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Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Cadillac, Luxury

2013 Cadillac ATS - front three-quarter view

The BMW 3 Series has long been the benchmark for small and sporty luxury vehicles, but the Cadillac ATS has come on strong in its short time on the market as a true rival in this segment. As impressive as Cadillac’s new compact sedan is, however, Automotive News is reporting that the car is still lagging behind the 3 Series when it comes to actual transaction pricing.

According to the article, the average transaction price for the ATS is $39,459 while the 3 Series is at a much larger $44,764, but, just as importantly, Cadillac has about $500 more in incentives on the ATS compared to BMW. Transaction prices are much closer to cars like the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4. Of course, this is all with the ATS trying to take on its small,sport sedan rivals with a single bodystyle and limited powertrain options compared to the numerous options available from the German automakers in this class.

This uneven battle won’t last long, though, as recent spy shots have revealed that Cadillac is hard at work on a high-performance ATS-V and an ATS Coupe. No official word as to when either of these models will be unveiled, but with auto show season set to kick off, we’re expecting sooner rather than later. The best news for the ATS is that the Automotive News says sales of the ATS are on target and that 74 percent of ATS buyers are new to Cadillac – two important factors for the brand as it tries to break into this tough segment.

Cadillac ATS failing to command BMW 3 Series-like pricing as hoped originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Technology, Videos, Australia, Celebrities, Humor

Karen Jacobsen, GPS voiceover artist – Click above to watch video after the jump

There may come a day when personal GPS devices go the way of the dodo. As direction services on our handheld devices become ever savvier, more and more consumers are ditching their old dashboard-mounted screens in favor of the ones they already keep in their pocket. Fortunately, even if our Garmin or TomTom devices become relics, odds are we’ll still be able to get turn-by-turn directions on our smartphones. That’s a good thing, too, because otherwise a whole generation of lost motorists would never be able to find their way while listening to Karen Jacobsen call out directions.

Who is Karen Jacobsen? While she happens to be a Queensland native who now spends her days writing music and playing in a three piece band, she’s also the most popular GPS voice on the planet. Jacobsen spent a total of 50 hours in a recording studio rattling off everything from directional phrases to single words, locations and every letter in the alphabet so that we would have the pleasure of listening to her Aussie accent as we bumble down the highway. Hit the jump to see an interview with the muse of maps as well as a sample of her singing.

[Sources: AOL News, KarenJacobsen.com]

Continue reading Video PSA: The Aussie female guide voice on your Garmin is as attractive as you’ve always hoped

Video PSA: The Aussie female guide voice on your Garmin is as attractive as you’ve always hoped originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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