Chevrolet‘s European product line is mostly comprised of re-hashed Korean products that started out life as Daewoo products. But with the introduction of the 2013 Malibu, Chevrolet is hoping to change things a little by offering what it sees as a “premium” product for its European flagship. The European market Malibu 164 hp 2.0-liter gasoline or...
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Ford and Toyota shocked the automotive world with the announcement that the two companies will join forces to create a new hybrid system for light trucks and SUVs. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding, and will do further research and studies regarding the project. The new system is said to be rear-drive based, and...
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The Chrysler 200-based Lancia Flavia, unveiled at March’s Geneva Auto Show, may never see the light of day beyond the auto show floor, according to the latest reports from a Dutch publication. Parent company Fiat was apparently concerned that the Flavia would not be profitable enough to sell as a Lancia, and would not sell...
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Ken Block has released the fourth installment of his Gymkhana video series, aptly titled Gymkhana 4, for the flatbill wearers of the internet to enjoy and play ad nauseam. We won’t spoil any of the video for you, but it’s an appropriate follow-up to the last three mini-films. Check it out below. [vs-jwplayer movieid=”btViXvIDsi0″ width=”560″...
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Buick has announced pricing for their newest additions to the Regal lineup, with their Regal eAssist mild hybrid vehicle starting at $29,530, while the high performance Regal GS starts at $35,310. The Regal eAssist uses a stripped down regenerative braking system to deliver hybrid-like fuel efficiency gains without the weight or added complexity of a...
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Ford is opening the floor to 2011’s contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers—which always ends in suspense. Will the UAW walk away in anger? Will they threaten a strike? Will Ford shut down a couple more plants and idle production for months on end? Or will the ghost of Henry Ford send in the...
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General Motors has its hands in all corners of the globe, and while most consumers know about their operations in Europe and South Koreas, their arm in the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan is shaping up to be quite the powerhouse in the all-important Russian market. Despite only being in existence since November, 2008 GM...
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While Ford has stopped short of confirming it, a recent article on Automotive News suggests that a Fiesta subcompact fitted with the company’s newest 1.0L Ecoboost 3-Cylinder engine is all but a done deal for North America. Ford confirmed that the engine would make it to America in some capacity, and the motor is only...
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Don Swanson’s racing school is up for grabs on eBay Motors, complete with a full semi, four EJ Honda Civic race cars and a Dodge Grand Caravan. All four of the EJ Civics are DX models with five-speed manual transmissions and non-VTEC D15 single-overhead cam engines. Each of the race cars come equipped with ample...
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The V6 powered version of the Ford F-150 outsold the V8 variant for the first time in the vehicle’s history, signalling a dramatic shift in consumer tastes that has left Ford rushing to meet demand for the new V6 engines. Ford’s gamble with offering two V6s – a 3.7L version, and a 3.5L Ecoboost positioned...
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Rumors of a Chevrolet Cruze 3-door hatchback appear to be just that, after an interview with General Motors North American President Mark Reuss surfaced, stating that the Cruze is too late in its North American product cycle for a hatchback. On the other hand, reports are emerging that Buick may get a hatchback version of...
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It might come as a surprise to some that it’s possible to purchase a six-passenger sedan, but in previous decades, large sedans with front bench seats and space for an extra passenger in the middle were mainstays of the American automotive landscape. While cars like the Ford Taurus and Mercury Grand Marquis were once available...
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Ford‘s meteoric rise may have hit a speedbump with the latest J.D. Power Initial Quality results showing the Blue Oval at its worst ranking in a decade, coming in at 23rd. Meanwhile, perrenial quality champion Toyota rebounded from 21st last year to 7th this year, after an annus horriblus of recalls, lawsuits and quality defects...
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Color choice tends to be an extremely personal subject when it comes to purchasing a car, and with 40% of respondents stating that they’d walk out of a dealer if they couldn’t get a car in their hue of choice, Ford is hard at work at the next generation of paint schemes. Ford engineers tend...
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Fisker Automotive is looking to hire 120 workers at its newly refurbished Delaware plant as the company gears up for its second electric vehicle, a sedan code-named Project Nina. Although the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid has still not gone on sale, Fisker is looking to hire assembly line workers as well as engineering staff and electro-mechanical...
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The 2012 Chevrolet Volt will now be available in all 50 states, priced at $39,995, including an $850 destination charge. The price reduction comes as in-dash navigation is now offered as part of an option package rather than standard. Some customers will qualify for a $7,500 tax credit, bringing the effective price to $32,495. The...
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Cadillac is recalling 50,500 SRX crossovers due to the passenger side airbag functioning differently than the owners manual states. SRX air bags are programmed to disable the right side roof-rail airbag if the front passenger seat is occupied. The owner’s manual says that airbags will deploy whether or not the seat is occupied. This discrepancy violates federal safety...
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Ford is cutting 150 jobs from its Buffalo Stamping Plant in upstate New York, as production of the Ford Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car comes to a close. The vehicles, based on Ford’s ancient “Panther” platform, are slated to be killed off in September, and Ford says that the layoffs are necessary to keep...
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Ford will sell its C-Max minivan as a hybrid model only, in an effort to further compete with hybrid offerings like the Toyota Prius V, Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, which are all offered in 5-door bodystyles. The C-Max will come only in a 5-seater configuration, with hybrid and plug-in hybrid variations offered. Ford originally...
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Hooray, the Corvette turns 60 this year! And, according to sales figures, so are its consumers. Despite lofty performance at a discount price, the Corvette’s consumer base is aging at a rate that is worrying General Motors—particularly because young people aren’t snapping them up either. Sales of the current generation have been less than those...
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Ford Motor Company Chairman Bill Ford (great-grandson of Henry Ford) revealed to Fortune magazine that his namesake automaker will apparently launch a global line of electric vehicles, with 25 percent of Ford’s lineup available with some degree of electrification by 2020. Ford cited the electric Focus and both plug-in and fully electric versions of the...
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A rumor from AutoBild magazine suggests that the 2012 Dodge Viper may get a Ferrari-derived V8 engine rather than the traditional V10. With the tie-up between Chrysler and Fiat, parent company of Maserati and Alfa Romeo, the Chrysler has access to the 4.7L V8 used in Maserati products and the Alfa Romeo 8C supercar, which...
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Documents filed with the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission revealed that Fisker, maker of the Karma hybrid sports car, is raising an additional $100 million in funding in advance of the company’s first customer deliveries. While the investors have not been identified, the money comes in addition to Fisker’s $190 million in financing secured already. The Karma...
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A “leaked document” (read: dubious rumor) claims that a coupe variant of the Opel Insignia sedan, may wear the famed Calibra badge. The previous Calibra was known for its slippery styling and turbocharged engines, and the Insignia would make a worthy successor. Opel previewed an Insignia Coupe with their GTC Concept, which was powered by...
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