Category Archives: new vehicle

New 2014 Lincoln Compact SUV Caught by Jim Dunne

Look at what Lincoln is planning for the small SUV market of 2014. The 2014 Lincoln prototype is based on the all-new 2013 Ford Escape architecture – wheelbase, drive train, 2-/4-wheel drive, 5-place seating, maybe a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with its alleged fuel economy advantages? Continue reading

Posted in auto news, design and styling, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

2014 Corvette Sticks with A Revised LT1 V8 Engine

When Chevrolet Corvette arrives late next year, most of the sports car will be all new, but not the 6.2L V8 engine. The latest Corvette LT1 engine, the first of the so-called Gen 5 family of Small Block engines, combines several advanced technologies, including direct injection for the first time, cylinder fuel shut off and continuously variable valve timing to support an advanced combustion system. Zero-to-60 mph times of less than four seconds are predicted for the base car. The new LT1 is the third engine in the Corvette’s history to be so-named, with previous versions introduced in 1970 (Gen 1) and 1992 (Gen 2). Continue reading

Posted in auto news, engineering, fuel economy or emissions, milestones, new vehicle, performance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VW Taigun, Nissan Extrem Mini SUVs Unveiled in São Paulo following the Intro of the Production Chevrolet Trax at the Paris Motor Show

Volkswagen has shown a Taigun concept that looks to be the final design for its new family of VW, Seat and Skoda mini SUVs or crossover vehicles ahead of the 2012 São Paulo International Motor Show in Brazil alter this week. Nissan, too, is showing a mini SUV, Extrem, in Brazil. Both introductions follow the debut of the Chevrolet Trax at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. Mini SUVs are predicted to be one of the fastest growing segments in the global market. Whether that applies to the U.S. will be explored next year by Buick with its tiny Encore crossover – 166 inches or 4216 mm in overall length – Buick’s second foray into crossover land. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, concept, marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Next Generation Chevrolet Silverado Pickup to Debut in December

Chevrolet will unveil what is calling the all-new Silverado 1500 full-size pickup on 13 December at a special event in the Detroit area. In a release, Chevy claimed, “bold exterior design of the new Silverado reflects the enhanced capabilities of the truck while features such as jewel-like, projector beam headlamps showcase the careful attention given to every detail.” Presumably, this also means a “bold new grille.” Continue reading

Posted in auto news, design and styling, new vehicle, sales | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Magna International Loses Bid for New Infiniti Compact Car

Magna International said today that Nissan Motor will make a new premium compact Infiniti car itself rather than use a Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria in 2014. The Infiniti deal, first announced last May, would have represented the first Japanese car ever assembled by the giant Canadian-based auto components company whose largest operations are in Europe. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, new vehicle, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cadillac ELR to be Built at Detroit-Hamtramck

Development of the Chevrolet Volt-based Cadillac ELR is now underway, and GM has just confirmed that the ELR will be built at the GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant. The on again/off again program is based on the Converj concept first shown at the 2009 North American International Auto Show as General Motors was hurtling toward a bankruptcy reorganization. Converj, err ELR, will be GM’s second hybrid after the Chevrolet Volt/ Holden Volt/ Opel Ampera when it appears late in 2013 as a 2014 model. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Saab owner NEVS Opens Battery Plant in China

National Electric Vehicle Sweden is now making batteries in China for electric buses and cars through its wholly owned subsidiary State Power Group. The owner of the rights to the currently inactive Saab brand name says State Power Group (75%) owns the new entity, dubbed National Battery Technology, together with unnamed company management (25%). Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, new vehicle, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gibbs High Speed Amphibian Unveiled – Quadski, a $200 Million Bet on an Unknown Market. Faster Horse or an Incipient Model T?

