Reports on the latest technological advances in the auto industry.
2005/9/30
@ 11:14 AM (34 months, 7 days ago)
I was intrigued by the redesigned Kia Sportage as soon as I knew of its existence. Here was a good small SUV in its original form. What would the redesign be like? Happily, the redesign maintains much of the character of the original. The Kia Sportage has good style, is a good size, and has good utility for a lot of carrying jobs as well as general driving and low-stress off-roading. The Sportage isn't overpowering. Under the hood is a 2.7-liter double overhead cam V6 that delivers 173 horsepower. The Sportage weighs around 3,500 pounds unladen, and there were times when, laden, there was not enough power. However, the transmission is a 4-speed automatic with a manual shifter. It has always been my contention that manual shifters on...
@ 07:33 AM (34 months, 7 days ago)
A closely guarded Audi secret has just become public knowledge following the official unveiling of the new Audi Q7 SUV in Frankfurt, where a futuristic petrol and electric hybrid version of the seven-seat luxury all-terrain vehicle took the world's media by surprise. Public reaction will be a key factor in determining the future for the Q7 hybrid, but this production-ready concept could become a reality by 2008. The Q7 hybrid concept study combines a 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine incorporating economy-boosting FSI injection technology with an electric motor that helps to minimise emissions and to reduce overall fuel consumption by almost 13 per cent compared with a conventional equivalent. Unlike some supposed cars of the future, this e...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/29
@ 11:19 AM (34 months, 8 days ago)
Starting October 1, Honda will present a month-long 2006 Civic-A-Day giveaway at the Disneyland Resort as part of the re-launch of "Space Mountain," American Honda Motor Co. and Disneyland Resort jointly announced today. Honda's "The Coolest Ride in the Galaxy" sweepstakes is the latest addition to the 18-month celebration of Disneyland's 50th Anniversary that continues through 2006. Each day, one lucky guest at Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure will win a new 2006 Civic. Park guests will receive a scratch-off card upon entry, with finalists participating in a daily ceremony to award the car at a replica of "Space Mountain" in the Disneyland Resort Esplanade. As Disneyland marks five...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
@ 04:19 AM (34 months, 9 days ago)
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) to offer the first 20 all-new 2007 S600 flagship sedans as an exclusive Signature Edition model that will be available only through the Saks Fifth Avenue annual "The Gift" holiday catalog. Priced at $145,775 (MSRP including $775 destination and delivery), the exclusive and limited Signature Edition S600 Sedans will be delivered to 20 lucky owners before the S-Class debuts in dealerships for public retail. The Signature Edition S600 will feature an envy inducing 5.5-liter biturbo V12 engine that delivers 510 horsepower and 612 pound-feet of torque. Surrounding the commanding engine, the Signature Edition S600 will wear stylish Mocha Metallic Black exterior paint and wrap passengers in a warm almond beige...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/28
@ 12:01 PM (34 months, 9 days ago)
Mitsubishi Motors has debuted the Lancer Evolution Wagon at its dealer showrooms across Japan on September 7. The first station wagon model in the Lancer Evolution series, the Lancer Evolution Wagon uses the body side panels and roof panel of the Lancer Wagon with reinforcement mainly focused on the rear end to give a lightweight and yet very stiff vehicle body. The powertrain mates a 2.0-liter intercooler-turbocharged engine to an electronically controlled 4WD driveline to enable unparalleled vehicle dynamics for a station wagon. The vehicle is available in two types, the GT and the GT-A, and will be produced in a limited run of a combined total of 2,500 units. Production will cease at the end of December. The GT and the GT-A sell for 3...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 03:30 AM (34 months, 10 days ago)
There are times when testing a new car can be a real pain. In the case of the 2005 Mazda RX8, it was having to say goodbye. It was like when the bell rang. Recess was over. No more fun until next time. After a few days of getting used to it, I had come to really enjoy the 1.3-liter rotary engine - its unique sound, the 238 horses that lift and launch it's light body with silky smooth acceleration, the power being sent to the rear wheels that grip in the tightest of curves. Don't be fooled by its coupe-ish appearance for indeed the Mazda RX-8 actually has four doors. The rear set are what were called "suicide doors" - from the pre WWII fear that they would fly open at high speed - which is not very likely with these si...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/27
