678.802.5000 800.522.2345 678.802.5018
MazdaJim Ellis Mazda of Marietta
770.590.4468 800.543.4647 770.795.0645
Merecdes-BenzAtlanta Classic Cars
678-924-4249 800-241-6086 678-924-4257Crown Merecdes-Benz
205.985.4200 800.476.4669 205.402.2243Mitsubishi
Serra 205-856-6600 800-426-4351 205-853-7530
NAPACentury NAPA 256.532.4570 800.236.8456 256.536.0361
NissanJim Burke Nissan
205.320.7320 866.320.7320 205.458.4452Nalley Nissan
404.292.4774 800.647.7278 404.297.6962Land Rover
Century Land Rover256.532.4570 800.236.8456 256.536.0361
LexusLexus of Huntsville
256.824.8075 855.528.0487 256.824.8019Nalley Lexus Marietta
770.514.7408 800.966.5398 770.590.4132Nalley Lexus Roswell
678.795.2050 877.495.3987 678.795.9606Porsche
Century Porsche256.532.4570 800.236.8456 256.536.0361
Nalley Porsche864.281.1115 877.724.3030 864.478.1438
SAABJim Ellis SAAB of Marietta
770.590.4468 800.543.4647 770.795.0645
SubaruJim Burke Subaru
205.320.7320 866.320.7320 205.458.4452Troncalli Subaru
770.889.8951 800.646.9438 770.889.2545Subaru of Gwinnett
678.584.7245 800.584.8727 678.584.7246Suzuki
Suzuki of Memphis901.347.4208 800.338.5481 901.347.4207
Toyota/ ScionLimbaugh Toyota
205.788.9390 800.239.5050 205.780.5215Nalley Toyota of Roswell
678.832.4300 877.594.8696 770.552.2365Volvo
Century Volvo256.532.4570 800.236.8456 256.536.0361
Jim Ellis Volvo 770.590.4468 800.543.4647 770.795.0645
Nalley Volvo864.281.1115 877.724.3030 864.478.1438
Volvo of Memphis901.347.4208 800.338.5481 901.347.4207
VolkswagenJim Ellis
770.955.2580 800.253.8242 770.952.6199
fax fax
Bumper Plus 770.422.Plus 888.492.Plus 770.422.7501
Bu
yers Gu
ide
Southern Automotive Journal June 20134 www.IneedOEMparts.com
Stingray From Front Cover
the Corvette Racing program to produce an ideal 50/50 weight balance and to deliver world-class power-to-weight ratios.
“Chevrolet has a long histo-ry of using racing to improve pro-duction cars, and nowhere is that more evident than with Corvette. We continually apply technolo-gies and strategies developed for Corvette Racing directly to the production car. That influ-ence can be seen in virtually every aspect of the new Corvette Stingray, from the aerodynamic design to the use of carbon fiber, to the cooling tech-niques and even in the brake system.” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette executive chief engineer.
The techno-logically advanced foundation is an all-new aluminum frame structure that is 99 pounds (45 kg) lighter, and is 57-percent stiffer than the previous-generation convertible. The result is a frame that is so strong that no structural reinforcements are need-ed for the convertible model. The only changes are limited to accommodations for the folding top and repositioned safety belt mounts.
Compared to the previous gen-eration, which used continuous hydro-
formed main frame rails with a constant 2mm wall thickness, the new Corvette’s frame features main rails composed of five customized aluminum segments, including aluminum extrusions at each end, a center main rail section and hollow-cast nodes at the suspension interface points. Each segment’s gauge varies in thickness from 2mm to 11mm, tailored – along with the shape – by the simulation software to optimize the strength requirements for each frame section with minimal weight.
The frame’s greater strength and lower weight are complemented by chassis elements also designed for low-mass strength, including hollow-cast aluminum front and rear cradles that are approximately 25-percent lighter and 20-percent stiffer than the solid cradles used on the previous structure.
The innovative use of materi-als includes a standard carbon fiber hood and carbon fiber roof panel on coupes. In addition, underbody pan-els are created with carbon-nano com-
"Like the ’63 Stingray, the best Corvettes embodied performance leadership, delivering cutting-edge technologies, breathtaking design and awe-inspiring driving experiences. The all-new Corvette goes farther than ever, thanks to today’s advancements in design, technology and engineering." Mark Reuss, General Motors North America President
Southern Automotive JournalJune 2013 5www.IneedOEMparts.com
Stingray Please Turn to Page 25
posite technology, an advanced blend of traditional composite material and carbon fiber for reduced weight and improved strength. Fenders, doors, rear quarter panels and the rear hatch panel are made with lighter-density Sheet Molded Compound than the previous generation.
More power with greater efficiencyThe lightweight elements of the
Stingray contribute to the ideal 50/50 weight balance. Combined with its esti-mated 450 horsepower (335 kW), the new Corvette delivers a better power-to-weight ratio than the Porsche 911 Carrera or Audi R8.
Those 450 horses are generated by an all-new LT1 6.2L Small Block V-8 engine, which also produces an estimat-ed 450 lb.-ft. of torque (610 Nm). More importantly, it generates 50 lb.-ft. more low-end torque than the previous 6.2L engine, matching the 7.0L LS7 engine from the 2013 Corvette Z06 from 1,000 to 4,000 rpm.
The engine’s performance comes from combining advanced technologies such as direct injection, Active Fuel Management and continuously vari-able valve timing with an advanced combus-tion system. More than 10 million hours of com-putational analysis went into the new Small Block’s design, including more than 6 million hours alone on the combustion system.
The LT1 is backed by a choice of active exhaust systems that are less restrictive than the previous genera-tion, due in part to an increase in diam-eter from 2.5 inches to 2.75 inches. The standard system offers a 13-percent improvement in airflow and features a pair of butterfly valves that con-tribute to greater refinement at cruising speeds when the engine is operating in fuel-saving V-4 mode.
The seven-speed manual incorporates rev-matching technology for upshifts and downshifts. This driver-selectable feature can be easily engaged or disengaged via paddles on the steering wheel. The
seven-speed is used with a new dual-mass flywheel and dual-disc clutch, which deliver greater shift qual-ity and feel through lower inertia.
T h e paddle -shi f t s i x - s p e e d a u t o m a t i c is optimized for use with Active Fuel Management and features a lower-iner-tia torque converter for improved shift quality and shift speeds. In addition, shift feel and shift points can be adjust-ed through the Driver Mode Selector.
Handcrafted, High-Tech InteriorThe Stingray interior blends
fine materials and craftsmanship with advanced technologies to deliver a more connected and more engaging driving experience.
The smaller, 14.1- inch - diameter (360 mm) steering wheel fosters a more direct, immediate feel to directional inputs.
The frame struc-ture for both seats is
made
o f m a g -
nesium for great-
er strength and less weight than
comparable steel frames. They’re also
more rigid, contributing to the enhanced feeling of support during performance driving.
Additional performance-enhanc-ing details of the interior resulted from designers’ “field trips” to GM’s Proving Ground in Milford, Mich., where high-performance driving experiences spurred the design and implementation of several features, including a steel-reinforced grab bar on the center con-sole for the passenger and soft-touch materials on the edge of the console, where the driver naturally braces during
high-load cornering.High-performance driving also
influenced elements of the configurable display screens and available head-up
"Every feature and detail in the interior is designed to enhance the driver’s connection to the Corvette. It starts with the fighter jet inspired wraparound cockpit; continues to build with the smaller steering wheel, more supportive seats, and high-definition, configurable screens, and is finished in gorgeous materials," Helen Emsley, director of interior design
Southern Automotive Journal June 20136 www.IneedOEMparts.com
Mechanical and Collision Parts In Stock
Toll Free 800-633-4304 Toll Free FAX 888-815-5238Local Collision 205-823-5237
Local Mechanical 205-957-1314
FIAT of Birmingham
5350 Grantswood RoadBirmingham, AL 35210
Industry employs more than 734,000 workers and generates nearly $355 billion to economy, study finds
A new economic impact study confirms that the motor vehicle parts manufacturers industry, made up of the original equipment, aftermarket, heavy duty and remanufacturing sectors, is the largest employer of manufacturing jobs in the United States. The industry directly employs more than 734,000 American workers and generates nearly $355 billion in GDP contribution, or 2.3 percent of the total U.S. GDP.
