Posts Tagged ‘GAAMA’
Mazda’s All-New CX-9: Meticulously Crafted for Drivers
On Wednesday, July 27, members of the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association had the pleasure of experiencing the All-New Mazda CX-9 at Babette’s Café.
Mazda North American Operations’ Manager of Public Affairs, Tamara Mlynarczyk, introduced the group to Tetsu Nakazawa, the vehicle line manager for the CX-9. He explained the following:
Mazda’s KODO: “Soul of Motion” design philosophy gives the CX-9 a look of composure and prestige—even at a standstill. A muscular stance, elongated hood and tapered roofline express an athletic elegance. The overall effect is one of purity, simplicity and beauty—an extraordinary achievement in a three-row SUV.
Mazda believes every detail makes driving better. They used premium materials to craft the Signature Trim of the all-new CX-9. From Nappa leather, to sculpted aluminum, to the same genuine Rosewood used in some of the world’s finest musical instruments, this vehicle produces a multi-sensory driving experience of sophistication and indulgence.
To elevate your driving experience, Mazda subdued unwelcome sounds, diminished the noise of engine vibrations and added 53 pounds of sound-deadening material. Sound-insulating glass, narrowed gaps, and more seal insulation further reduce wind noise. All this makes the CX-9 remarkably quiet, ensuring your time behind the wheel is less distracting and more relaxing.
A focus on pure driving enjoyment sets the CX-9 apart in its class. Every aspect of this three-row SUV, from its body construction and engine technology to its chassis and transmission, is engineered with SKYACTIV® TECHNOLOGY to maximize driving dynamics while achieving outstanding highway MPG.
Mazda North American Operations’ Tetsu Nakazawa, the vehicle line manager for the CX-9 with Manager of Public Affairs, Tamara Mlynarczyk at Babette’s Cafe.
The All-New Mazda CX-9.
The rear of the All-New Mazda CX-9.
The grill and lights of All-New Mazda CX-9.
The interior of All-New Mazda CX-9.
Georgia Journalists Name Chrysler’s Pacifica Best Family Car 2016
2016 Family Car Challenge Winners
For Further Information:
Christopher Lawrence
AutoAcademics
(215) 514-8002
Georgia Journalists Name Chrysler’s Pacifica Best Family Car 2016
ATLANTA: The Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association (GAAMA) held its fourth annual Family Car Challenge at Lake Lanier Islands and named the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica the best family car for 2016. More than 40 journalists, representing national and publications and websites as well as bloggers and broadcast automotive journalists, test drove 24 vehicles and rated the cars and trucks.
In addition to the Pacifica winning Best Family Car, the other category winners were:
Best Value: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
Best Technology: 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300
Best Three Row: 2016 Ford Explorer
Best Family Pickup Truck: 2016 Ram 1500
Best Luxury: 2016 Lexus LX 570
Best Green: 2017 Chevrolet Volt
“It was our most competitive Family Car Challenge yet and our journalists took almost 200 rides in the cars and trucks in order to truly get a feel for the vehicle, its value, energy efficiency, its technology and comfort,” says GAAMA President Christopher Lawrence, CEO of AutoAcademics. “In the front of our minds was always the family factor and whether this would be a vehicle that would be as family-friendly doing school drop-offs as well as taking the family road trip.”
Another exciting aspect of the Challenge was that the journalists were among the first to test drive some vehicles that were just re-introduced to the market, such as the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica and the 2017 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E. “Because of the Family Car Challenge our members’ readers and listeners will be able to get some of the first initial impressions of these remarkable cars,” says Lawrence. “It’s another testament as to the respect GAAMA’s Family Car Challenge is receiving within the automotive industry.”
Participating manufacturers were: Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Ram, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen.
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GAAMA’s objective is to further professionalism of the automotive media, provide a forum for newsworthy people and products connected with the automotive industry and to bring together people whose activities are related to the field of automotive journalism, public relations and related fields for the mutual benefit of all parties.
The 2016 Atlanta International Auto Show
The 2016 Atlanta International Auto Show features more than 400 import and domestic cars, light trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles. Members of the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association (GAAMA) were on hand for a sneak peek of the show floor prior to opening on March 9th. In addition, GAAMA awarded the best of show.
“It was a very exciting, diverse and eclectic selection of vehicles,” said incoming GAAMA President Christopher Lawrence, CEO of AutoAcademics, an automotive consultancy that aims to educate and assist consumers in making intelligent, unbiased, and logical automotive choices. “Every year we are excited and impressed by the new technology, sleek designs and powertrain efficiencies. The judges had a tough job and after much discussion, we selected the best in each category.”
The 2016 winners:
Green: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
Luxury: 2017 Lexus LC 500
Performance: 2017 Acura NSX
Biggest Bang for the Buck: 2017 Hyundai Elantra
Truck: 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty
SUV/Crossover: 2017 Infiniti QX30
Judges Choice: 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Highlights below:
The grand entrance to the 2016 Atlanta International Auto Show.
The 2017 Ram Power Wagon sports a front end winch.
The 2017 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider.
This Toyota Prius is a beauty.
The Lexus LC 500 Luxury Coupe “wows” the media.
Tamara Mlynarczyk, Manager, Public Affairs, Mazda North American Operations with Mazda Motorsports racer Andrew Carbonell, who helped develop Mazda’s 2016 Global MX-5 Cup car!
The Mercedes-Benz E 220 d is coming soon to a dealer near you.
Christian Bokich,Dept. Manager, Product & Technology Communications,
Mercedes-Benz USA and Barbara Pomerance, CEO, Pomerance & Associates.
Michael Sprague, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors North America.
Yes, that’s a KIA! What a beauty!
Steve Parrett, Manager, Southeast and South Central Region Communications, Nissan.
