Kevin Joostema, Partner, Car-ED.com

About Kevin Joostema, Partner, Car-ED.com

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So far Kevin Joostema, Partner, Car-ED.com has created 12 blog entries.

2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport

2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport Adventure and Youth Distilled to an even stronger Love By Kevin Joostema, Partner, Car-ED.com | September 2020 Subaru has developed two new trims for the high volume Crosstrek 2021 model year: the Sport and the Limited. Both models share the introduction of the larger and more powerful 2.5-liter direct-injection SUBARU BOXER engine to the Crosstrek family. While the Limited comes with upgraded 18-inch wheels and everything but the kitchen sink, it is the Sport model that keeps you falling in love with Subaru as a brand, yet again. The Sport contains the core elements of the great Crosstrek but in a distilled, more concentrated, manner. What is this vehicle? These distilled elements start with the fact that the Crosstrek is more a true SUV than the newer competitor crossovers being introduced in this compact vehicle category. With segment leading ground clearance of 8.7 inches and the standard, symmetrical 4 Wheel Drive of Subaru (versus All Wheel Drive systems of competitors), it is an SUV, not a crossover with SUV styling. The Sport model elements that are distilled to a stronger statement begin on the exterior. It has a unique gun metal color scheme on exterior parts – starting with the grille design, a new and exclusive 17-inch wheel design with gun metal (gray) color, and the side mirrors and the badging. The front bumpers are beefier in look while the [...]

2020-09-18T11:55:46-04:00Sep 2020|Car Reviews, News, Research|

Kevin Joostema elected Board Member of Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA) for 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 2019  Car-ED is honored to announce the election of one of its founding partners, Kevin Joostema, to the Board of the Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA) for 2019. WAPA is unique among media associations with equal parts consumer, business, and policy-focused media among its 150 members, making it attractive to many organizations for workshops and innovative awareness-building programs. Kevin is excited to innovate with the WAPA leadership and members. He states, “As an experienced auto industry executive I come from the inside of brands such as Honda, VW, and Cadillac where I helped bring segment-leading products and services to market based on consumer needs. My teams helped craft their stories in meaningful ways to consumers and the media to create awareness and grow sales.”  Kevin’s innovation is evident in building Car-ED where they have created a simple and fun AI tool that consumers and dealers use to engage buyers and help them find their best vehicle match. “I look forward to helping the board innovate to expand programs and membership with a mission to grow its domain and bring new benefits to its members,” notes Kevin. Bill Hopper, President of WAPA, recounts, “Kevin has already brought innovation to WAPA by putting together our first Electric Vehicle day during the 2019 Washington Auto Show as well as our first 2-wheel media day for the Motorcycle sector during the Progressive Motorcycle Show in [...]

2019-09-06T12:55:58-04:00Sep 2019|News|

2020 Toyota Corolla

2020 Toyota Corolla With a clear vision, the 2020 Corolla is Greater than Ever By Kevin Joostema, Partner, Car-ED.com | February 2019 The 2020 Toyota Corolla brings a long list of technology updates and new engine choices to its major cycle refresh that allow it to continue to be a wise choice to get you through the grind of daily life.   Whether it is your trip to high school, to college, your commute to work, daily runs to the grocery store and Target or even Starbucks runs,  the Corolla provides a safe and secure feeling to leave home with and return every day. What is this vehicle? As the best-selling nameplate in the world, the Toyota Corolla vision is to offer a model for everyone.  It is only fitting then that this is among the first 2020 model year vehicles to appear.  Yes, that’s right, the 2020’s are here! It has been over 50 years since the first Corolla introduction in 1966.  The Corolla is the compact sedan offer from Toyota – and became the best selling model in the world back in 1997 – surpassing the VW Beetle.  The 2020 model is the 12th generation and over 46 million have been sold worldwide.  The Corolla, along with the Honda Civic and the Hyundai Elantra and to a lesser extent the VW Jetta, define the continuum of the Compact Sedan segment in the US [...]

2019-02-27T13:48:21-05:00Feb 2019|Car Reviews|

JM Lexus – Women Leading the Luxury (Auto) Retailing Revolution

JM Lexus – Women Leading the Luxury (Auto) Retailing Revolution The Largest Lexus dealer in the country becomes a Lexus Plus dealer – to remain the best to customers and best for employees By Kevin Joostema, Partner, Car-ED.com / April 2018 Despite handling some of the largest luxury transactions any luxury customer may enter into, the luxury auto makers continue to sell and service vehicles like they have for generations.   While many other industries have seen tremendous innovations in luxury goods selling and  identifying ”experiences” for customers, particularly to attract the millennials to their brands, the luxury auto retailing giants remain a laggard. As new luxury brands come to exist and new challengers rise up once again, it is only through changing the customer experience that the brands can differentiate and create something new for buyers. Leadership by the JM Family Enterprises is across many fronts.   For one, they are leaders in recognizing that it all starts with the needs of customers and the workplace needs of employees – and how these two areas go hand-in-hand.  JM, as one of the largest private businesses in the US as well as one of Fortune’s Top 50 Best Places to Work, is obviously a leader on both fronts.  So customers should take note how JM is “running to the future” in luxury retailing. They have been the #1 Lexus dealer in the country in terms [...]

