Tree Falls on New Aston Martin Rapide Sedan

Here's a sight that no driver would like to see his car in, even more so if the vehicles in question are a spanking-new $200,000+ Aston Martin Rapide sports saloon and a Bentley Continental Supersports.

According to Joel Feder (the man who took these photos), the incident happened at the Midwestern Automotive Media Association earlier this week when a thunderstorm followed by hail and strong winds took down a tree that landed right on the parked Aston Martin and Bentley.

And while the Continental didn't sustain any damages, the Rapide's encounter with the tree wasn't so fortunate. As you can see in the gallery below, the Aston Martin suffered a smashed windshield, a broken mirror, scratches and a dent on the hood.

Photos: Joel Feder

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Tag In Year Make Model Car Info Mileage Price
54122 GA 1997 Toyota Corolla 4 Cyl. Automatic 151980 $2,900.00
54121 CA 1999 Nissan Altima GXE 4 Cyl. Automatic 197000 $3,200.00
54119 CA 1992 Ford F250 8 Cyl. Manual 112810 $5,000.00
54118 IL 2000 Ford Crown Victoria 6 Cyl. Automatic 92000 $2,000.00
54117 NY 2003 Toyota Sienna LE 6 Cyl. Automatic 174000 $6,200.00
54116 TX 2004 Mazda Tribute 6 Cyl. Automatic 69800 $10,000.00
54115 CA 2007 Dodge Nitro SXT 6 Cyl. Automatic 27000 $16,000.00
54114 RI 2000 Honda CR-V 4 Cyl. Automatic 86000 $6,000.00
54113 MN 1998 Dodge Dakota SLT 6 Cyl. Automatic 84500 $4,250.00
54112 FL 2002 Hyundai Accent GS 4 Cyl. Manual 77300 $2,600.00

Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta

Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta concept by Pininfarina – Click above for high-res image gallery

Italiophiles rejoice! Though the move isn't unexpected, Fiat's Sergio Marchionne has officially confirmed that the Alfa Romeo brand will make a return appearance to the United States starting in 2012.

The first vehicles that should hit American dealerships (of course, we don't yet know where the cars will be sold, but Chrysler's woefully underutilized dealer network would be a good bet...) will be the midsize Giulia, which will come in both sedan and wagon variants, along with a compact SUV built in the States using European Giullietta hatchback underpinnings.

One year later, Alfa plans to begin offering a five-door version of the beautiful MiTo hatchback in the States, which will be joined by a new Alfa Romeo Spider. Could it look something like the 2uettottanta concept from Geneva? Someone get Dustin Hoffman on the phone pronto.

Moving on to the 2014 model year, Alfa will redesign its compact Giullietta hatchback and send it to America. A second, larger SUV will show up in the same year and will be built in America using architecture borrowed from the next-gen Jeep Liberty.

There was plenty more news coming from the Fiat camp today. Stay tuned for a much more comprehensive breakdown of the Italian automaker's far-reaching plans for the next several years.

Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta by Pininfarina

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New cars at Chicago Auto Show on lots soon

With less glitz than recent auto shows in Los Angeles or Detroit, the Chicago Auto Show highlighted several new cars this week aimed directly at everyday consumers, including a crossover, a minivan and a full-size sedan, as well as a sports car and a hot plug-in hybrid concept.

2011 Ford Edge

There were three new cars from Ford, including a redesigned Ford Edge crossover that's slated to arrive in showrooms this summer. The 2011 model features updated cabin styling as well as an available MyFord Touch system that utilizes touch pads instead of buttons for many functions, including audio and climate control systems. The 2011 Ford Edge also will offer three engine choices -- previously only one engine was offered -- including a 3.5-liter V-6 that is more powerful and more fuel efficient than the 2010 model, and a 305-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6. In addition, an all-new turbocharged four-cylinder, featuring Ford's EcoBoost technology, will also be available. It will be more powerful than the current V-6 with 15 percent better fuel economy, according to Chevrolet, though it hasn't yet released official city and highway mileage numbers.