@ 03:58 AM (34 months, 11 days ago)
Honeywell Turbo Technologies, the manufacturer of Garrett(R) turbochargers, has announced that its third generation VNT(TM) technology is featured on three flagship turbo diesel V8s unveiled at the IAA 2005 International Motor Show. Each of the new vehicles -- the Audi A8 4.2 TDI, BMW 745d and the Mercedes S 420 CDI -- are setting new standards in power, torque, fuel efficiency and emissions control with the help of the third generation Garrett(R) VNT(TM) turbochargers. "These stunning vehicles demonstrate the power of innovation and the power of partnership," said Adriane Brown, President and CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems, of which Turbo Technologies is a business unit. "We are happy to be part of the journey in...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
2005/9/26
@ 12:05 PM (34 months, 11 days ago)
Today, women purchase more than 50 percent of the new cars sold in the United States and influence another 80-85 percent of vehicle purchases. Yet, an astounding 78 percent of women admit that buying a car is their least satisfying retail experience. Automotive Consultant, Donna Kane, will be in Philadelphia this weekend to share Hyundai's one-of-a-kind program, Power of the Purse(TM), automotive empowerment workshops designed to teach women (and men) how to make more informed decisions about car buying and servicing, at Oxford Valley Mall in Langhorne, Pa. Buying a car doesn't have to be so traumatic. By doing a little homework, the overwhelming process of purchasing a car -- and actually getting the one you want at a good price...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
@ 07:23 AM (34 months, 11 days ago)
Reuters reported that Italy's Fiat and U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co are in advanced talks to cooperate on developing a small car, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday, confirming an earlier report. German newspaper Handelsblatt cited sources close to the negotiations as saying the two were in talks, with one source quoted as saying: "The talks are already far along." Fiat and Ford declined to comment. Fiat has long said it wants to work with other carmakers on specific projects to reduce risk and save on development costs, part of its plan to return to profit from 2002's record loss. The 106-year-old carmaker argued it had not been able to strike competitive deals when it was tied up in a partne...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
2005/9/25
@ 11:45 AM (34 months, 12 days ago)
Subaru's newest vehicle, the B9 Tribeca, is sure to turn heads, not only because of its distinct styling, but because it's a Subaru and in the northeast at least, Subarus are popular vehicles. We had several inquiries about the Tribeca before we had a chance to drive it, and several more while we had the car. It should prove popular for Subaru. First the name, which bothered me from the moment I heard it. If they're calling this B9, is the next one Malignant? Mestacisized? Mastectomy? Well, Subaru of America has heard all the jokes. B9 is a model name chosen in Japan, and according to a Subaru representative, "we have no idea how they choose model names." Tribeca, on the other hand, is a great name. It's as t...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 06:15 AM (34 months, 13 days ago)
Results of a study released today by noted automotive consulting firm AutoPacific, Inc. reveal high owner satisfaction with new 2005 model year cars and light trucks. AutoPacific's VSA (Vehicle Satisfaction Award) study is an industry benchmark for objectively measuring owner satisfaction with their new vehicles. Lexus is the highest-rated brand for 2005, winning by a nose in a photo finish with Cadillac. These brands along with Lincoln have owned AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Awards since 2001. Cadillac won in 2001, shared top honors with Lexus in 2002 and won outright again in 2003. Lincoln won in 2004 and Lexus moves again into top spot for 2005. The vehicle registering highest overall satisfaction in 2005 is the Nissan...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
2005/9/24
@ 02:37 PM (34 months, 13 days ago)
Electric City (AMEX:ELC) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Nissan North America, Inc. to participate in the Company's development of a 50- Megawatt Power Curtailment system for Commonwealth Edison ("ComEd") in Northern Illinois. The agreement initially covers Nissan's 275,000 square foot Aurora, Illinois distribution center. Nissan is one of the world's leading auto manufacturers, with facilities throughout the world and the United States. Under the terms of the Agreement, Electric City expects to install several EnergySaver(TM) systems at the Aurora Distribution Center. As a result, Nissan will receive free steady state energy savings and remote control over their lighting systems while he...
