Category Archives: new vehicle

Chinese Automaker Zhejiang Youngman to Buy 29.9% of Spyker

Posted on 27 August 2012 by Ken Zino

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 →

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Recycling NASA Style as Kings Point Buys Liberty Star

Posted on 24 August 2012 by Ken Zino

The United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York has a new training vessel, the MV Liberty Star, a twin diesel ship with 2,900 horsepower. The 176-foot long Liberty Star has a 6,000 mile range and a maximum published speed of 15 knots. In its prior seagoing life, Liberty Star was one of NASA’s rocket booster recovery vessels. Along with its twin, MV Freedom Star, Liberty Star worked on NASA’s shuttle missions by positioning itself 140 miles offshore of Cape Canaveral in advance of shuttle launches to retrieve the two 146-foot, 200,000-pound reusable booster casings ejected during shuttle launches. Continue reading →

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First Look – Bentley Continental GT Speed Flagship

Posted on 22 August 2012 by Ken Zino

Bentley has released details of its Continental GT Speed, a revised 205 mph, all-wheel drive performance coupe ahead of its official international debut at the Moscow Motor Show on 29 August. The Continental GT Speed is the fastest road-car Bentley has ever produced with deliveries scheduled to start in October 2012. Continue reading →

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First Look – 2013 Range Rover SUV

Posted on 16 August 2012 by Ken Zino

Land Rover has released the first photos of what it says is an all-new 2013 Range Rover. The fourth generation version drops its steel body for an all-aluminum monocoque design that is somewhat lighter. The upshot is total vehicle weight savings of about 700 pounds on what will remain about a 5,000 pound (or more) SUV in its two V8-powered U.S. versions. Currently the $80,000-$100,000 sport ute is rated by the EPA a 12 mpg city, 18 highway and 14 mpg combined, which is at the lower end of the class and requires a 28-gallon tank of premium fuel to provide a decent range. Continue reading →

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Reality Versus Concept as Production Accord Photos Released

Posted on 9 August 2012 by Ken Zino

The ninth generation Accord, a perennial top seller in the family car category faces unprecedented competition from the Toyota Camry – the best selling car in the U.S. and all new last year – a revised Nissan Altima, and the Hyundai Sonata, as well as the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu, among others. The category is important for its size – almost 20% of the cars sold in the U.S., and as a result, its bragging rights. Continue reading →

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Buick Verano Turbo to Be Priced at $29,990 This Fall

Posted on 8 August 2012 by Ken Zino

The 2013 Buick Verano Turbo sedan will be priced at $29,990, including a destination charge of $885. The turbocharged Verano uses GM’s Ecotec 2-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing to produce 250 horsepower (187 kW) at 5300 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) of torque at 2000 rpm. Continue reading →

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Lexus Debuts New LS Flagship Sedan Tonight in San Francisco

Posted on 30 July 2012 by Ken Zino

The original Lexus full-size sedan – the 1990 model LS 400 – caught the Germans by surprise with its combination of high quality, silky smooth ride, and a price that undercut competing Mercedes-Benz and BMW sedans by $10,000 or more.

Initially dismissed by the Europeans, the success of Lexus ultimately forced improvements in quality and a lowering of prices by Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. The Japanese brand’s success has also prompted an expanding list of joint ventures with BMW. Continue reading →

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Red Tail Mustang to be Auctioned at EAA Oshkosh for Eagles

Posted on 23 July 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor will auction a one of kind Red Tails Mustang at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture convention in Oshkosh next Thursday. The single edition Mustang has VIN 00051 in honor of the red tail P-51 Mustang planes flown by the Tuskegee Airmen during more than 1,500 missions during WWII. Pervasive racism in the army kept the black unit segregated during the war. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls 2013 Escapes for Fires; Honda Recalls CRVs

Posted on 19 July 2012 by Ken Zino

This is the second recall on the new Escape, an earlier one was conducted to repair carpeting that interfered with accelerator and brake pedal movement, and it raises concerns about Ford’s ability to launch new models without quality concerns. Honda recalled more vehicles in 2011 than any other automaker operating in the U.S. Continue reading →

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Aston Martin has Web Darling in Vanquish. Sales to Follow?

Posted on 27 June 2012 by Ken Zino

A week after its internet debut, the new Aston Martin Vanquish is breaking viewing records at the British automaker’s site. The end of last week saw the three highest traffic days ever recorded on Aston Martin’s global website – www.astonmartin.com – as car fans around the world clicked to find out more about a new V12-engined touring car. Whether web interest actually translates to sales to punters with the minimum of £189,995 when the Vanquish goes into production late this year remains to be proved. Continue reading →

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First Look – 2013 Ford SVT Raptor Off-Road Pickup Truck

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Since launching as a 2010 model, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has gathered small notoriety as an off-road performance pickup truck. A two-door Super Cab debuted first, then came a 2011 add, a four-door Super Crew model. Prices now start at more than $44,000. Continue reading →

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First Drive – 2013 Lexus ES 350 and ES 300h Hybrid Sedans

Posted on 25 June 2012 by Ken Zino

A day of test-driving both of the front-drive mid-size cars shows that once again, these are well-equipped, quiet luxury models. However, Lexus engineers have abandoned the plush ride that made its name, for a distinctly German chassis setup that verges on the harsh and intrusive. Lexus executives claim that this is what customers want, which could come as news to the one million ES owners. This theory will be tested after the cars are priced – and the strong Yen will be a factor here – and final EPA numbers are attached to their window stickers. Continue reading →

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Tesla Motors Delivers First Model S EVs at $100,000

Posted on 25 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Tesla Motors delivered its first electric Model S sedan over the weekend at its factory in Fremont, California. The financially challenged company – it has never earned a profit – says it will build 5,000 electric vehicles by the end of 2012, followed by 20,000 cars in 2013. Tesla claims it has already received more than 10,000 reservations worldwide for Model S. Continue reading →

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Mini Clubvan Goes Commercial, So to Speak

Posted on 23 June 2012 by Ken Zino

In its latest marketing move for the successful Mini line, BMW is offering a commercial version of the sub-compact small car. With two seats and five doors the Mini Clubvan is said to be the world’s first premium priced delivery van. The concept comes from the original Morris Mini van introduced in 1960, albeit at a down market price point back then. Continue reading →

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Ford Inflatable Rear Seat Belt to Debut on New Mondeo

Posted on 22 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company announced today that an inflatable rear seat belt would make its European debut next year on the all-new Mondeo. The inflatable belt is designed to reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear-seat passengers. Ford said that often children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to such injuries are in the rear seat. Continue reading →

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