In addition, Ford introduced its 2011 Ford Shelby GT500. While it received only minor styling changes, it now gets 15 city/23 highway miles per gallon -- a 1 mpg improvement for both city and highway. That's enough to remove it from the list of new cars that are levied a gas guzzler tax, amounting to an instant $1,000 savings for consumers. Ford also unveiled an electric version of its Transit Connect commercial minivan that goes on sale later this year.

Pickup truck enthusiasts will be excited about the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD as well as a new diesel engine in heavy-duty versions of Chevy's Silverado and the GMC Sierra for the 2011 model years. The new Silverado, which arrives in showrooms this summer, got a slight restyling as well as optional, new 18- or 20-inch wheels. Chevrolet says that the chassis and suspension have been fully redesigned to give it the greatest towing and hauling capacity of all trucks in the segment. In addition, Chevy's 6.6-liter, turbocharged Duramax diesel -- available in both Silverado and Sierra -- has been re-engineered to give it more power as well as an 11 percent improvement in fuel economy.

For those interested in full-size sedans, Toyota introduced its redesigned 2011 Toyota Avalon, arriving at dealers this spring. With both the exterior and interior restyled, the 2011 Avalon will be offered in two trim levels (there are three currently), including a base model that has upscale features like standard leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control and a backup camera. The 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine and six-speed transmission remain the same, but engineering changes improve the fuel economy by 1 mpg for both city and highway to 20 city/29 highway mpg from the 2010 model.

2011 Honda Odyssey

For the soccer-mom crowd, Honda unveiled its new Odyssey concept at the Chicago Auto Show. While officially called a concept car, Honda says the minivan features new exterior styling that will appear on the 2011 model, going on sale this fall. The redesigned model is lower, wider and longer with a more streamlined look than the current Odyssey and also features improved seating and interior storage. Honda says it expects the 2011 Odyssey to get 19 city/28 highway mpg, an improvement from 17 city/25 highway mpg for today's most fuel-efficient Odyssey models.

One concept car that did get some attention at the Chicago Auto Show came from Kia. The South Korean automaker took the wraps off its Ray concept car, providing a glimpse at its plans for a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The four-door, compact sedan features solar cells embedded in its glass roof to power the climate control system or additional lighting. The car runs on a 153-horsepower, 1.4-liter gas engine with direct injection and a 78-kilowatt, electric motor. Kia says the Ray can travel 50 miles as a pure-electric vehicle and has a total range of 746 miles.

2010 Audi Q5 3.2 - Four Seasons Update 2010

Months in fleet: four
Miles to date: 12,370

What can we say? We love driving our Audi Q5. Evidence supported by the fact that we've racked up yet another 4000 miles on the odometer in four weeks time. The total is now 12,000.

Senior Web editor Phil Floraday has a theory behind the popularity of the Audi, saying "the Q5 is exactly what a lot of consumers are shopping for these days. It rides higher than a sedan, doesn't look like a minivan or a station wagon, and offers all-wheel-drive and a smooth six-speed automatic transmission."

We all agree that the Q5 behaves well on the road compared to other crossovers, specifically our Four Seasons Subaru Outback, which tends to wander constantly on the highway. As copy editor Rusty Blackwell put it, "The Q5 is no sports car, but it's more tied down than most crossover/SUV things."

The Q5 was the first choice for assistant web producer Evan McCausland, who had to make a road trip to the Windy City for the Chicago Auto Show. It ended up being a wise decision as a storm dropped up to 10 inches of snow, paralyzing the region. "This crossover was remarkably comfortable during the trip to Chi-town and back, and sure-footed even when Mother Nature tossed us her worst." McCausland also noticed the small touches, adding, "It's refreshing to see some European automakers still equip their U.S.-bound models with fog taillights. They came in plenty handy during my drive to Chicago - whiteout conditions on I-80 made it hard to see any vehicles on the road, let alone our Q5, which wears a lovely shade of blanc."