@ 06:47 AM (34 months, 14 days ago)
With the new Hyundai Accent due to be launched next year, Hyundai Motor Company elected to make a detailed exploration of the emotional, high performance and high tech potential of the new model. The result is the Accent SR -a refined, exciting and forward-looking concept car which provides a fascinating glimpse of future possibilities in this class. As a concept car, the Accent SR is significant in demonstrating a new approach by Hyundai to a high-performance market segment which it has not corporately entered in the past. The internal designation of the car is SR and the chassis, engine and styling take the car firmly into up-market grand tourismo territory. With the new Hyundai Accent due to The Accent SR measures 4,035 mm (L) by 1,745...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/23
@ 10:57 AM (34 months, 14 days ago)
The Auto Channel reported that Volkswagen's updated New Beetle, one of those truly rare cars that brings an automatic smile to peoples' faces, begins the 'Force of Good' tour traveling the country showering goodness upon the unsuspecting. The heart and soul of the Volkswagen brand is taking to the streets with nine 'Force of Good' Ambassadors from September 20 - November 8, 2005, spreading joy across the country with stops in New York City, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Seattle, San Francisco and Miami. These Ambassadors will battle every day evils by surprising drivers with paid parking meters and tolls, supplying IZZE(R) all-natural sparkling juice to thirsty people on a hot day, distributing coffee during rush h...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
@ 12:17 AM (34 months, 15 days ago)
Volvo Cars is presenting to West Coast audiences a concept that's never been attempted in the more than 100 years of auto manufacturing: the first car designed and developed almost exclusively by women, for everyone. "Your Concept Car" (YCC) debuted to rave reviews and critical acclaim at the international auto show in Geneva in March 2004, and has been in nearly constant demand since, with stops on the East Coast, Europe, Canada and Asia. YCC will make its only West Coast visit this month as part of its continuing world tour. Though created from a woman's perspective, the car includes features appealing to both sexes -- including easier maintenance, clever storage solutions, a better line of vision, computer-aided par...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
2005/9/22
@ 10:44 AM (34 months, 15 days ago)
From the outset Jaguar knew it needed to create a convertible version of the XK and designed and developed it in parallel with the Coupe. The XK Convertible uses the same advanced aluminum body structure technology to achieve excellent body rigidity and torsional stiffness while minimizing weight: at just 3759lbs the new Convertible is one of the lightest cars in its competitive set. A 300bhp (SAE), 4.2-liter V8 engine and Jaguar Sequential Shift steering- wheel-mounted gear change controls ensure rapid performance of 0-60mph in just 6.0 seconds (0-100kmh in 6.3 seconds) and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph (250kmh)*. The luxurious triple-lined, fabric roof -- which can be powered up or down in less than 18 seconds -- when re...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 06:12 AM (34 months, 16 days ago)
Unicast, the advertising group of Viewpoint Corporation , announced today that American Honda Motor Company has chosen it to kick off an online advertising campaign using multiple video ad formats from Unicast. The campaign will take advantage of Unicast's newly-expanded publisher relationships that enable its Pre-Roll format to run across many of the highest-traffic websites. The deal establishes Unicast as Honda's premier provider of online advertising technology and service. "We chose Unicast for their best of breed technology and rich media execution," said Meridee Alter, SVP Media Director at Rubin Postaer and Associates (RPA), Honda's advertising agency. "We could have done one-off campaigns with dozens...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
2005/9/21
@ 11:14 AM (34 months, 16 days ago)
Widely considered the quintessential roadster-style sports car and performance icon for the Honda brand, the S2000 combines uncompromising racetrack ready performance with everyday usability. For 2006 Honda builds on that premise with significant updates to further improve performance and refinement. Notable changes to the 2006 S2000 include electronic Drive-by-Wire (DBW) Throttle System(TM), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA(R)), maintenance minder system, standard headrest speakers, an outside temperature gauge, revised seat and console designs, a unique new alloy wheel design, and the addition of Laguna Blue Pearl as an exterior color. "Never content to leave well-enough alone, we're committed to maintaining the S2000's perf...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
@ 05:21 AM (34 months, 17 days ago)
Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that its parent company Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. (FHI) is developing new technology for future more environmentally friendly vehicles: the Turbo Parallel Hybrid (TPH) and Lithium-ion capacitor (Li-ion). Subaru is striving to create practical applications for these environmental technologies in its future products. In addition to these new developing technologies, Subaru continues to manufacture and market PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicles) at the Subaru plant in Lafayette, Ind., that was the first auto assembly plant to ever achieve zero landfill status and that is actually recognized as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. "Subaru always has been and will cont...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
2005/9/20
@ 11:18 AM (34 months, 17 days ago)
The AIADA newsletter reported that Volkswagen and Audi's AG luxury division plan to combine their retail operations to help reduce costs, said The Detroit Free Press. The new unit, to be called Volkswagen Group Retail GmbH, will be responsible for increasing sales in the company's "strategically most important markets" and strengthening cooperation between the group's two largest divisions, according to Volkswagen AG CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder. The carmaker will start by consolidating the retail operations in Germany, eventually merging operations worldwide. Stefan Mueller, Audi's 45-year-old head of sales and marketing for Germany, will run the new organization....
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
@ 04:44 AM (34 months, 18 days ago)
Ford Motor Company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Ford announced a series of executive appointments aimed at restoring profitability to North America automotive operations and continuing the substantial progress made in Europe and Asia. The appointments, approved Wednesday by the Board of Directors, are effective Oct. 1 unless otherwise noted. Mark Fields, executive vice president, Ford of Europe and Premier Automotive Group, is named executive vice president, Ford Motor Company, and president, The Americas. He will continue to report to Jim Padilla, president and chief operating officer. Fields, 44, will lead the Company's largest business operation, which is centered in North America and includes the Ford, Lincoln and Mer...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
2005/9/19
@ 11:08 AM (34 months, 18 days ago)
The all new Volvo C70 doubles as a coupe! Thanks to a unique three-piece retractable hardtop, customers of the second-generation Volvo C70 can enjoy life without compromise - whether the top is up or down. The all new Volvo C70 is unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September, and sales will get under way in the first half of 2006. "We've succeeded in creating an attractive convertible which, at the mere touch of a button, converts into an equally elegant coupe. The customer gets two cars in one. Both with space for four adults," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Hans-Olov Olsson. The all new Volvo C70 is about the same size as its predecessor, but is equally wide and a full four-seater. The forward-thrusting nose se...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 12:42 AM (34 months, 19 days ago)
Gentex Corporation, the leading supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors to the worldwide automotive industry, is shipping exterior auto-dimming mirrors for Volkswagen's 2006 Touareg sport utility vehicle. Gentex auto-dimming mirrors automatically darken to reduce glare from the headlamps of vehicles approaching from the rear. The brighter the glare, the darker the mirrors become, making nighttime driving safer. The 2006 Touareg is available with the three-mirror auto-dimming system in a variety of option packages worldwide. "We've been shipping interior mirrors for the Touareg since the vehicle debuted in the 2003 model year. The addition of two exterior auto-dimming mirrors to the SUV, available to the world market...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
2005/9/18
@ 11:17 AM (34 months, 19 days ago)
SIRIUS Satellite Radio and BMW of North America, LLC today announced an agreement that extends SIRIUS' exclusive relationship with BMW through August 2008. All BMW models are covered by the agreement. "Satellite radio continues to rapidly grow in popularity, and SIRIUS' unique programming is a complement to the exceptional driving experience BMW owners enjoy," said Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp. "We are pleased to continue to make the SIRIUS service available to current and future BMW owners." "We are very pleased that BMW has decided to extend its exclusivity with SIRIUS, thereby making SIRIUS' unique mix of commercial-free music and talk programming available to future BMW...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
@ 07:07 AM (34 months, 20 days ago)