The study, released by the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) in collaboration with IHS, the leading global source of information and analytics, shows that the total employment impact for motor vehicle parts manufacturers in the U.S. was more than 3.62 million jobs in 2012.
"Motor vehicle parts manufacturers are the largest cre-ators of manufacturing jobs in the nation. With a presence in all 50 states, this industry is important to the health and success of American manufacturing, and to the future of this country," said Bob McKenna, president and CEO of MEMA.
"The study conducted by IHS provides valuable infor-mation for policymakers on the industry's overall impact on the U.S. economy," said McKenna. "We hope the data will be used as a resource for our nation's leaders to continue working to create a sustainable and vibrant manufacturing environment."
Motor Vehicle Parts Suppliers are Nation's Largest Employer of
Manufacturing Jobs
Top 15 States for U.S. Direct Employment
States Direct Jobs
Michigan 102,624Ohio 89,423Indiana 79,651Tennessee 48,284 Kentucky 41,097Illinois 37,087 Alabama 30,566Texas 29,422North Carolina 25,843South Carolina 24,569California 22,736Pennsylvania 21,130New York 19,005Missouri 16,648Georgia 16,287
Southern Automotive JournalJune 2013 7www.IneedOEMparts.com
1595 Montgomery Highway / Hoover, Alabama 35216
800.467.0699205.443.7656
David Bonnett(205) 443-7655
David Cartee(205) 443-7653
Frank Jackson(205) 443-7651
Jim Henson(205) 443-7654
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has sent a letter to all insurance companies conducting business in the state, asking them to pay for necessary procedures to restore recently hail damaged vehicles to pre-accident condition.
A recent hail storm left numerous Mississippi residents with damage to their busi-nesses, homes and vehicles. Hood's office has received reports that some insurance compa-nies are not including certain procedures in their estimates that would restore vehicles to pre-accident condition.
In addition, a survey of more than 30 body shops indicates that claims for repairs deemed necessary by the insurance compa-nies' own manuals and/or estimating software are not being included in estimates. The shops have stated that they will not make these repairs without payment from the insurance companies.
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has sent a letter to all insurance companies conducting business in the state
Southern Automotive Journal June 20138 www.IneedOEMparts.com
Southern Automotive Journal,Inc.
P.O. Box 675097
Marietta, Ga 30006-0009
(770) 321-9920
Volume 17 Issue No. 6
Jim TuckerPublisher
Michele TuckerEditor
Southern Automotive Journal (ISSN: 1092-6321) is published monthly by Southern Automotive Journal Inc. P.O. Box 675097, Marietta, Ga 30006-0009.SAJ accepts no responsi-bility for the opinions, views statements of the authors or for claims made by advertisers. Views expressed by writers are not necessarily those of the publication. Subscription: $12.00 per year. No representation is made as to the accuracy or the com-pleteness of the information provided by this publication. Entire contents copyright 2013. All rights reserved.
ContributorsNick Palermo Ami Vonesh
Russ Heaps Michael Winters
If you are a collision industry business seeking secondary or post-secondary collision students for sum-mer employment, please contact the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) so that the organization can communicate the employment oppor-tunities to local collision instructors and students. By connecting collision stu-dents, the industry's future profession-als, with businesses who have a need for entry-level workers, the Collision Repair Education Foundation can continue its ongoing efforts to "fuel the future" of the industry.
Collision industry members seek-ing collision students for summer employment should email [email protected] with the position details, location of opportunity, and a contact person. The Collision Repair Education Foundation will distribute informa-tion to local collision school instruc-tors. Interested collision students will be asked to contact the business directly.
Looking for Entry-Level Workers This Summer?
T h i r t y - e i g h t new parts were added to Ford Customer Service Division’s (FCSD) Collision Parts Truckload Program, with the list price reduction averaging 16 percent. The pro-gram continues to play a key role in help-ing collision repairers deliver high-quality, cost-effective repairs to their customers.
By offering Ford and Lincoln wholesal-ing dealers—the exclusive distributors of genuine Ford collision replacement parts—competitive prices on bulk pur-chases of high-volume collision parts, the Truckload Program allows them to compete more effectively against non-OEM copy parts and other parts specified by insurance customers. This allows for a win-win-win situation for insurance companies, body shops and
Truckload Program Adds 38 New Parts; Sales Continue to Grow
consumers.“The truckload program started
2013 with great sales momentum, after completing a record 2012,” said George Gilbert, Truckload Program manager for FCSD. “We’re competitive with the after-market imitation parts, which means more vehicles can be repaired with the parts that were exclusively engineered for their specific vehicle’s make and model—just as the original part was.”
The 38 part additions include eight tail lamps, six mirrors, two headlam-ps, four valances, four wheels, four grilles/GORs/GOPs, three iso-lators, three fascias, two parking lamps, one radiator, and one bumper bracket.
The Truckload Program currently covers over a dozen replacement part types, including bum-per fascias, steel bum-
pers, bumper bars, exterior lighting, mirrors, car and truck radiators, wheels, header panels, grilles/GORs/GOPs, isola-tors/impact pads/shafts and valances.
For more information on FCSD’s Truckload Program, or for a list of the parts currently available, contact your local Ford or Lincoln collision parts wholesaling dealer or the Ford Collision Parts Hotline at [email protected].
Collision Parts Truckload Program.
win situation for consumers, body shops and insurance companies.
available on the Truckload Program
Southern Automotive JournalJune 2013 9www.IneedOEMparts.com
[email protected] [email protected]
I-CAR® announced today that Chrysler Group LLC Director of Regulatory Affairs, Reginald R. Modlin, will service as keynote speaker during the I-CAR Inter-Industry Conference in Boston. The conference will be dedicated to chang-ing vehicle technology and Mr. Modlin will focus on the top-ics of CAFE compliance and impact on vehicle design, specifically light-weighting.
As Director of Regulatory Affairs, Mr. Modlin is responsible for all aspects of product safety and environmen-tal compliance. His key responsibilities include: policy development to guide reaction of legislation and regulations in the NAFTA regions vehicle emissions certification, fuel economy strategy and reporting, and vehicle safety compliance demonstrations and resolution of com-pliance issues with EPA and NHTSA. Mr. Modlin has been serving in this capacity for 14 years and has been with Chrysler
I-Car Unveils Keynote Speaker and Event Lineup for Inter-Industry Conference in Boston
for 38 years.On July 24 and 25, renowned
Autoline TV host and author, John McElroy, will serve as moderator lead-ing the I-CAR Inter-Industry Conference attendees through the fast-paced, com-prehensive 30,000-foot view agenda on
Driving Excellence…in Technology – The Changing World of Vehicle Technology & What it Means to You.
Day One focus is on advances in integrated vehicle safety systems, evolv-ing vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, and related background on driver behav-ior, trends and related regulations. The general session concludes with a Q & A
Speaker Panel.Day Two focus is on the topic of
CAFE and impact on vehicle design. The conference concludes with an Inter-Industry Panel that will bring together thought leaders from the Collision Repair Inter-Industry: Repairers, OEM, insurer,
tool & equipment, I-CAR and collision repair research. These experts will discuss the repair and business impacts associ-ated with today’s rapidly evolving vehicle technol-ogy landscape.
I-CAR speakers include technical lead-
ers from NHTSA, IIHS, the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), vehicle OEMs, and OEM suppliers, who will share their knowledge on the vehicle technol-ogy developments coming soon to the collision repair industry.
