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Category Archives: new vehicle
Milestones: One Million Fiat 500 Cars. EV Comes to California in 2013
The one-millionth Fiat 500 left the Fiat Auto Poland production line. Since its reappearance in 2007, the tiny Cinquecento or 500 has been sold in more than 100 countries – from Italy to Brazil, South Africa to Japan, and the United States to the Middle East – while also being produced in Toluca, Mexico, since 2011 as a requirement for taxpayer funding for fuel efficient cars that was part of the conditions for Chrysler’s bankruptcy bailout. More than 70,000 have now been sold in the U.S. The 500 in its most fuel-efficient manual transmission version is rated at 31 mpg city and 40 mpg highway by the EPA. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, milestones, new vehicle
Tagged 500e, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, fiat 500, Ken Zino, marchionne
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Hot Wheels Camaro to be Real in Full-Size Production Model
Life Imitating art, or rather toys for boys and girls and toys for men and women? Chevrolet has confirmed that the Camaro Hot Wheels concept that debuted at SEMA will appear at Chevrolet dealerships early next year. This is the first time a full-size production version of a toy car has been offered for sale by a manufacturer after decades, if not centuries, of the opposite practice. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, marketing, new vehicle
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, hot wheels Camaro, Ken Zino
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2013 Honda Civic to Debut at Los Angeles Auto Show
Honda has released the first photos of 2013 Civic Sedan, ahead of its debut at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show on 29 November. Mild styling tweaks are evident on the best selling compact-class car that goes on sale at Honda dealerships the same day.
The previous Civic was justly criticized for being too cheap as Honda removed content and substituted less expensive materials, but it went on to be best seller in the class in spite of tepid media reviews. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, marketing, new vehicle
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, honda civic, Ken Zino
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Honda Motor Unveils Tiny EV in Tokyo – Micro Commuter
Honda Motor Company today unveiled a Micro Commuter Prototype, a tiny limited distance electric vehicle. Honda said the EV was developed in response for micro-sized mobility products that are currently being discussed under a government initiative from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan. The EV also could comply with regulations for the L7 category in Europe, which is actually a motorcycle category for vehicles that weigh 400 kg or less, excluding the weight of the battery and have an electric motor output of 15 kW or less. Continue reading
Mazda to Make a Tiny Toyota in Mexico for Sale in North America
Mazda Motor Corporation today announced that a plant in Mexico, currently under construction, would produce a Toyota-brand vehicle for sale in North America. The sub-compact will be based on the new Mazda2, and will enter production during the summer of 2015. Toyota Motor Corporation is requesting 50,000 units per year for a Yaris-sized car that will be sold through Toyota dealerships. Continue reading
Qorus, New Chinese Brand Coming to China, Europe, Mid-East
China-based Qoros Auto Company will debut a new compact or C-class sedan at next year’s Geneva Motor Show as part of what it claims will be a series of vehicles aimed at buyers in China, Europe and the Middle East. This business plan, of course is easily done by press release. However, the design, development, manufacturing and wholesaling of actual cars and light trucks sometimes is more difficult, occasionally thwarting even the best of established automakers. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, new vehicle, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, chery automobile, china, Israel corporation, Ken Zino, qoros, Qorus
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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 auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, car spy, Ken Zino, Lincoln compact suv
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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
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
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 auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, chevrolet silverado, Ken Zino, naias
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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 auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, infiniti, Ken Zino, magna, magna steyr, nissan
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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
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
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 alan gibbs, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, gibbs Quadski, Ken Zino
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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 2013 lexus, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, driving impression, f-sport, Ken Zino, ls 460, ls60hL, luxury cars
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