The Chrysler Group today announced its intention to build the world's most popular minivan in the world's most populated country. Just two weeks after starting his new role as President and CEO of the Chrysler Group, Tom LaSorda came to China to review the Company's plans here and to announce that it intends to license South East Motors, Inc. (SEM) to manufacture its minivan for the Chinese market, in the southeastern Chinese city of Fuzhou. "Chrysler invented the minivan segment more than twenty years ago and we have continued to refine its best-in-class features ever since," said LaSorda. "It's appropriate that we localize the world's most popular minivan in the world's most populated country...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
2005/9/17
@ 10:46 AM (34 months, 20 days ago)
The Auto Channel reported that the AIADA newsletter said Volkswagen will start making hybrid cars by 2008 with its main Chinese partner and may kick off large-scale production of the energy-efficient vehicles by 2010, reported Reuters. Europe's biggest carmaker is teaming up with Shanghai Automotive in a venture to make 500 hybrid Touran cars to be used as people carriers during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Volkswagen venture will develop hybrid technology for the Chinese market, a Volkswagen spokesman in Germany said, but the European firm would work alone to develop its own hybrid engine technology for the United States and Europe. Meanwhile, Subaru announced on Wednesday that its parent company Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. is d...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
@ 04:26 AM (34 months, 21 days ago)
Auto companies don't often introduce a new model to the press in northern New Mexico. The elevations begin at around 7,600-feet at Sante Fe and rise from there. Most engines loose power at those elevations making them seem anemic, but the confident Volkswagen folks brought a bunch of us here to test the fresh, new, turbocharged Jetta GLI believing that it would shine in these conditions. I should admit before we go much further that I've always been a VW fan, notwithstanding the bad luck I've had with most of the VWs in my jaded past. My Rabbit diesel was so slow it couldn't get out of its own way, but was great fun once coaxed up to speed. My "Thing" blew its engine repeatedly and rattled itself apart until I...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/15
@ 05:06 AM (34 months, 23 days ago)
It's not unusual for an automaker to build a sports model of a popular sedan. And the sports model is often the premium-priced offering in the lineup. And so Kia has a sports model of its compact Spectra sedan, called the Spectra SX. It's premium-priced, too, with a base MSRP of $15,250. Ok, make that "premium-priced for a Kia Spectra." Because it's a small price for a car that I found to be a large amount of fun. The standard Spectra starts with features unusual for the budget compact class, including a well-tuned fully-independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. Kia has followed the standard sports sedan formula to make the Spectra SX: improve handling by retuning the suspension, including adding a front strut tower brace, and addi...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/14
@ 11:48 AM (34 months, 23 days ago)
DaimlerChrysler's Kokomo (Ind.) Transmission Plant (KTP) will be recognized today as a "Patriot Award" recipient by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. The award recognizes companies that implement policies and practices that support their employees' participation in the National Guard and Reserve. James Reed, Plant Manager of KTP, will accept the award on behalf of the Company. The National Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve sponsors the Awards program. All employer awards stem from nominations by Reserve members. KTP was nominated by Col. Dave Harris, a member of the National Guard who also is employed as a Manufacturing Quality Assurance Coordinator at KTP. "DaimlerChrysler is committed to supporting our employees while th...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 05:20 AM (34 months, 24 days ago)
After several years of deliberation, Porsche has confirmed plans to build a new four-door sports sedan, the Panamera. Conceived as a "four-door coupe" in the mold of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, Bentley Flying Spur and a forthcoming Volkswagen model, the new Porsche joins the lineup in 2008 as a 2009 model. With the announcement, Porsche chairman Wendelin Wiedeking confirmed what we've been reporting since 2002-that the German automaker has been eyeing a four-door. "We have taken a lot of time in making the decision (to build the Panamera)," said Wiedeking. "It has all the typical characteristics of a genuine sports car. In terms of performance, design and driving dynamics it meets Porsche's standards in every respect." Porsche sa...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/13
@ 11:43 AM (34 months, 24 days ago)