Those interested in attending may register for the conference as well as reserve a room at The Westin Boston Waterfront by going to: i-car.cvent.com/
Day One focus is on advances in integrated vehicle safety systems, evolving vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications
Day Two focus is on the topic of CAFE and impact on vehicle design.
Southern Automotive Journal June 201310 www.IneedOEMparts.com
As a member service, the material contained in the 2013 2nd Quarter Society of Collision Repair Specialsts (SCRS) Digital E-Catalog is provided by our Company and Corporate Members. It includes information regard-ing SCRS member benefits as well as information relative to some of the amazing services you can access at a discount as a member of SCRS.
It is our hope that you will find this material to be valuable and relevant by pro-viding you with information on products and services available to SCRS members, from companies whose sup-port throughout the year enables SCRS to represent you on a variety of issues. If you are a repair facility, we encour-age you to share this with your friends and colleagues; if you are with an association, please pass it along to your membership.
If you have any prob-lems, questions or comments, please call our SCRS Admin Office at 877.841.0660 and we will be glad to help.n
Digital E-Catalog Now Available For
Your Viewing
The state of Michigan recently approved Senate Bill 61 and Senate Bill 62, which were promptly signed by the governor. These bills address multiple health insurer issues including prohibit-ing Most Favored Nation (MFN) or cus-tomer clauses in health insurer contracts. The legislation did not address property and casualty insurers.
“Although this legislation does not include property and casualty insurers, it
ASA Encourages States to Ban Property, Casualty Insurers from Using Most Favored Nation Clauses
supports ASA’s position that MFN clauses can harm consumers,” said Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive. “We are going to continue to work with the Department of Justice as well as state legislators to educate them on the negative impact they have upon the consumer and the entire collision repair industry.”
ASA participated in a workshop on MFN clauses in September 2012 hosted
by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. MFN claus-es appear in a number of agreements offered by major national insurance companies. Following the workshop, ASA sent a letter to the assistant attor-ney general for the Antitrust Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, asking for a review of the MFN clauses used in many property and casualty direct repair agreements. The letter emphasized the
potentially harmful, anti-com-petitive impact of these claus-es on consumers and collision repair shops.n
structural parts, CAPA raised its own bar – we requested that the highly respected Insurance for Highway Safety conduct a series of high and low speed crashes. The sole purpose was to dem-onstrate the parts meeting the CAPA requirements will, in fact, perform in a comparable manner to the car company brand part in both high and low speed crashes. While this may appear to be an overly comprehensive requirement – crash testing is complex and cost-ly – CAPA is committed to re-assuring both consumers and the collision repair industry about the performance of the parts it certifies,” added Gillis.
While CAPA 501 Bumper Parts Standard provides the industry with confidence in the use of a CAPA Certified bumper part, only one manufacturer has chosen to submit their parts to CAPA for Certification. P r o d u c t i o n B u m p e r Stampings Inc., (PBSI) a U.S. based m a n u f a c t u r e r and member of the Diamond Standard Brand Group, has 29 CAPA Certified front bumpers r e p r e s e n t i n g over 40,000 parts available in the U.S. mar-ket. “Going for-ward we antici-pate the market will demand that even more of our bumper prod-ucts become CAPA Certified,” said Mike O’Neal, President of PBSI and Diamond Standard. “As the only manu-facturer certified by CAPA to meet the CAPA 501 Standards, we are prepared to meet
Southern Automotive JournalJune 2013 11www.IneedOEMparts.com
As the industry continues to grap-ple with issues related to the use of aftermarket structural parts for colli-sion repairs, the Certified Automotive Parts Association, (CAPA), provides the market with the ability to choose a quality option: Aftermarket parts that have been certified by CAPA to be com-parable to the car company brand part.
Approved by CAPA’s Technical Committee in 2010, the CAPA 501 Bumper Parts Standard, like all other CAPA Standards, is based on true and complete comparative testing of an aftermarket part to the car company brand counterpart.
In addition to requirements for material composition, mechanical properties (strength), construction fea-tures, fit and appearance, the CAPA 501 Standard also includes a series of full part dynamic crash tests. Test parts are mounted to a vehicle simulator and are crashed into a fixed, flat, rigid bar-rier at 5 mph. After the crash, high speed video and detailed graphs of the impact force and deceleration are used to compare the performance of the aftermarket part to the car company brand part. In addition, the amount of physical deformation is carefully exam-ined and compared.
“While this testing is extensive (and the complete procedure is publical-ly available), CAPA’s Board and Technical Committee wanted to insure that all performance characteristics were com-pared in detail to the car company brand parts,” said Jack Gillis, Executive Director of the Certified Automotive Parts Association.
“We’re all familiar with the say-ing ‘If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and swims like a duck, it’s a duck.’ While not particularly technical, that old expression explains the CAPA Certification philosophy,” said Gillis. If an aftermarket part uses the same materials, construction features, dimen-sions and geometry as the car company brand part, then it can be expected to perform in a truly comparable manner to the car company brand part.
“Because of industry concerns about the safety-related aspects of
CAPA Dynamic Testing Requirements Address Industry Concerns About Safety of Aftermarket Bumper Parts
that demand.”“Unfortunately, the market is giv-
ing aftermarket manufacturers who pro-duce structural bumper parts a mixed message,” stated shop owner and CAPA Technical Committee Chairman Mike Schoonover. “In spite of bumper sawing demonstrations and videos of ‘explod-ing’ energy absorbers, shops are still using non-CAPA Certified bumpers and other structural parts – regardless of the risks. As long as our various indus-tries accept the cheapest parts, there’s really no reason for those manufac-turers to produce high quality CAPA parts, despite the stated concerns about potential safety issues. The good news, for those shops concerned about reduc-ing repair costs and protecting their customers from poor quality parts, there is a CAPA alternative.”n
Insurance Please Turn to Page 32
O E M M E C H A N I C A L
CO L L I S I O N
arnoldchamlee@
hayeschrysler.com
ARNOLD
Local770.274.1127
Toll Free:1.800.727.5611
LEE
Local770.274.1130
Toll Free:1.800.344.9017
kelismith@
hayeschrysler.com
KELI
Local 478.405.0312
Toll Free:1.866.399.4245
FAX478.405.0313
franklintowler@
hayeschrysler.com
FRANKLIN
Local770.274.1128
Toll Free:1.800.727.5912
STEVELocal
770.274.1131
Toll Free:1.800.727.5920
ANDY
Local770.274.1121
Toll Free:1.800.727.4702
philmcguire@
hayeschrysler.comLocal
770.274.1125
Toll Free: 800.727.5962
PHIL
chrismoore@
hayeschrysler.com
Local770.274.1123
Toll Free:1.800.727.5641
CHRIS
mattw
Local770.274.1122
Toll Free:1.800.727.5593
MATT
michaelashf@
hayeschrysler.com
Local770.274.1126
Toll Free:1.800.727.5015
MICHAEL
timdavis@
hayeschrysler.com
Local770.274.1124
Toll Free:1.800.727.5936
TIM
Has it ALL !
Cell678.898.2000
Toll Free:1.800.241.8124
GREG
Outside Sales Rep.
David Bonnett(205) 443-7655
David Cartee(205) 443-7653
Frank Jackson(205) 443-7651
Jim Henson(205) 443-7654
Tameron Hyundai...One Way, The Right Way
(205)443-7651 (800) 467-0699 (205) 443-7656
1595 Montgomery Highway / Hoover, Alabama 35216
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Southern Automotive JournalJune 2013 13www.IneedOEMparts.com
The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights recently held a hearing titled “Oversight of the Enforcement of the Antitrust Laws.” Witnesses at the hearing included the Hon. William Baer, assistant attor-ney general for the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice; and the Hon. Edith Ramirez, chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission.
Baer discussed the U.S. Department of Justice’s interest in Most Favored Nation clauses (MFN) in his testimony:
“One area of focus for us and for the FTC is so-called “most favored nation clauses” (MFNs). Such provisions poten-tially distort the competitive process by raising the costs of health insurance and hospital services, preventing other insur-ers from entering the market and dis-
U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Antitrust Oversight Hearingcouraging discounts.