McCausland went on to call the Audi Q5 the best value in the luxury-crossover segment. Hopefully we'll stand by the statement following the completion of our eight remaining months with the Q5. Be sure to check back next month to see what our Q5 has been up to and where it's been.

Hyundai Sonata Wins IIHS Top Safety Pick

There’s been no shortage of Hyundai-related blog posts on Pricing Insider in the past year or so, and we think the near-celebrity status the Korean automaker has achieved in the industry is well deserved. Apparently we’re not the only ones, however, as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the 2011 Hyundai Sonata a coveted Top Safety Pick award—the company’s first ever in its 24 years in the U.S. market.

As one of the highest honors in safety, this award marks yet another milestone for Hyundai as they shift towards better quality and more competitive offerings. And Hyundai couldn’t have built a better car to launch them into the next decade.

The 2011 Sonata is expected to compete on even ground with Camry and Accord. But with a turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder option in place of a V6, the Sonata will offer both power and efficiency—likely a taste of things to come in the mid-size segment. The 2011 Hyundai Sonata lands in U.S. dealerships soon.

Focus on Managing Cash Flow, Inventory and Service Productivity

The next Convention & Expo in Orlando (February 13-15) could not come at a better time for dealers and their managers in planning for the coming years to help. It's the perfect time for dealers to seek ways to improve their business and prepare for an economic recovery.

"It was a tough year for everyone. Now is the time to focus on the future, and that's when the convention comes," said John McEleney, president. "We have a strong group of expert speakers and workshop as excellent. We with 440 exhibitors and more are registering every day."

The convention is moving ever closer, but there is still time to pre-register and choose from nearly 100 workshops on topics such as driving profitability, cash flow management, improving ROI and increasing the population of service productivity. Four new "Executive Track" workshops aimed at senior executives of the distributors, will also be offered.

Make sure you get to the convention on the morning of Friday, 12 February, you can enjoy bonus workshops of three hours' time will start at 1:30

Save $ 50 to $ 75 at the convention registration fees, traders and their managers are encouraged to pre-register for Friday 15 January. Click here to register. For more information send an email to expo@nada.org. Walk-in/on-site Registration opens Feb. 12 at the Orange County Convention Center.

Click here to see the complete list of workshops, convention dates, times and places. Here are just a few highlights workshop:

Update on federal legislative developments in the automotive cars Doug Green House lawyers and Paul Metrey critical current updates on a new wave of federal government activities, as the new model privacy statement of the FTC and the risk of future prices based on warning, threat of surface storage and body emission limits of the store, the new job and employment mandates, and more. Participants learn the implementation of new tips and even how to avoid legal problems and save money at the same time.

Evaluation Process: Best practices to increase revenues The used car market has become transparent. And research shows that over 50 percent of consumers are satisfied with their experience with trade. Therefore, a clear vehicle for assessing critical distributors. Stu Zaludos to learn from the guide used cars and Abrams Les Academy participants a clear process for the interpretation and application of market data using assessment tools to determine the exact number of trade. "We have to explain the dealer is that you must consider changing how they evaluate the vehicles," said Zaludos. "The valuation effects around 70 percent of consumer choice or to buy."

Advanced Thinking for Leaders Online Distributors Jared Hamilton DrivingSales examined trends in online social networks, show how to evaluate and extract the best return on investment of some of the most popular online destinations. Participants will learn how to create and implement a modern Web strategy online without having to invest extra money. Hamilton reference to search engine marketing, Facebook, Twitter, micro-sites and more. Participants will learn what should and should not be considered part of the marketing efforts of distributors.

Four essential elements to achieve a 100% service absorption
Don Reed DealerPro training solutions covering the four goals that a merchant must be 100 percent service absorption: improvement of margins to take to achieve higher revenues for the repair of an increase in new orders for repair and inspection costs. Participants will learn to develop business plans for achieving those goals.

The eight critical concerns about the balance George Grabowski Academy of identifying the four critical assessments and the four key actions that must be carefully evaluated and controlled as it can bind to many accounts, the money for the distributor. "Cash is the most important asset in the publication," said Grabowski. "It is important that an exchange house is not bound".