Dee-Ann Durbin writing for the AP reported that a new survey of U.S. vehicle owners released Tuesday indicates that while this summer's employee discounts may give automakers short-term sales gains, improving quality is more important in the long run. Toyota Motor Corp. got the top score of 87 out of 100 in the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index, which rates automakers based on owners' satisfaction. Owners were asked about their overall satisfaction and their satisfaction level compared to their expectations. They also were asked to rate how their vehicle compares to their ideal vehicle. Honda Motor Co., BMW AG and General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac and Buick brands rounded out the top five performers. Ford Motor Co.'...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 06:30 AM (34 months, 25 days ago)
Honda Motor Co. is looking at installing its high- performance all- wheel- drive system in the successor to the Acura NSX. The new car, which will be powered by a V10 engine, is scheduled to arrive about 2008. "Of course, we're thinking" about combining all-wheel drive with the V10, says Takeo Fukui, Honda's president. "The SH-AWD is Honda's core technology, and using this well is the next step." The company says SH-AWD - short for Super Handling All-Wheel Drive - is the first awd system to distribute optimum torque between the front and rear wheels and between the left and right rear wheels. It was first installed on the Acura RL last fall. After its debut, Fukui said Honda would be looking to use it on other high-performance A...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/12
@ 11:02 AM (34 months, 25 days ago)
Value pricing has produced an immediate benefit for Chevrolet: The 2006 Impala is getting a strong uptick in projected residuals. Automotive Lease Guide of Santa Barbara, Calif., projects residual values for the re-engineered Impala ranging from 41 to 45 percent after a three-year lease. Current three-year residuals range from 31 to 37 percent. Automotive Lease Guide sets residual values based on the estimated resale value of a vehicle after three years, as a percentage of the original sticker price. GM helped its residuals by cutting the base price of the new Impala by $1,100, to $20,990, including shipping. Value pricing, in which automakers lower sticker prices to bring them closer to transaction prices, is meant to wean buyers form huge incentives and attract...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 05:30 AM (34 months, 26 days ago)
In Roman times, a soldier literally earned his salt with valor on the battlefield. Centuries later, GM Performance Division is earning its salt - and its reputation for engineering leadership - on the vast expanse of the Bonneville Salt Flats. Shaped over millennia by the irresistible forces of nature, the Bonneville Salt Flats' crystalline surface forms a surreal speedway that stretches to the horizon. GM Performance Division first journeyed to this desolate landscape in 2003 with an Ecotec-powered Saturn Ion Red Line coupe, and earned both a 212.684-mph speed record and the respect of the tightly knit Bonneville racing community. GM is going back to the salt in 2005 with a quartet of cars to prove again the Ecotec's mettle in a demanding and distinctly A...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/11
@ 11:35 AM (34 months, 26 days ago)
First of all, the tC is really good looking on the outside, and pretty cool on the inside, too. But on a few of our really hot Sacramento days, the rear windows seemed excessively hot. The tC does have a good powerful engine. Good acceleration. Good on the hills and when passing. And the transmission is quite smooth. The ride is pretty bumpy and stiff but that's what you get if you want big thin tires and handling that is really good and tight. The brakes are OK but I like them a bit tighter. The instrumentation is easy to read and to reach, but not so easy to use - they probably need to have a few more manual knobs and a few less tiny buttons. The tC has really good visibility and is easy to park and the keyless ignition is very cool. I like the tC. It...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 05:36 AM (34 months, 27 days ago)
If you've spent any time ensconced in the isolation for which Lexus is famous, we don't have to remind you it can be a desensitizing-dare we say, deathlike?-experience. Between the coffin-caliber appointments and the tomblike interior quietness (is that engine running?), we've come to see products from Toyota's high-end division as the automotive equivalent of the cone of silence. The exception, of course, is the IS, Lexus' near-luxury sports sedan aimed squarely at the class-leading BMW 3 Series. Introduced in the United States in 2000, the first-generation IS 300 won high praise for its Germanic inflection, despite its Japanese upbringing. Though still Lexus-silent and smooth-aided by a sewing machine-precise 3.0-liter, 215-hp, 218-lb-ft i...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/10
@ 01:24 PM (34 months, 27 days ago)