2018-05-03T00:27:07-04:00Apr 2018|News|

Toyota Corolla

Toyota Corolla Wise with Age - But Keeping it Young! By Kevin Joostema, Partner, Car-ED.com | July 2017 The 2017 Toyota Corolla brings a long list of updates to its minor cycle refresh that allow it to continue to be a wise choice to get you through the grind of daily life. Whether it is your trip to high school, to college, your commute to work, daily runs to the grocery store and Target or even Starbucks runs, the Corolla provides a safe and secure feeling to leave home with and return every day. What is this vehicle? The Corolla is the compact sedan offer from Toyota – and is one of the highest selling nameplates in the world. The 50th anniversary edition was available in 2016 as the first generation was launched back in 1966. The Corolla became the best selling model in the world back in 1997 – surpassing the VW Beetle. Over 40 million have been sold and this is the 11th generation of the Corolla. The Corolla, along with the Honda Civic and the Ford Focus and to a lesser extent the VW Golf (as a hatchback), define the continuum of the Compact Sedan segment in the US marketplace. Who is this vehicle for? Anyone looking at a Compact Sedan; there is no one type of owner, but it often can be for the first time vehicle owner that [...]

2018-01-18T05:18:47-05:00Jul 2017|Car Reviews|

Toyota Prius Three

Toyota Prius Three From the Sun to the Road – an electrification Tour de Force By Kevin Joostema, Partner, Car-ED.com July 2017 With over 20 years and 2 million plus Prius family vehicles sold in the US alone, the iconic hybrid vehicle from Toyota Motor continues to give you a feeling of WOW when driving this third generation, the Prius Three. What is this vehicle? This is the iconic hybrid from Toyota Motor. With a new styling that is liked by some, but not liked by others. The styling takes a new leap forward with this third generation of the Prius to keep looking advanced and carrying some futuristic edging from the Mirai fuel cell vehicle. It is the rear tail light treatment that gets the ding for the styling by most consumers. On the positive side – it does stand out and is a defining signature look, which plays better at night on the road to stand out and be recognized as something unique. The vehicle is a 5 passenger, compact hatchback that reads from the side exterior almost like a midsize sedan with a fastback design. Who is this vehicle for? Mainstream compact car owners or midsize sedan buyers that definitely want to make a Green statement with the highest fuel efficiency available and to feel like you are making a difference as a car driver. This difference also contributes to [...]

2018-01-18T05:19:40-05:00Jul 2017|Car Reviews|

Volkswagen Atlas

Volkswagen Atlas VW “Goes Big” in the US By Kevin Joostema, Partner, Car-ED.com | July 2017 With an additional investment of $900 million in the factory just opened in 2011, VW is bringing its biggest vehicle to date – the VW Atlas – to US consumers this summer. What is this vehicle? This is a competitive, 3-row, Midsize SUV newly developed by Volkswagen to compete in one of the hottest segments of the US vehicle market: Historically, Midsize Sedans have been the largest volume segment in the US. However, market volume – and profits – for the leading manufacturers, whether mainstream or luxury – are now driven by Compact SUVs and these Midsize SUVs. It meets all the required cues for what the most popular, high-volume Midsize SUVs have given consumers for decades: It has a presence on the road due to its size. The driver has a commanding view of the road and feels “p0werful” from inside. It is cavernous inside – with flexible space in seating versus cargo It drives like a car – not a truck. Dynamically it is comfortable to drive. Who is this vehicle for? Mature families that want an alternative to the high volume (and thus common) leaders like the Honda Pilot or For Explorer in this segment. This is a new buyer for the VW brand to attract – to date there has not been [...]

2018-01-18T05:20:31-05:00Jul 2017|Car Reviews|

The Sport Model Craze

The Sport Model Craze – Available from Any Brand! One of the trends to be seen in the Auto Show circuit of 2017 is the democratization of the “Sport Model.” No matter the vehicle segment – from small cars to large SUVs – a sport model with several special pieces of design and content can be found.

2018-01-12T23:50:40-05:00Mar 2017|News|