The Nissan 370Z has very lovely lines.
The Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Awards and the Annual Meeting and Luncheon Sponsors.
Steve Parrett accepts the GAAMA award for Best SUV/Crossover: 2017 Infiniti QX30.
Joe Van Hoose of Jackson Spalding presented Corey Proffitt, East Coast Communications Manager of Toyota with the GAAMA Award for Best Luxury: 2017 Lexus LC 500.
Kimberly Shults of FCA was graced with two GAAMA Awards – Best Green: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and Judges Choice: 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
Ariel Garcia-Linares of Ketchum accepted the GAAMA Award for Biggest Bang for the Buck: 2017 Hyundai Elantra.
The show runs through Sunday, March 13. For details, visit http://goautoshow.com/site/.
The 2016 Mazda CX-3 at Babette’s Cafe
The 2016 Mazda CX-3 on display at Babette’s Cafe.
Babette’s Café set the scene for the October 28th Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association luncheon sponsored by Mazda. Tamara Mlynarczyk and Dan Calhoun introduced us to the 2016 Mazda CX-3. What a sweet ride … the 2016 Mazda CX-3 is the fifth vehicle introduced to the U.S. with KODO—Soul of Motion design, encasing Mazda’s signature SKYACTIV Technology. The new CX-3 subcompact crossover SUV was developed to “Create the standard for the next era.” It’s a vehicle designed to meet the needs of a new generation of car buyers, supporting creative, adventurous lifestyles wherever – from the urban sprawl to the weekend getaway.
Key Features:
All trim levels will come with a standard
SKYACTIV-G 2.0L engine, paired exclusively
with a six-speed automatic transmission
– Standard push-button starter
– Standard keyless entry
– Manual-shift Sport mode
– Available i-ACTIV AWD on all trim levels
– Available power glass moonroof heated seats
and cargo cover
– One-, two- or three-tone premium cloth,
leatherette or leather interior seating surfaces
– Optional 18-inch aluminum wheels
– 60/40 fold down rear seats
– Active Driving Display
– New Ceramic Metallic body color
Technology Highlights:
– Standard MAZDA CONNECT™ Infotainment
System with seven-inch full-color touchscreen
display and voice command
– Aha™, Pandora® and Sticher™ internet radio
– Available BOSE audio system, SiriusXM
satellite radio and HD radio
– Multi-function commander control
Safety and Security Highlights:
– Rear Camera (standard)
– i-ACTIVSENSE
– Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC)
– Smart City Brake Support (SCBS)
– Smart Brake Support (SBS)
– Lane Departure Warning
– Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
– Blind Spot Monitoring with Cross-Traffic Alert
– High Beam Control
– Adaptive Front Lighting System
Barbara Pomerance of Pomerance & Associates with Mazda CX-3.
A view of the stylish interior and perfectly-placed display.
Sleek alloy wheels.
Tamara Mlynarczyk happily greets GAAMA members.
Jim Tucker introduces Dan Calhoun.
Babette’s Cafe prepared a feast.
Tamara Mlynarczyk thanks GAAMA members for attending.
Dan Caloun explains the Mazda CX-3’s technology to a captivated full house.
Since all good things must come to an end, we bid adieu to the Mazda CX-3 and Babette’s Cafe.
Special thanks to Tamara Mlynarczyk, Dan Calhoun and Mazda for a a delious meal and stellar presentation.
Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association Meets the 2016 Nissan TITAN XD
2016 Nissan TITAN XD
On Monday, Sept. 28 the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association met for an up-close-and-personal look at the 2016 Nissan TITAN XD at the College Football Hall of Fame. A perfect meeting place since The Heisman House campaign supports Nissan’s long-running sponsorship of the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award. Sincerest thanks to our friend, Nissan’s Steve Parrett, Manager, Southeast & South Central Communications for hosting us.
The 2016 Nissan TITAN XD is set to shake up the highly competitive full-size pickup segment when it goes on sale in the United States and Canada beginning in December 2015 – with a bold all-new design that stakes out a unique position in the segment between traditional heavy-duty and light-duty entries.
Called the “XD,” it offers the effortless towing and hauling of the larger, more expensive heavy-duty trucks – including an available maximum towing capacity of more than 12,000 pounds* and maximum payload capacity of 2,000 pounds* (when properly equipped) – yet has the fuel-efficiency* and affordability of a half-ton pickup.
The new TITAN XD Crew Cab, which was shown in Detroit with its powerful Cummins® 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel, is the first of three cab configurations, two frame sizes, three powertrain offerings and five grade levels to be available in the full TITAN lineup.
“The full-size truck market is the toughest market to crack in the entire industry, with so many outstanding products available,” said Fred Diaz, senior vice president, Nissan Sales & Marketing and Operations U.S., Nissan North America, Inc. “This new Nissan TITAN XD is designed to offer buyers something the others don’t – combining outstanding towing and hauling capabilities and exceptional towing and hauling fuel economy. It also offers excellent ride comfort and handling, and the features and amenities that real working truck owners want.”
The all-new TITAN XD, like the first-generation Titan, was developed with core Nissan planning, design, engineering and manufacturing teams contributing from Tennessee, California, Michigan, Arizona and Mississippi. The TITAN XD’s engine will be sourced from Cummins Inc. in Indiana. And, the lead designer and nearly four-dozen engineers also worked on the original 2004 TITAN development.
Barbara Pomerance with Nissan’s Steve Parrett, Manager, Southeast & South Central Communications .
The roomy interior of the 2016 Nissan TITAN XD.
The premium wheels of the 2016 Nissan TITAN XD.
The stylish grill of the 2016 Nissan TITAN XD.
Peter Luttenbacher, Nissan Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc., highlights the design and features of the 2016 Nissan TITAN XD.