Last of the Cadillac models to adopt the marque's edgy, vertical-lamp styling theme, the large front-drive Deville sedan arrives in fall for the start of the 2006 model year with a design facelift, re-engineered platform and a new badge. Cadillac's best-seller is pioneering a new marketing strategy that includes only one model (dubbed DTS rather than Deville) in four trim levels (luxury I, II and III, plus performance), and a $5,000 slash in the suggested retail price. The drivetrain is essentially unchanged, with a choice of Northstar V8s (rated at 275 hp in luxury and 291 hp in performance trim, down from 300 hp under the new SAE standards for 2006, though the actual output hasn't changed) coupled to a four-speed electronically controlled automatic...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 07:10 AM (34 months, 28 days ago)
Late last week, Mitsubishi Motors Thailand launched its new Triton (L200). To be produced by Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd, the new Triton (known as L200, Storm on export markets) will build on the success of its predecessor, including: - Over 700,000 units exported out of Thailand since 1988 - FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup Winner in 2003 Race-bred styling Previewed during the 2005 Dakar Rally as "Truck Evolution", the new L200 owes much of its design inspiration to the 2002 Pajero Evo 2+2 concept and the Pajero Evolution racer, with its nearly identical sharp lines, evocative Mitsubishi "Mount Fuji" grille and firm stance. Elaborating on this theme, Mitsubishi Motors designers approached the pickup concept with fresh eyes. They tur...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/9
@ 11:40 AM (34 months, 28 days ago)
"We've got to sell about that number," says Koichi Kondo, CEO of American Honda Motor Co. Inc., who revealed the unofficial sales goal. The Fit is scheduled to go on sale in the United States next spring or summer. Kondo expects the Fit to appeal to a broad group of customers, including young people and families "who couldn't afford the Civic." When it goes on sale this fall, the redesigned 2006 Honda Civic will be sportier and more powerful, leaving room for the Fit below it. Honda has not released prices for the redesigned Civic. The 2005 model starts at $13,810, including shipping. The Fit will compete with Toyota Motor Corp.'s successful Scion youth brand. At 60,000 a year, Fit sales would be on par with U.S. sales of Scion&...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 12:13 AM (34 months, 29 days ago)
Alfa Romeo will be the center theme of the forthcoming Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. One of the main attractions will be the first public outing of the stunning 8C Spider. The organizers of the event issued the following information: Derived from the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, the 8C Spider is purely and essentially a thoroughbred sports car in the traditional Alfa Romeo spirit; it offers sophisticated engineering, a sporty yet elegant shape, and strictly two-seat accommodation. Created at the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, the 8C Spider expresses all that is most precious in the company's heritage. The low and aggressive front or the face of the car is characterised by the classical Alfa Romeo triptych-the central triangular "scudetto" flanked...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/8
@ 11:16 AM (34 months, 29 days ago)
Mercedes-Benz will present a memorable motorsports display at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concour D'Elegance on August 21. The 300 SLR sports-racing car driven to victory by legendary driver Stirling Moss in the 1955 Mille Miglia, Italy's classic road race, will make its final appearance in the United States before retiring to the new Mercedes- Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. The transporter that carried the 300 SLR to Europe's famous racetracks during the 1954-1955 racing season will pay its first U.S. visit in almost fifty years. Considered one of the most beautiful racecars of all time, the Mercedes- Benz 300 SLR was based on the company's dominant W 196 Formula One racer using fully enclosed bodywork with a navigator's seat and a trunk. The...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 04:58 AM (35 months, 2 hours ago)
As Ford Motor Co. tries to rejuvenate its turnaround, product developers are changing long-standing plans for sport wagons and minivans. It's an 11th-hour decision in some cases and an expensive gamble. A handful of vehicle programs have been dropped or moved to a different platform. With all the changes, product timing is tentative, sources say. Just last January, executives touted the Ford Fairlane concept at the Detroit auto show as their vision for a new "people mover" - a minivan-type vehicle, in other words. The Fairlane was on Ford's Mazda6-based CD3 platform. But the plan has evolved to a similar-styled vehicle built on Ford's bigger D3 platform that originated with Volvo. Both are front-wheel-drive platforms. Through 2010, Ford wi...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/7