“This combination of enforcement and public discussion has shined a spot-light on the problems MFNs can cause, leading a number of states to take a hard look at these practices: On March 18, 2013, the state of Michigan enacted a statute to ban the use of MFNs in health care provider contracts, becoming the latest in a growing list of states that statutorily restrict or prohibit such provisions.”
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) expressed to Michigan policymak-ers that their MFN legislation should include property and casualty insurers. Baer also discussed the antitrust division’s specific work with auto parts in his testi-mony:
“The division’s ongoing auto parts matter is the widest-ranging criminal investigation in division history. We have
uncovered conspiracies spanning over a decade and involving numerous auto parts suppliers. These companies have rigged bids and fixed prices for critical parts of autos sold in the U.S. – including safety systems such as seatbelts, airbags, steering wheels, antilock brake systems, instrument panel clusters and electric wire harnesses. Thus far, nine corpora-tions have admitted their participation and paid fines of more than $800 million, and 12 executives have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to serve signifi-cant prison sentences. The investigation continues.”
Ramirez also touched on MFNs in her testimony and discussed a workshop ASA attended in 2012:
“The agencies recently co-hosted
Antitrust Oversight Turn to Page 14
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) announces its new board of directors, which was sworn in during the association’s annual business meeting April 19-20 in Hurst, Texas.
Darrell Amberson, AAM, LaMettry’s Collision, Minneapolis, will serve a two-year term as chair-man of ASA’s board of directors. Amberson assumed the chairman’s post at the conclusion of the meet-
New ASA Board of Directors Installed During Annual Business Meeting in Texasing.
Ron Nagy, AAM, Nagy’s Collision Centers, Orville, Ohio, will serve as immediate past chairman, and Donny Seyfer, AAM, Seyfer Automotive Inc., Wheat Ridge, Colo., was elected to serve a two-year term as chairman-elect.
Roy Schnepper, AAM, Butler’s Collision Inc., Roseville, Mich., was re-elected to serve a second one-year term as secretary/treasurer. All
other elected officers serve two-year terms.
Gary Keyes, AAM, E&M Motors Inc., Stuart, Fla., was re-elected as general director. Bob Wills, AAM, Wills Auto Service, Battle Creek, Mich., also remains as general director.
The final two board positions are held by ASA’s Collision Division
ASA Board of Directors Turn to Page 32
Southern Automotive Journal June 201314 www.IneedOEMparts.com
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Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, announced ear-lier today that Mercedes-Benz will enter into a new worldwide partner-ship with the Masters, beginning at the 2014 Tournament. Having been an International Partner of the Masters since 2008, Mercedes-Benz will now become a Global Sponsor, joining AT&T
Mercedes-Benz Becomes Global Sponsor of the Masters Tournamentand IBM.
"The Masters is the most pres-tigious golf tournament in the world and this partnership aligns with our strategy to place Mercedes-Benz at the forefront of premier sporting events," said Stephen Cannon, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. "Mercedes-Benz has a long-standing history with golf and to be associated as a Global
Sponsor of the Masters strengthens our existing ties with one of the world's most popular and widely played sports."
Mercedes-Benz supports golf globally with a portfolio of major tour-naments and grassroots initiatives. The Company recently marked a twenty-year milestone in the United States for its involvement in the sport, which has reached an unprecedented level.
ASA Asks Texas Members to Send Letters of Support for Franchise Tax Equity Legislation
Texas Franchise Tax Bill, Substitute House Bill 500, was recently placed on the General State Calendar and the bill could be addressed soon. Currently, automotive service and collision repair shops owned and operated by new or used car dealerships are taxed at half the rate used to tax independent automo-tive repair facilities doing identical work. The Texas state tax code classifies dealer-ship sales as “retail” and allows their ser-
Texas Franchise Bill Placed on Legislative Calendarvice and repair business to be included under that banner.
Texas Franchise Tax Bill, Substitute H.B. 500, states that “the activities clas-sified as Industry Group 753 of the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification Manual published by the federal Office of Management and Budget” fall under Retail Trade,” addressing the Texas ineq-uity.
According to Charles Parker, execu-tive director of ASA-Texas who testified recently on behalf of ASA: “This legisla-tion is critical in helping the independent
repair shops of Texas by correcting the unfair taxation of independent repair shops throughout Texas. We are grateful to Rep. Allen Fletcher (TX-130) and Rep. Harvey Hilderbran (TX-53) for leading this fight for independent automotive repairers.”
ASA requests that Texas members rally around Substitute House Bill 500 by sending a letter to their legislators urg-ing them to support this bill. To contact Texas legislators, simply visit ASA’s legis-lative website at www.TakingTheHill.com and click “View Current Alerts.”
two workshops: one exploring the anti-trust implications of most-favored-nation clauses and … another exploring the impact of patent assertion entities. The Commission understands the special obli-
gation of the law enforcement agencies to speak with one voice whenever pos-sible in important areas of U.S. antitrust policy, and to work in tandem to promote the interests of American consumers.”
ASA participated in the joint DOJ-FTC MFN workshop last year. ASA con-
tacted the U.S. Department of Justice last fall about the impact of MFN clauses on consumers and collision repair facilities.
To view the testimony from the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in its entirety, , please visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com.
Antitrust Oversight From Page 13
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The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute's Annual Dinner, April 20, has already raised more than $2.2 million toward its $2.5 million goal, thanks in part to the auction of the first regu-lar retail production 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible, donated by Chevrolet.
The vehicle went for $1 million at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Palm Beach, Fla., April 5. The winning bid came from Hendrick Automotive Group Chairman and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, an avid Corvette collector. One hundred percent of the auction's proceeds, in addition to gener-ous gifts from other sponsors, make up the more than $2.2 million raised-to-date. Donations benefit the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit and will sup-port cancer care and a new clinical core lab.
"This is yet another example of what makes Rick Hendrick a great man, a great friend, and a great competitor," said Mark Reuss, president, General Motors North America. "Whether battling other race teams on the track or fighting cancer in the research lab, Rick is a guy I'd want on my side."
Chevrolet donated the highly cov-eted sports car as part of General Motors' support for the Karmanos Cancer Institute and its upcoming 31st Annual Dinner, of which Chevrolet is Host Sponsor. Event Chairs are Mark and Kim Reuss. Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehen-sive cancer centers in the country.
The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible offers all of the uncompromising performance of the coupe, including an estimated 450 horse-power and a 0-to-60 acceleration time of four seconds, according to GM. In addition, its all-new, fully electronic top can be lowered remotely and opened or closed at speeds of up to 30 mph.
Barrett-Jackson was established in 1971 and specializes in providing prod-ucts and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and auto-motive enthusiasts around the world.
"We were honored that Chevrolet
Auction of First 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible brings Donations to over $2.2 Million to-date toward Karmanos Cancer Institute's Annual Dinner
selected Barrett-Jackson to make the sale of its first production 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible at our Palm Beach auction," said Barrett-Jackson Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson. "My passion for unique, high-end cars is matched by my enthusiasm to raise money through our auctions for great charities, such as the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. It's evi-dent that Rick Hendrick shares this same enthusiasm and we couldn't be hap-pier that he purchased both the Stingray coupe back at our Scottsdale auction in January, and now the convertible in Palm Beach."
The donation of this collectible vehicle demonstrates GM's outstanding commitment to the Karmanos Cancer Institute. In addition, for the second con-secutive year, the GM Foundation has generously donated $400,000 to can-
cer research, bringing GM and the GM Foundation's total support of Karmanos to nearly $7.4 million over the last 16 years.
