Monthly Archives: April 2013

Volkswagen Group Q1 Profit Drops as Europe Mars Results

Posted on 30 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Volkswagen Group profits decreased to €2.3 billion in Q1, down from a record €3.2 billion a year earlier. Global deliveries increased by 4.8% to 2.3 million vehicles worldwide as the Group’s share of the passenger car market rose year-on-year to 12.6% from 12.2%. Continue reading →

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Pony Car Wars – 2015 Mustang Mule

Posted on 30 April 2013 by Jim Dunne

The 2015 Mustang caught in this photo is in what you might call the late “pupa stage” – completely developed but not quite ready for testing on the road. Continue reading →

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Fiat Group Posts Slim €31 Million Profit in Q1

Posted on 29 April 2013 by Ken Zino

The Fiat Group in Turin today posted Q1 profits of €31 million or about $40 million with revenues of €20 billion from worldwide shipments of more than 1 million vehicles. Continue reading →

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Honda Recalls Fit Sport for OverSteer

Posted on 29 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Honda is recalling 44,000 Fit Sport models because the electronic stability control can cause oversteer thereby increasing the risk of spinning out or crashing. The latest recall was prompted by NHTSA testing, which showed excessive yaw rates both time the tests were conducted on Dunlap tires. Computer programming is the cause of the safety problem. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Group Q1 Profits Drop to $166 million

Posted on 29 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Chrysler Group today reported its 2013 Q1 results of $166 million in profits on revenue of $15.4 billion, off 6% from $16.4 billion one year ago. Continue reading →

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Subaru Recalls Forester for Pedal Interference

Posted on 29 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Subaru is recalling more than 10,000 2014 model Forester vehicles because the carpeted floor mats were not manufactured properly and can interfere with the gas, accelerator, brake or clutch pedals. Continue reading →

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Volvo Says Flywheel Energy Recover Ups Fuel Economy 25%

Posted on 28 April 2013 by Ken Zino

An experimental 4-cylinder Volvo equipped with flywheel energy recovery has the potential to increase fuel economy by as much as 25% when compared to a six-cylinder engine with the same performance level. Continue reading →

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Geely and Detroit Electric to Develop Electric Cars for China

Posted on 28 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Geely Automobile Group and recently revived Detroit Electric brand said companies have a strategic partnership to develop electric vehicles and electric drive systems for sale in China. The first EV will go on sale under Geely’s Emgrand brand starting in Q1 of 2014, the companies claimed. Continue reading →

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Some Corvette Prices Revealed – $51,995 to more than $73,000

Posted on 26 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet revealed today some of the prices of the 2014 Stingray that goes on sale this summer but held back the MSRP of the highest performing Corvettes. Continue reading →

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GM files SEC Paperwork to Ease Share Sales

Posted on 26 April 2013 by Ken Zino

GM said in a statement that is not currently aware of any specific plans regarding an offering by any selling shareholders. When selling shareholders make an offering during the next three years, the terms would be established at the time of offering and described in a prospectus supplement filed with the SEC. GM will not receive any of the proceeds of sales of common stock or warrants by the selling shareholders in the shelf registration statement. Continue reading →

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Ford and Schaeffler to Make Fiesta EV

Posted on 26 April 2013 by Ken Zino

While offering no business reasons for the project at loss-making Ford of Europe, the company said there could be space-saving benefits that could support development of smaller cars that are more agile and optimized for urban areas with the ability to move sideways to park. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Group Increases Torque Converter Output at Toledo

Posted on 26 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Chrysler Group announced today that it would invest $19.6 million in its Toledo Machining Plant in Perrysburg, Ohio to increase capacity of the torque converter it is making for the nine-speed transmission of the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Continue reading →

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Yokohama Rubber to Build Tire Plant in the U.S.

Posted on 26 April 2013 by Ken Zino

The Yokohama Rubber Company announced today that it would build a new $300 million plant to manufacture truck and bus tires in the United States. Continue reading →

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Daimler Group Q1 Earnings Drop Based on EU Crisis

Posted on 26 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Daimler AG [DAI] posted a significant drop in Q1 earnings largely because of the ongoing economic slowdown in Western Europe where sales are running at a 20-year low. The Q1 EBIT of €917 million was less than half of Q1 … Continue reading →

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EU Commercial Vehicle Sales Drop -10% in March, -11% Q1

Posted on 25 April 2013 by Ken Zino

The UK, currently mourning Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and which has resolutely stuck to the Pound, was the only major area to post growth at +7.7%. Continue reading →

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