@ 10:34 AM (35 months, 20 hours ago)
This report provides an introduction to the current status and future trends for Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) in Europe. In-line with core competency, the potential impact of ETC on driver information telematics services is highlighted throughout. The report provides a basic overview of the generic ETC technologies and charging concepts. It identifies the technical, operational and contractual obstacles to international interoperability and assesses the potential for the EC's proposed European Electronic Toll Service. The European ETC industry has a poor reputation for interoperability, even for a single technology such as DSRC. This, together with the challenges of integrating new technologies and overcoming cross-border contractual issues, suggests tha...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 04:50 AM (35 months, 1 day ago)
The new 2006 350Z sports car, which features the Z(R)'s first comprehensive updating since its introduction in the United States market in August 2002, makes its public debut August 15 - 19, 2005 at the 18th International Z Car Convention in Syracuse, New York. More than 500 Z(R) owners are expected to attend the event with their vehicles. The changes to the 350Z, which has sold over 100,000 units in the United States in its first three years, for the 2006 model year include a revised front end appearance, enhanced interior and available lightweight 18-inch front/19-inch rear 5-spoke forged alloy wheels (Track Coupe and Grand Touring Coupe only). Other highlights of the annual gathering of Nissan and Datsun Z(R) owners from around the world include a track d...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/6
@ 11:42 AM (35 months, 1 day ago)
Suzuki Motor Corp. is irritated that some of its cars assembled by GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. in South Korea are getting poor quality scores from U.S. consumers. The discord between General Motors and Suzuki emerged after J.D. Power and Associates released its latest Initial Quality Study in May. In the study, Suzuki vehicles ranked last among the 36 nameplates rated. In June, top brass from Suzuki and GM, which controls GM Daewoo, met in the United States. Suzuki's chairman, Osamu Suzuki, complained strongly to GM CEO Rick Wagoner about the quality problems at GM Daewoo, says Hirotaka Ono, the Suzuki board member in charge of U.S. and European sales. Suzuki added cars to its lineup manufactured by GM Daewoo after GM, Suzuki and China's Shanghai Aut...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 05:16 AM (35 months, 2 days ago)
Spyker is using this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance to launch its latest model, the C12 LaTurbie powered by an Audi W12 with 500 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. It weighs 3362 pounds and runs from 0 to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 196 mph. Spyker won U.S. certification in June for its hand-built C8. Two C8 Spyders will be available for test drives at Pebble Chrysler's annual Woodward Dream Cruise special edition this year commemorates another famous road-Route 66. Available later this summer, the 2006 PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition gets Solar Yellow paint, unique trim and special Route 66 badging. It lists for $19,825....
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
2005/9/5
@ 11:21 AM (35 months, 2 days ago)
Nissan North America's Smyrna Plant produced its seven-millionth vehicle today -- an all-new Aztec Red Nissan Frontier Crew Cab SE. The plant's initial milestone unit was also a truck: Job One was a white 1983 Nissan Pickup. "Seven million units marks a production milestone, highlighting 22 years of quality manufacturing," said Dan Gaudette, senior vice president, North American Manufacturing and Quality Assurance. "Nissan is a company that's growing, and our brand image continues to strengthen. Everyone who works in our operations is proud of the products we make for our customers and of the contributions we make to Nissan's global performance." Nissan's worldwide manufacturing operations are key to supporting the c...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
@ 09:09 AM (35 months, 2 days ago)
The number 59 Aston Martin DBR9 took the chequered flag at 4pm with Stephane Sarrazin at the wheel in front of his home crowd. Stephane, along with co-drivers David Brabham and Darren Turner completed 333 laps in extreme temperatures at the La Sarthe circuit. The car had experienced a problem with its radiator with less than ninety minutes to go, but this was repaired in time to allow Stephane to complete the final stint up to the chequered flag and so take third in the GT1 class and ninth overall. Sister car number 58, driven by Tomas Enge, Peter Kox and Pedro Lamy had been leading the GT1 class, but dropped down to fourth due to a damaged splitter and later succumbed to a fuel related problem in the final ninety minutes of the race. Team Director, David Richards...
[Car Reviews] [Concept Car] [Auto News]