“Most people wouldn’t be doing what we are doing,” says Alan Gibbs, “because you can’t research the market.” The entrepreneur and multi-multi millionaire Gibbs along with his engineering partner Neil Jenkins are placing a $200 million bet against unknown odds that their jointly-held private company can become a force in what they call the high speed amphibian market. It’s a new form of transportation according to proponents, but a trifle according to critics. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, marketing, new vehicle, news, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Driving the 2013 Lexus LS 460, F Sport and 600hL Flagship Sedans

Lexus after decades of understated luxury has turned to relying on a “bold new grilles” and German-like performance models across the lineup to attract younger buyers. The latest example comes from its flagship LS sedan, which once upon a time (1989) catapulted Lexus to luxury car fame by being anti-German with its compliant ride without harshness and nosie, anti-German with a simple interior, anti-German with its limited maintenance requirements, anti-German with its much higher quality and durability, and decidedly anti-German with its much lower – by thousands and thousands of dollars lower – sticker prices. This formula has Lexus on track to sell 250,000 luxury vehicles in the U.S. this year, where it has dominated luxury sales for decades, except for natural disaster induced production losses that curbed sales during 2011. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, marketing, new vehicle, news analysis, road test | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Upscale” McLaren P1 Concept to Debut at Paris Motor Show

McLaren Automotive will show a concept of what it is calling the next generation ultimate supercar later this month. The P1 will be at the center of the McLaren stand at its first big league auto show, the Paris Motor Show or Mondial de l’Automobile 2012. The British company says the car is only a design study, next year a production version will be revealed and go on sale. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, concept, design and styling, new vehicle, performance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Milestones: 50 years of Mustang at Watkins Glen

It was 50 years ago that Ford Motor Company decided to show a mid-engine, V-4 powered two-seat concept car at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix.  While the striking handsome white car – still residing at the Henry Ford museum in … Continue reading

Posted in auto news, marketing, milestones, new vehicle, news, racing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Drive: Honda’s 2013 Accord – a Comeback Car?

It looks good. It feels good. It sounds good. A day of test-driving the all-new Honda Accord shows that for the 2013 model year, Toyota Camry will once again face strong competition from one of the best selling family sedans in the U.S. So strong is the Accord brand that the outdated outgoing model is still the second best seller in the family car segment, behind Camry even with Accord’s 5-speed automatic transmission that was badly lagging in the fuel economy rating wars. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, marketing, new vehicle, prices, road test | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toyota Says 2013 Avalon Lightest in Class. But Where’s the MPGs?

Toyota claims its new 2013 Avalon is 110 lbs. lighter than the 2012 model, at 3,461 lbs. compared to 3,571 for the 2012 model. When Avalon arrives at dealerships later this fall, it will be the lightest-weight vehicle in the premium mid-size segment, according to the world’s largest automaker.

This is a claim without a real distinction, though. The V6 powered Avalon is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined and 21 city, 31 highway – not exactly world beating. For comparison consider the Buick La Crosse, which comes standard with a mild hybrid or so-called e-assist system, is rated at 29 combined, 25 city and 36 highway. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, fuel economy or emissions, new vehicle, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Look – 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid Sedan

Since electric driving depends on a tiny 6.7 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery, this means the Accord plug-in will be hard pressed to stay on electricity for more than 10 or 15 miles, although it will look good on the window sticker with a projected EPA rating of greater than 100 MPG-e. The electric motors are rated at 124-kilowatt (kW). Thank goodness there is also power dense gasoline on board, so the projected range of the plug-in is almost 500 miles. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, milestones, new vehicle, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chinese Automaker Zhejiang Youngman to Buy 29.9% of Spyker

Chinese automaker Zhejiang Youngman will invest Euro €10 million in Spyker and take 29.9% holding of the company. A series of transactions starting next week will involve the purchase of 6.7 million Class A shares of Spyker at €0.05 per, as well as a loan of roughly €3.3 million to the Dutch company. Two new joint ventures to develop and manufacture Saab based vehicles will also being formed. In a statement issued this morning, Youngman said it will not increase its position further and has no intention of taking over Spyker – but that depends on which company you are looking at. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, new vehicle, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment