Author Archives: AutoCrat

Best June Sales Ever for BMW Group

June Sales at the BMW Group set a new record with a total of 227,849 vehicles delivered to customers around the world. This was an increase of 9.1% compared to the same month last year. This latest record month means … Continue reading

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Toyota Claims Lead in Patents

Toyota is the only automaker listed among the top 20 on the IPO list. Other key innovators in the top 20 include Apple, Google, IBM and Microsoft. Continue reading

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Mazda MX-5 RF Debuts at New York Auto Show

With strong contrast between light and shadow and a high-density finish, Machine Grey allegedly gives the impression that the vehicle’s body has been sculpted from a solid steel ingot. Continue reading

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Can Audi R18 Beat Porsche at Le Mans in June?

Audi’s LMP1 sports car is a vehicle that is more powerful and “clearly more efficient than its predecessor.” While the new R18 is Audi’s strongest race car to date, it consumes less fuel than any of the generations before it. Continue reading

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Ford Forms Smart Mobility Subsidiary

It’s part of the latest automaker trend – or fad – to diversify away form the traditional car business. Continue reading

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BMW X4 M40i Unveiled at NAIAS

The 2016 BMW X4 M40i will be available at certified BMW dealers in February 2016 starting at $57,800 plus Destination and Handling. Continue reading

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GM Offers ‘Box Delete’ on All Light Duty Pickups

This means box delete is now available on all sizes of GM pickups, an industry first. Continue reading

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Union Protests Hyundai Worker Deaths

Trade unionists from Korea were in Geneva, Switzerland to attend the United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights this week telling the world about the workers dying in the yards of the planet’s biggest shipbuilder, Hyundai Heavy Industries Continue reading

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Truth in Geographical Vehicle Names – Here are Real Ones

Finding a Chevy Malibu in Malibu or a Hyundai Tucson in Tucson is actually rare, if such geographical vehicle names reflect popularity in those locales. Continue reading

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Los Angeles Auto Show about to Open

Final preparation is underway to the Chevrolet Camaro SS display on Tuesday 17 November for media preview days that begin tomorrow at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The LAAS opens to the public on Friday. Continue reading

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Huey Lewis and The News to perform at NAIAS

Huey Lewis and The News also wrote and performed “The Power of Love” and “Back in Time” for the hit film Back to the Future. Continue reading

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Trucks, Crossovers Boost US October Sales. Cars Lag

In the all-important Top Ten selling list, the Detroit Three pickup trucks easily swept the first three places. However, offshore brand models in October took the reaming seven of the Top Ten sales spots for the month. Continue reading

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GM Global Vehicle Sales at 7.2 Million Vehicles through Q3 2015

The global sales leadership race between General Motors and Toyota, Volkswagen and General Motors remains too close to call as GM sold 7.2 million vehicles during the first nine months of 2015 a decline of -3%. Toyota Motor’s global sales for the same period totaled 7.498 million vehicles, off -1.5%, but still enough to best Volkswagen Group at a flat 7.43 million vehicles. Continue reading

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Team Chevy Rodeo Begins

Chevrolet is hiring professional rodeo stars Tuf Cooper, Fallon Taylor, Richmond Champion, Luke Branquinho and Travis Graves, calling them Team Chevy Rodeo. Continue reading

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Porsche Buys More VW Shares from Suzuki

Suzuki held Volkswagen share because of a disastrous joint venture. The Japanese automaker disclosed the transaction over the weekend. Suzuki will post ¥36.7 billion (~$304 million) as a special item. Continue reading

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