"The commitment of GM and the GM Foundation to further the Karmanos Cancer Institute's innovative cancer research and exceptional patient care is nothing short of magnificent," said Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Karmanos. "From the company's top leadership to its employees and part-ners, GM's investment to improve life for those diagnosed with cancer and sig-nificantly impact our global fight to end this disease is truly outstanding. We are extremely grateful to GM and the GM Foundation, the team at Barrett-Jackson, Mr. Hendrick and all our sponsors and supporters for the incredible generos-ity, moving us closer to a world without cancer."n
Southern Automotive Journal June 201318 www.IneedOEMparts.com
Chrysler 300 SRT8 Please Turn to Page 26
The 2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8 sedan is targeted at customers that seek heart pounding, adrenaline-filled excitement, but don’t want to sacrifice comfort and innovative features to get it. With head turning designs inside and out, the 300 SRT8 provides the ultimate com-bination of world-class luxury, power and handling.
Performance numbers include 0-60 mph accel-eration in the high 4-second range; quarter mile in high 12-second range; 0-100-0 mph in less than 16 seconds, top speed of 175 mph and stopping power from 60-0 mph in 120 feet.
The return of the 300 SRT8 to the Chrysler lineup in 2012 evoked a strong comparison to the original high-performance production car of its time – the 1955 Chrysler 300. Known for simple, strong lines, excellent engineering, high levels of luxury and outstanding per-formance with the first modern American V-8 engine to produce 300 horsepower, the first Chrysler 300 (C-300) was styled by Virgil Exner, who radically redesigned the entire Chrysler line and created what they called "The Forward Look" in 1955. Without much chrome on the sides, his designs were simple, but strong. Exner is cred-ited with creating the illusion of fast, forward movement.
The Chrysler C-300 won on both the road course and the “flying mile” at Daytona in 1955. In 1956, the Chrysler 300B model won both events again. In fact, the Chrysler 300s dominated NASCAR competition in 1955 and 1956, taking the overall championship in both years. A legendary and luxurious performance car was born. The “letter cars” quickly became the most desirable of the Chrysler lineup and became known as the “Beautiful Brutes.”
Awe-inspiring powertrain Under the hood of the 2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8,
the 6.4-liter HEMI® V-8 delivers 470 horsepower (351 kW) and 470 lb.-ft. (637 N•m) of torque.
The high torque output allows for inspired stand-ing starts and straight-line performance while perfor-mance-tuned motor mounts improve idle stability and ride control at any speed. An active intake manifold and high-lift camshaft with cam phasing provides maximum low-end torque while optimizing high-end power.
On the highway, up to 23 mpg is achieved by use of an active valve exhaust system that allows the standard Fuel Saver Technology (four-cylinder mode) to engage over a wide rpm range. The active exhaust system also allows for straight-through mid and rear mufflers for a throaty exhaust note under engine load.
The proven five-speed automatic transmission is controlled through standard steering wheel mounted paddle shifters or the center-console mounted Auto Stick, allowing for a choice of spirited shifting on both
2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8 Provides Ultimate Combination of Luxury and High-Performance
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National Convention held in Atlanta in May.
This year Family Promise is celebrat-ing 25 years of helping homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence.
During an interview Sulkala said "The fit between NABC and Family Promise is what we really needed to move the Recycled Rides program for-ward. They work on a local level and so do we."
Michelle Coombs with Sport and Imports added, "It's the shops, suppli-ers and insurance company working together that make it possible. We were able to help a family in Augusta who needs a 7-passenger vehicle. Hayes Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Lawrenceville helped with the parts and State Farm with the vehicle."
Based in Summit, New Jersey, Family Promise is a national non-
National Auto Body Council Speaks at Family Promise National ConventionRight: Supporting the NABC efforts; Emily Behrendsen - Sports and Imports;Chuck Sulkala - NABC;Michelle Coombs - Sports and Imports; Gene Hamilton -Sport and Imports; and Tracy C. Owens, Allstate insurance Company
Below:Chuck Sulkala, Executive Director of The National Auto Body Council speaks to over 500 attendees.
"The Interfaith Faith Hospitality Network of Coastal Georgia said they know of a family in need of a vehi-cle. Outside sits is a 2008 black Nissan Altima. The National Auto Body Council's Recycled Rides Program is sending that car to that family in need. We give a special thanks to Sports and Imports here in Atlanta who made that donation possible," said Chuck Sulkala, Executive Director of The National Auto Body Council.
"Seven years ago we donated 5 vehicles. Last year we donated over 150 vehicles with 100 collision shops par-ticipating. We provide 3 to 8-year old cars with fewer than 100,000 miles for donation. These vehicles are excellent transportation values," commented Mr. Sulkala.
Sulkala addressed attendees dur-ing a luncheon at the Family Promise
profit organization dedicated to help-ing homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence. Their work began in 1988, founded on the belief that Americans are compassionate people who want to make a difference. Today Family Promise has 182 Affiliates in 41 states, with more in development. Family Promise is a leader in promoting volunteerism and has served as a model of American volunteerism in the U. S. and abroad. Their programs involve more than 160,000 volunteers. They provide assistance to more than 50,000 families annually. Family Promise was chosen to receive one of the 21 Points of Light awards out of a field of more than 4,500 nominees.
If you would like more information about Family Promise and its programs, please contact Family Promise, (908) 273-1100. Or E-mail: [email protected]
Southern Automotive Journal June 201322 www.IneedOEMparts.com
Kia Sorento Please Turn to Page 30
Just three years after U.S. produc-tion of the Sorento began in West Point, Georgia, Kia Motors America (KMA) debuted a significantly redesigned iter-ation of this capable CUV at the 2012 Los Angeles International Auto Show. The 2014 Sorento will arrive to market as no mere refresh or facelift, boasting instead an all-new chassis, a powerful new Gasoline Direct Injected (GDI) V6 engine, a substantially restyled interior, a next-generation infotainment system and Kia’s first-ever blind spot detection system2. With the sale date expected to land in the first quarter of 2013, the new Sorento also adds a top-of-the-line trim level to its lineup – the SX Limited3 – which delivers an impressive roster of premium features and amenities.
“The new Sorento improves heav-ily on its already successful crossover formula with signifi-cant enhancements across the board to chassis, powertrain, technology, ameni-ties and design,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice presi-dent, marketing and c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , KMA. “Now more refined and impres-sive than ever, the Sorento advances people-moving and family transportation to new levels of sophistication.”
Fundamental Changes Improve Performance, Ride and Handling
If the engine is to be considered the heart of any vehicle, it’s safe to assume the new 2014 Sorento has a powerful ticker beneath its sculpted hood. New this year, the all-aluminum 3.3-liter GDI V6 produces a smooth 290 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and a stout 252 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,200 rpm. It’s available option-ally on the LX, while residing as standard equipment in the LX V6, EX V6, SX and SX Limited. Power is routed to either the front wheels or, optionally, to all four using an enhanced Torque On Demand all-wheel drive system that seamlessly directs power to the tire with the most
Redesigned 2014 Kia Sorento Poised To Impress
traction and now includes the benefit of Torque Vectoring Cornering Control (TVCC) that aids stability under certain driving conditions.
The 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder engine returns, now as standard equip-ment and replaces the previously stan-dard 2.4-liter MPI 4-cylinder. With 191 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 181 lb.-ft. of torque on-hand at a low 4,250 rpm, the lightweight all-aluminum powerplant is efficient while still providing enough grunt to perform yeoman’s duty day in and day out.
Regardless of engine or driveline choice, the Sorento comes standard with a smooth shifting six-speed auto-matic transmission. Also standard in the new 2014 Sorento, Electric Motor Driven
Power Steering replaces the hydraulic unit from the 2013 model for improved efficiency and is quicker with 2.95 turns of the steering wheel, lock-to-lock. The new steering also features an available Flex Steer™ system that offers drivers a choice of three steering modes: Comfort, Normal and Sport.
