Hyundai has made incredible gains in the global market, challenging larger automakers in markets they once dominated. While Volkswagen has globally sold a record number of vehicles in 2011, Hyundai Motors and its Kia affiliate have exceeded VW’s numbers in the United States. According to senior analyst of auto website Edmunds.com Jessica Caldwell, “Hyundai offers...
Continue Reading...
One of the stand-out cars at this year’s North American International Auto Show, the Cadillac ATS looks extremely promising. In the 4th installment of Cadillac’s “The Journey” series, we witness GM’s commitment behind this product, from conception, to development, to its debut at the Detroit Auto Show. Tuned during Nurburgring shakedown testing, the ATS aims to...
Continue Reading...
While small cars have had a difficult time catching on in North America, it seems as if cars in the UK market could never be small enough. A group of businessmen in the United Kingdom decided to resurrect the Peel brand and are now taking orders for both the Trident and P50 models. 0-60 times...
Continue Reading...
It’s anything but a secret: more gears mean better gas mileage. Mercedes-Benz packs a seven-speed automatic into many of its cars, Lexus uses an eight-speed transmission in its LS sedans, but these amply geared boxes are generally the things of luxury cars— until now. We were the first to report that Hyundai had a 10-speed...
Continue Reading...
It’s no surprise that the 500’s return to North America did not make the splash that Fiat expected. Having sold less than 20,000 vehicles in its first model year in the United States, the 500 only did half as well as the company initially forecasted. The success of the 500 is essential to the Italian...
Continue Reading...
Electric powered vehicles have long faced challenges in battery cell packaging and the difficulties of maximizing range optimizing weight and placement. In the past, nickel-metal hydride cells failed to store enough energy to propel an EV any more than 100 miles and required a lengthy recharge after the battery depletes. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) does improve the...
Continue Reading...
It seems that Volkswagen, Europe’s largest automobile manufacturer, has no intention of slowing down. Sales results for 2011 revealed a sales gain of another 14.3 percent from last year. In a single December, Volkswagen completed 650,000 deliveries. However, the most staggering statistic of all is that Volkswagen Group delivered more than 8 million vehicles for...
Continue Reading...
The compact car category continues to grow and is increasingly becoming the most important and highest volume segment in America. For years Chrysler hasn’t had a competitive offering, something it is looking to change with the all-new Dodge Dart. Sharing its underpinnings with an Alfa Romeo it’s the direct result of the tie-up between Chrysler...
Continue Reading...
The 2012 Nissan Cube is getting a little more expensive, though not by a significant margin. The company chose to raise the base price $260 to $15,760, which includes a $780 destination charge. The real news is that the decision to cut back from four to three versions of the box on wheels has been confirmed....
Continue Reading...
2011 marked another year of success for South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co. and affiliate Kia. Having capitalized on its Japanese rivals’ year of challenges, sales for Hyundai and Kia have climbed like a rocket. Final global sales numbers for 2011 are 4.05 million and 2.54 million for Hyundai and Kia respectively. Boasting an increase...
Continue Reading...
Japanese automakers have ended 2011 worse for wear as the March 11 Japan earthquake as well as the rising yen exchange rate significantly damaged business. Unfortunately, Honda starts 2012 with new challenges. October floods in Thailand have caused major losses to Honda’s plant in the central province of Ayutthaya. To reassure customers that no vehicles...
Continue Reading...
South Korean automakers have been on a roll for the past two years and there are no signs of letting off. A radical departure from Hyundais of the past, the new Hyundai Veloster earned GOOD DESIGN award in the transportation category. Held at the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, GOOD DESIGN awards are handed...
Continue Reading...
To make room for expanding model research and development on the home front, Toyota Motor Corp has appointed its European division to lead global product planning for small cars. Vested with this major responsibility, extensive reorganization in Toyota Europe’s sales and marketing operations were put to effect in hopes to best approach the new mission....
Continue Reading...
Despite the recent supply shortage that plagued its Cruze production, Chevrolet‘s performance for 2011 set an all-time high sales record for the one hundred year old American automaker. Having sold 4.8 million vehicles worldwide this year through the month of November, December is projected to perform just as well. Overall, Chevrolet gained an additional half...
Continue Reading...
The car will reportedly boast sportier styling than the existing i30 hatchback and likely be powered by a 1.6-liter blown four-banger, rated at around 200 hp (this motor will also be used to power a spicier version Kia’s Euro market C’eed hatchback).
Continue Reading...
As rumored, Chevy has unveiled a new Sonic RS model with a long list of extras, improving the cars looks and handling. Plus, the new sport-tuned Sonic RS also comes equipped with the Chevrolet MyLink telematics system with a 7-inch color touchscreen. Available only in the 5-door hatchback style, the car gets a new aero...
Continue Reading...
Under a new partnership agreement between BMW and Toyota, engines and hybrid technology will be shared in order to spread development costs for future efficient vehicles. BMW confirmed its 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter four cylinder diesel engines will be installed in selective Toyota models beginning 2014, but there is still a great deal of speculation as...
Continue Reading...
Problems with a parts supplier have caused the GM assembly plant of the Chevrolet Cruze and its identical brother, Buick Verano, to experiences stoppages in the past 3 weeks, one of which was a one-week planned shutdown and another one that wasn’t planned at all. According to GM spokesman Tom Mock, GM’s Lordtown, Ohio assembly...
Continue Reading...
As the compact luxury car market continues its growth in the United States, Acura intends to join the ranks of the Lexus CT200h, Audi A3, BMW 1-series, and Mercedes A-Class. Based on the Honda Civic, the Acura promises that the ILX will attract younger buyers that find brand name, efficiency, and styling to be most...
Continue Reading...
In its annual Outlook, ExxonMobil discusses the future of global energy demands and consumption and in this year’s edition, ExxonMobil believes that half of the vehicles on the road in 2040 will be hybrids. We personally believe hybrids will rule the road long before 2040, especially when you have vehicles like Lincoln‘s 2012 MKZ Hybrid...
Continue Reading...
MINI continues to use technology and connectivity to enhance the Mini driving experience with the release of a new app, called Driving Excitement, for its Mini Connected infotainment system. This new app allows the driver to do more than record their vehicle’s diagnostics. The first mode in the Driving Excitement app is the Condition Check....
Continue Reading...
With only about three weeks until 2012, the Australian car market could end 2011 with a new best-selling sedan for the first time in 15 years. Although the Holden Commodore has been Australia’s favorite and a sales leader since 1997, Australia’s Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries revealed that the Mazda3 has currently sold 301 more...
Continue Reading...
Car and Driver’s annual 10Best Cars awards are back and while other publications focus on the best new cars of the year, what makes Car And Driver’s 10Best unique is its consideration of all vehicles that are currently on sale. The rules of the 10Best list state that winners from the previous year get an...
Continue Reading...
Mitsubishi has officially unveiled its new global small car, which is expected to help expand the brand’s lineup in North America. Bringing back the Mirage badge this sub-compact offering is just 146-inches in length, or roughly a foot shorter than the Honda Fit. Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, the display car features a 1.0-liter...
Continue Reading...
sidebar...