Just three years into its product lifecycle, Kia’s engineers saw fit to bring the new 2014 Sorento to market on an all-new chassis that increases torsional rigid-ity by 18-percent. A major focal point in designing the new chassis was to improve ride and handling. Within the engine bay, strut-tower bracing increases chassis strength and provides a solid platform
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Parts Managers - We Buy Obsolete NISSAN Parts - Call Jon
The results of vehicle inspections held at community car care events across the country during Car Care Months in April and October 2012 reveal that 77 percent of vehicles need service or parts. An annual analysis of vehicle inspection forms found the top three problem areas posting the highest fail-ure rates to be engine oil (22 percent), engine cooling systems (20 percent) and brake service (18 percent).
Eight percent of the vehicles inspected had the "check engine" light on and new air filters were needed in 19 percent of the vehicles. At least one belt was reported as unsatisfactory in 14 per-cent of the vehicles inspected, and 10 percent required at least one new hose. Battery cables, clamps and terminals needed maintenance in 11 percent of the vehicles inspected, while 10 percent
Three Out of Four Cars Need Serviceof the batteries were not properly held down.
When checking lubricants and flu-ids, the three top failure rates were: low or dirty motor oil at 22 percent; low, leaky or dirty coolant at 20 percent; and inadequate brake fluid levels at 18 percent. Power steering, coolant and transmission fluids were also checked and had failure rates of 14 percent and below.
Approximately 14 percent of vehi-cles had front windshield wiper failures, and 1 percent needed service to rear wipers. At least 13 percent of vehicles needed lights replaced, including head-lights, brake lights and license plate lights. Improperly inflated tires were found on 9 percent of the cars and 10 percent had worn tread and were in need of replacement. Tire pressure
failure rate has steadily declined after recording the highest rate of 54 percent in 2003.
"Neglected vehicle care almost always means much higher costs down the line in the form of more exten-sive repairs or lost resale value," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. "Following a routine main-tenance program like the Car Care Council's free personalized schedule and e-mail reminder service can help you drive smart, save money and make informed decisions."
The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education cam-paign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For more information, visit www.carcare.org.
the information is the last-ditch cry of the flat world, yet the manufacturers’ support for NASTF has only strength-ened over the past decade. There is no evidence of that ever changing. All evidence points to their continued sup-port.”
Boyce concluded his testimony with strong remarks: “I see nothing positive that will come from this leg-islation. It will do nothing to compel the flat world to subscribe to informa-tion or pur-chase tool-ing that the OEs already have to offer, nor will it compel any technician[s] to get the training they need. Instead, all that I can see it has to offer, through u n i nte n d e d circumstanc-es, is to flat-ten out the round world of shops like mine. I don’t
Southern Automotive JournalJune 2013 25www.IneedOEMparts.com
The Maine legislature recent-ly held a hearing on LD 788, Right to Repair legislation, titled “Vehicle Owners and Repair Facilities.” The hear-ing was held in the Joint Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development.
Ken Boyce, the owner of Ken’s Auto Repair Inc. in Buxton, Maine, presented testimony on behalf of the Automotive Service Association (ASA). He has 29 years of experience in auto repair.
Boyce made compelling argu-ments in opposition to the Right to Repair legislation throughout his testi-mony. He said:
“There are lots of conflicting opin-ions about the right to repair issue. In my opinion, this legislation has no pur-pose. All it would do is codify an agree-ment that was reached over a decade ago at the behest of the U.S. Congress after they expressed their desire to not inject themselves into the middle of the situation.
The existing agreement between automakers and the aftermarket was reached in 2002. It has been around so long that some of the original manu-facturers involved – such as Pontiac, Mercury, Saab, Saturn and Suzuki – no longer even exist. With the formation of the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF), and the introduction of the Secure Data Release Model (SDRM), the agreement is strong and in a state of continual improvement. The threat that the manufacturers might take away
Maine Legislature Holds Hearing on Right to Repair Legislationwant that and my customers don’t want that. The key is proper education, proper tooling, and support of the agreement that is already in place, not legislation. If our voluntary, industry service informa-tion process fails, we will be the first in line asking for the state of Maine’s help. We see no signs of failure to date. ASA opposes ME LD 788.”n
Stingray From Page 5
display, which vary depending on the driving mode, including the Track dis-play inspired by the C6.R.
At the core of the Corvette Stingray’s driver-focused tech-nologies is the cockpit-mount-ed Driver Mode Selector, which allows drivers to optimize the car for their driving preference and road conditions via five set-tings: Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport and Track.
The Stingray interior blends fine materials and craftsmanship with
advanced technologies to deliver a more connected and more engaging driving expe- rience.
"The all-new Corvette Stingray is really three cars in one: It provides the comfort and functionality of a long-distance GT car, the connectedness and infotainment of a daily driver and the acceleration, grip and braking of
a capable track car. With the Driver Mode Selector, we wanted to give the driver an easy way to tailor virtually every aspect of the car to fit their driving environment. The
result is a more rewarding, more confident experience, whether you’re
commuting in a downpour or charging through the corkscrew at Laguna Seca," Harlan Charles, product manager.n
the road and the racetrack. Both methods give the driver the ability to manually select specific gears on the transmission.
Outstanding ride, handling and capabil-ity
New for 2013 is an improved adap-tive damping suspension (ADS) system that is expanded to three modes and tuned specifically for the Chrysler 300 SRT8 to offer a compliant and comfort-able ride on the street yet easily can be switched to handle on-track conditions.
In “Auto” mode, a wide range of on-road and driver inputs automatically tune the suspension for specific conditions.
In “Sport” mode, the damping sys-tem rebound and compression is locked to a higher damping rate. Drivers can eas-ily choose between settings with a press of a button on the center stack to quickly change the shock damping characteris-tics from “Auto” for everyday commuting to “Sport” for more spirited driving situ-ations.
In “Track” mode, the higher damp-ing rates combine with a performance shifting and gear holding feature that allows the driver full shift control when using the steering wheel mounted pad-dle controls or AutoStick.
A new for 2013, standard launch control system helps maximize straight-line acceleration.
When the vehicle is at a complete stop, the driver engages the system by pressing the ESC button twice and then with their foot securely on the brake, quickly applies full throttle. Launch con-trol holds the engine at optimal launch rpm (1,825) and waits for the driver to release the brake. Launch control then uses engine torque management to achieve controlled wheelslip for maxi-mum acceleration up to 62 mph (100 kph).
Benchmark brakingSRT vehicles are well known for
their world-class stopping power and the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 features 14.2 inch (front) and 13.8 inch (rear) vented/slotted rotors with four-piston Brembo calipers painted in silver finish.
The Ready Alert Braking system anticipates when the driver quickly releas-es the accelerator pedal and may initi-
ate an emergency brake stop, after which the electronic stabil-ity control pump engages to set brake pads against rotors in order to decrease the time required for full brake application.
Improved brake cooling and fade performance comes courtesy of wind tunnel designed brake cooling ducts that direct airflow to the vented rotors for consistent stopping power.
Race-inspired and high-performance interior
The interior environment combines world-class luxury accommodations with performance-oriented technology and appointments.
A leather-wrapped, heated, SRT-exclusive steering wheel features a unique satin chrome rim section with a flattened bottom surface showing the SRT logo. Standard paddle shift controls flank both sides of the contoured palm rests while all audio and Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) controls are accessible from the horizontal spokes on the steering wheel.
The full-color graphic EVIC with exclusive Performance Pages includes timers for 0-60 mph, one-eighth mile and quarter-mile times, 60-0 braking dis-tance, along with lateral and longitudinal g-forces within the touchscreen display.
The instrument panel’s 8.4-inch color touchscreen display – the segment’s
largest standard display – also has all the same Performance Pages data as the EVIC, and is further expanded to include steering angle, horsepower and torque outputs along with engine gauges. The display is customizable to a driver select-able background.
Connectivity and Infotainment The state-of-the-art Uconnect
Media Center 8.4N system provides all of the next-generation mobile infotain-ment and multimedia items to keep pas-sengers connected between any destina-tions. With the segment’s largest stan-dard touchscreen display (8.4 inches), the easy-to-use system delivers world-class functionality with an intuitive user inter-face that was benchmarked against the best E-segment sedans from Europe, Asia and North America.
Uconnect Voice Command, Uconnect Media Center, steering-wheel controls and familiar center-stack controls all work in synergy to make the experi-ence intuitive and simple for the driver. n
Chrysler 300 SRT8 From Page 18
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Southern Automotive JournalJune 2013 27www.IneedOEMparts.com
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PartsTrader LLC announced recently that it has released a signifi-cant upgrade to the PartsTrader appli-cation. This latest release includes a new feedback function which allows repairers and suppliers to provide feed-back on the performance of their trad-ing partners.
In meeting with PartsTrader users across the initial five markets, repair facilities and parts suppliers consis-tently requested the capability to pro-vide measurable feedback within the product.
"In order for us to build and main-tain a program that is beneficial to repairers and suppliers, it was critical for us to deliver the ability to provide real-time feedback on performance," said Dale Sailer, PartsTrader's Vice
New Partstrader Release Includes Feedback FeaturePresident of Business Development. "So many companies lose customers each year without any idea why they lost the business, or didn't gain the new cus-tomer that they hoped to work with."
Within the ordering functional-ity of the PartsTrader application, each party will - on randomly-selected trans-actions - provide quantitative feedback on how well the other party performed. Users may also provide proactive feed-back on a business partner, if desired. In a future release of PartsTrader, this feedback will be utilized to present a star-based rating on each repairer and supplier. These ratings will provide repairers with a tool to evaluate new suppliers, and for suppliers to deter-mine their interest in submitting parts quotes to unknown repairers.
"For years we have heard the industry asking for a way to objec-tively evaluate business performance throughout the parts supply chain," added Rob Cooper, PartsTrader's Chief Executive Officer. "This new feature is the first step in PartsTrader's users being able to make informed decisions as they consider building new business rela-tionships for buying or selling repair parts."
With this latest release, PartsTrader continues to make improvements to the platform and the overall user experi-ence. Additional improvements within this release include the ability of the repairer to cancel parts placed on a fax order within the system and user-rec-ommended improvements to both the quoting and part selection screens.
Southern Automotive Journal June 201328 www.IneedOEMparts.com
Frank Lanza Offered his experiences on seek-ing payment for paint and materials based on the use of a paint and material calculator (PMC Logic) and the fact the art of negotiation was an important part of getting paid. Frank Lanza owner of Highway Garage in Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Aaron Schulenburg began by re-addressing a concern brought up last year with State Farm's PartsTrader program. “The problem with programs like these is that they are incredibly intrusive into that rela-tionship you have with your own vendors, as well into your own internal business practices,” Aaron Schulenburg – Executive Director, SCRS
Rick Leos, a body and collision business devel-opment consultant for Toyota, was on hand to discuss the Predictive estimating system he helped build for properly and efficiently repairing a vehicle from the blue-print. Rick Leos, body & collision business development consultant for Toyota
The Southern Automotive Repair Industry Conference and Expo Returned to the Mississippi Gulf Coast
The Southern Automotive Repair Industry Conference and Expo returned to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Friday, April 26 to Saturday, April 27 for the sec-ond year in a row, held this year at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi. This year's interview series and open forum re-addressed many of chal-lenges facing the automotive repair industry, and many new issues arose over the course of the annual two-day event. The conference and expo was made possible through the efforts of collision repair industry professionals in Alabama and Mississippi. The Alabama Automotive Repair Industry Society of Excellence and Mississippi Collision Repair Association, this year's organiz-ers, are non-profit associations that exist to promote professionalism and consumer awareness of the collision repair industry.
Industry representatives from Mississippi, Alabama, and neighbor-ing states were in attendance, packing out three of the Beau Rivage's large ballrooms Friday and Saturday with a turnout easily double last year's. Among them were members of the Mississippi Collision Repair Association, Alabama Automotive Repair Industry Society of Excellence, Florida Auto Collision Alliance, Georgia Collision Industry Association, and Tennessee Collision Repairers Association. ALARISE Executive Director, Steve Plier, was impressed by the increased num-bers from last year, commenting that it was an “excellent turnout from the shops representing six different states: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana.”
Friday evening's reception and exhibition in the Camellia Ballroom
provided food and drinks as attendees browsed booths and literature show-casing new innovations and concepts intended to better equip the repair industry to face the challenges of this century. Industry technology represen-tatives championed their company's tool and material products' usage alongside and, in some cases, as replacements for existing technologies already common-ly used by industry professionals.
Tennessee Collision Repair Association Executive Director, Tony Nethery, a speaker last year, discussed “The Value of One” during Saturday morning's vendor and repairer sessions. “The idea is that we have to capture every dollar on every estimate that we write,” Nethery said. “The reality is when we add one more dollar, a lot of times that's our profit,” Nethery explained, “In the industry today, the profit margins
by: Michael Winters
www.IneedOEMparts.com Southern Automotive JournalJune 2013 29www.IneedOEMparts.com
Conference Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Edwards Chevrolet
PPG Rozars, Birmingham, AL
Automotive Painters Supplier, Mobile AL
Diamond Level
Automotive Color
National Coating Supply
Overnight Parts Alliance
General Exhibitors:
Advance Equipment Solutions
All Start Auto Lights
Collision Automotive Repair Services (CARS)
ComputerLogic/PMC Logic
Dupont Performance Coating and
O'Reilly's Automotive Refinish Division
English Color and Supply
Enterprise
LKQ Corporation
Mitchell International
The Clip Man - Automotive Fasteners
Urethane Supply Company
Additional:
B & D Auto Parts
Colormatch
Dewey Barber Chevrolet
Spradin Auto
have been cut to the point that if we give away even so much as a dollar, we may be giving away our profit on the job.” Nethery said the biggest change he has seen in his field since last year is the technology of the vehicle. “It has become so much more comprehensive, and it continues every year, so we really have to educate ourselves to be able to not only perform repairs correctly, but to get paid to perform the repairs cor-rectly.”
After lunch, the speaker pro-gram began with Society of Collision Repair Specialists Executive Director, Aaron Schulenburg, who recognized the basic importance of surviving in a chal-lenging landscape and applauded those who attended to make a difference. Schulenburg began by re-addressing a concern brought up last year with State Farm's PartsTrader program. “The prob-lem with programs like these is that they are incredibly intrusive into that relationship you have with your own vendors, as well into your own internal business practices,” Schulenburg said.
The program has met much criticism since it began rolling out in markets across the nation, which have had unique results and threats of drop-outs. “These types of programs were all pitched in the beginning as an effi-ciency-builder, and the reality is that
it hasn't improved anybody's effi-ciency,” Schulenburg said. The main issue, Schulenburg felt, was that the program allowed an amateur in the field to dictate to a professional with decades of experience how to do things. But because of the national backlash and inefficiency, he saw a lack of enthusiasm for the program compared to last year before the test markets had been opened. “If we could just go back to running our business and you went back to run-ning yours,” Schulenburg said, “we wouldn't even have to have these discussions.”
Next up, Rick Leos, a body and collision business development consultant for Toyota, was on hand to discuss the predictive estimating system he helped build for prop-erly and efficiently repairing a vehicle from the blueprint. During his pre-sentation, he had a prototype model of the program and went step-by-step through the program for how to achieve this cost-effectively. Leos said that while he has been offered to meet with various insurance compa-nies about his program, he explained that his integrity and commitment to the customer would be compro-
Shop owner Ray Gunder of Gunder’s Auto Center in Lakeland, Fla. and attorney Brent Geohagan took the stage to talk about a rea-
sonable resolution to an industry-wide problem: short pays.
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for the redesigned independent front suspension that is mounted to a stiffer H-shaped sub-frame cradle for improved ride comfort and NVH. Around back, a reinforced multi-link setup utilizes new, larger bushings and mounts to improve road noise, vibration and straight line stability, while its compact design allows for more interior space.
Sophisticated Design, Inside and OutIn a segment more often known
for bland utility, the new 2014 Sorento sports dynamic and sophisticated design elements, inside and out. Redesigned front and rear fascias enhance the Sorento’s road presence with a lower, broader appearance up front and a visually wider stance at the rear. The ubiquitous Kia tiger-nose grille is enhanced with an anod-ized silver metal or black mesh appearance, and the lower valance has been opened to expose an aggressive cross-hatched maw. Front LED positioning lamps create dramatic eyebrows while projector style headlights peer from behind tapered clear lenses. Available fog lights on all trim models have been
upended and pushed to the far corners of the front bumper for better forward and side visibility. Horizontally positioned rear LED combination lamps embrace the turn signal and back-up lights, emitting a warm corona that makes the 2014 Sorento instantly recognizable from behind. The new Sorento rides on redesigned 17-, 18- and, a first for Kia’s best-selling CUV, larger 19-inch wheels.
To step inside the new 2014 Sorento is to experience a new level of sophisti-cated elegance. A redesigned instrument panel deftly combines technology with proven ergonomics. Standard on EX and optionally available on the LX trim, the
large center gauge cluster features a 7-inch TFT LCD that projects a digital speed-ometer flanked by easy-to-read analog
instruments for the tachometer, fuel level and engine temp. The TFT LCD readout also displays trip and vehicle information, along with navigation updates (optional). The center stack’s appearance and layout has been modernized and button posi-tions have been rearranged for a more user-friendly experience. The new design also provides room for Kia’s new larger touch screen. Diagonally spanning eight inches, the optional screen integrates navigation, SiriusXM Traffic™4 with real-time road information updates, a pre-mium Infinity®5 audio system, SiruisXM™ Satellite Radio6, Bluetooth® hands-free connectivity7, vehicle settings and UVO
eServices, Kia’s next generation of infotainment and telematics. Other new available features in the 2014 Sorento include Kia’s first-ever pro-grammable power liftgate, a rede-signed panoramic sunroof with a one piece power-operated shade, inte-grated 2nd row sliding sunshades, available dual ventilated air-cooled front seats, a 115-volt power inverter, and illuminated door handle pock-ets.
Using advanced sonar sensors, the 2014 Sorento is also the first of many Kia vehicles to begin offering a blind spot detection system. The system continually monitors traffic around the Sorento, and if another
vehicle is detected within a set distance, audio and visual elements alert the driver to the issue.
Kia Sorento From Page 22
Southern Automotive Journal June 201330 www.IneedOEMparts.com
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and Mechanical Division direc-tors: Dan Stander, AAM, Fix Auto Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Colo. (Collision Division); and Bill Moss, AAM, EuroService Automotive Inc., Warrenton, Va. (Mechanical Division).
Dan Risley, ASA interim execu-tive director, also serves on the ASA board of directors in an ex-officio capacity.
ASA also wishes to thank the following dedicated board members whose terms concluded at the close of the annual business meeting: Jerry
Burns, AAM (former immediate-past chairman), Automotive Impressions Inc., Rio Rancho, N.M.; and for-mer affiliate directors Joel Baxter, AAM, B&B Auto and Truck Repair, Bremerton, Wash., and Mark Gurnsey, AAM, Accountable Auto Care Inc., Broomfield, Colo.
ASA Board of Directors From Page 13
I-CAR, the Collision Repair Inter-Industry’s provider of techni-cally focused education, knowledge and related solutions and services, has re-engineered its annual event to a new and exciting format focused on topics highly relevant to the entire Inter-Industry including repair organi-zations, vehicle OEMs, insurers, edu-cators, suppliers and related services providers.
I-CAR’s July 2013 Inter-Industry Conference theme is: Driving Excellence…In Technology: The Changing World of Vehicle Technology & What it Means to You. The conference is designed to benefit industry leaders who recognize that vehicle technol-ogy changes are significant, moving quickly and broadly, and represent sig-
nificant changes for the collision repair industry.
To this end, I-CAR is inviting tech-nical leaders from NHTSA, IIHS, the Center for Automotive Research, vehicle OEMs, and OEM suppliers to share their knowledge on the vehicle technology developments coming soon to the colli-sion repair industry. According to I-CAR CEO & President, John Van Alstyne, “Our focus for the conference is to help our industry better understand the impact associated with rapidly evolving vehicle technologies such as collision avoidance, telematics and CAFE driven vehicle lightweighting and architec-ture changes, and to learn about these directly from the technologists that are helping to create the future.”
This fast-paced conference begins
with a luncheon on July 24 at 12:30 p.m., and then proceeds into a general session with speaker presentations and a recap panel until 5 p.m. That evening, attendees will have the opportunity to attend the I-CAR Networking Reception and Sponsor Showcase Event.
Day Two kicks off at 8 a.m. with I-CAR Business over Breakfast, where four national awards will be presented along with presentations from John Van Alstyne, I-CAR CEO & President as well as I-CAR Board of Directors Chair, Bill Brower. The Day Two general ses-sion follows at 9 a.m. with more techni-cal insights and concludes at 11 a.m. following an Inter-Industry panel that will discuss the impact vehicle tech-nology changes will have on industry repair and business practices.
I-Car Returns To Roots With All New Inter-Industry July Conference
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Jeff Gillis (Lt) and Steve Yancey (rt) speaking with John Cardell [Jeff Gillis is a represen-tative with O'Reilly's A u t o m o t i v e Refinish Division, Steve Yancey works for Dupont and John Cardell works for Chief.
mised in doing so. Steve Lanza spoke about a
study he conducted on paint materials compensation via a materials calculator which revealed concerns about how the shops were being compensated. He advocated the usage of a paint materi-als calculator to take into consideration uncertain factors due to a changing pricing and technology landscape and to handle business in as fair a manner as possible, and that the additional time involved to do so would be well worth the investment.
Ending up the program, Shop owner Ray Gunder, owner of Gunder’s Auto Center in Lakeland, Fla. and attor-ney Brent Geohagan took the stage. Gunder talked about his journey to financial stability from the practice of honoring contracts and getting a rea-sonable resolution to an industry-wide problem, short pays, with Geohagan's help. Gunder felt that he had recent-ly overcome the feeling of being held hostage at his own business due to, in Geohagan's words, the oftentimes “la-la land” nature of the of the repair industry.
The nature of the issue in their remarks stem from practices regard-ing insurance companies paying less than what is owed to their insured, “our customer“, in turn creating victims and resulting in deep losses to the shops. Certainly the most, for lack of a better word, hostile talk of the evening, the
message was clear: wrongdoing in an industry already seen by some as dis-honest cannot afford another blemish in the public's eyes, a fitting closing message that is in tune with ALARISE's core mission statement.
John Mosley owner of Clinton Body Shop in the Jackson, Mississippi and Current President of the Mississippi Collision Repair Association. said “There was a lot of practical information. Information I can take back and use like the Toyota predictive estimating sys-tem. This kind of information puts folks ahead of the curve."
ALARISE's mission statement is to provide the leadership necessary to raise the professional image of the auto-motive repair industry, to develop new industry leaders, and to work to educate the consumer in efforts of establishing a more thorough and better understand-ing of the automotive repair industry.
They are committed to its future by educating, informing, and representing the automotive repair professional in all aspects of the industry.
ALARISE's Steve Plier felt this year's presentation was a success, cit-ing a more active partnership with the Mississippi repair industry. However, he acknowledged some of the concerns discussed during the open forum on Saturday required ongoing collabora-tion to achieve the collective's goal of excellence and progress. Plier said by this time next year, “I would hope to see a little more consistency and working together among the states in the South because with numbers, if we're working on common ideas, we can accomplish a lot more.” Plier added, “We're looking at April 11 ,12 and 13 for 2014, and to be back in Biloxi. We are working to contin-ue to grow and expand the attendance and the information being provided."
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