Category Archives: new vehicle

Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV Starts Production in Thailand

In the U.S., the body on frame Trailblazer was discontinued after 2009, and replaced by the unit-body Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook. Trailblazer is a traditional American truck although it was developed along with the all-new Chevrolet Colorado pickup by GM do Brasil. Continue reading

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Family Car Wars Revived as Nissan Ships New 2013 Altima

Nissan has started shipping the new 2013 Altima, its best selling mid-size car and longstanding contender in the family car wars. The all-new 2013 Altima, which has been produced at Nissan’s Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in Tennessee since the first generation rolled off the line in 1992 is now also produced at Canton, Mississippi because of the high volumes involved. Altima will take on the reigning champion – Toyota Camry revised this year, and the upcoming new Honda Accord in a battle royal. Continue reading

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BMW Zagato Coupe: Concept or a Small Production Run?

The Concorso on the shores of Lake Como began as a get-together of coachbuilders presenting one-off hand-built creations, but some of the press photos supplied by BMW were taken at its test track in Germany, a sign that more than one copy of the coupe will appear for wealthy buyers. Continue reading

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Fiat and Mazda to Develop a Sports Car for Alfa and Mazda

The non-binding MoU states that both Fiat and Mazda will develop two “differentiated, distinctly styled, iconic and brand-specific light weight, roadsters featuring rear-wheel drive.” The Alfa Romeo and Mazda models will each be powered by specific proprietary engines unique to each brand. Continue reading

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Chevrolet Colorado Midsized Pickup to be Made in Wentzville as GM Tries to Forget Bankruptcy, Hummer and Shreveport

General Motors broke ground today on a $380 million plant expansion to its Wentzville Assembly facility to build the newly re-designed Chevrolet Colorado midsize pick-up in 2013. In the sad language oft used when describing the floundering U.S. economy, GM said it is “creating or retaining” about 1,260 jobs hourly and salaried jobs. The new Chevrolet Colorado is based on an all-new midsize truck architecture developed by GM do Brasil within GM’s global product development organization. Continue reading

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Honda Uni-Cub Electric Unicycle Enters Testing in June

Honda Motor Company today unveiled its new Uni-Cub personal mobility device, a computer-controlled electric unicycle that looks to be a production ready outgrowth of the U3-X first shown in 2009. The compact EV with a saddle provides the same freedom of movement in all directions that a person has while walking. Since it doesn’t replace body parts, Uni-Cub is not technically a prosthetic device, but will have widespread applications in manufacturing or warehousing and any other indoor occupation that requires walking. Continue reading

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Offshore Brands Down Slightly in U.S. Market Share in April

Auto brands from offshore automakers held a 55.3% of the U.S. auto market in April, a slight decrease from a 56.3% in March. In raw numbers this accounted for 654,086 units, compared with 791,169 in March.

This is hardly a ‘Buy American’ trend though, because in the first four months of 2011, foreign-owned brands averaged a strong 55.6% share of the U.S. auto market. Simply put the Detroit Three in spite of the demonstrably best most fuel efficient car offerings in history haven’t laid a glove on the invaders. Continue reading

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SAE Auction of Unique Roush Mustang Coming to Ford Field

What’s said to be a unique pony car has a custom silver body and graphics, a Roush 5-liter supercharged V8 engine using Ford Racing’s “Aluminator” long block. The engine is rated at 625 horsepower and 540 ft-lbs of torque, numbers you can believe because of SAE standardized test procedures that stopped creative math calculations by performance car marketers. Continue reading

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Cadillac ELR Coupe Coming Using Chevrolet Volt Technology

General Motors Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson announced plans today the new Cadillac ELR luxury electric coupe to China. The announcement of the first extended range electric vehicle from Cadillac in China shows just how significant the world’s largest auto market has become to all automakers. The question now is where the ELR will debut first – the U.S. where it was developed and Cadillac’s home market or China? Continue reading

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Cadillac to Build New XTS in China at Shanghai GM

Cadillac will build the new XTS luxury sedan in China in conjunction with its mandated joint-venture partner Shanghai General Motors (SGM) starting this fall. Cadillac sold a record 30,000 vehicles in China in 2011, compared with 17,000 in 2010 even … Continue reading

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Bentley Mulsanne Diamond Jubilee Debuts in Beijing

Bentley unveiled the first example of its new Mulsanne Diamond Jubilee Edition, which will be limited to 60 cars – one per year of the Queen’s reign. The car for one-per centers – or even 0.01-percenters – is expected to sell for more than $960,000. Continue reading

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Acura 2013 ILX Compact Starts at $26,795 this May

The hot selling Civic costs several thousand dollars less, but if you think this car is cool then you will fork over the extra money for what Acura hopes will be perceived as “smart luxury.” Continue reading

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U.S. Auto Sales Shift to Efficient and Less Profitable Cars

One potentially negative result because of the downsizing and easier credit trends is declining profits at automakers. The shift to smaller vehicles—in addition to the increase in financially less-qualified new–vehicle buyers, who tend to be younger and with less money to spend—means the average transaction price for new vehicles has dropped substantially in the recent quarter. Continue reading

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First Drive – 2013 Lexus GS 350 Sport Sedan

The GS 350 also, surprisingly, outperforms the BMW in extreme performance driving. The transmission has some features adopted from the Lexus IS F high-performance sedan — including faster shifts, earlier torque converter lockup and downshift throttle blips — to support four driving modes that can be operated by toggling the new Lexus Drive Mode selector. Continue reading

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Ford Fusion Start-Stop System is Optional at $295

The Fusion and the smaller Focus are aimed right at the heart of the passenger car market long dominated by the Japanese Three – Toyota, Nissan and Honda – whose compact and mid-size models – Camry, Corolla, Accord, Civic, Altima -historically provide a lower cost of ownership. Recently Hyundai has made large inroads in the same so-called D- and C-car segments by under pricing major competitors by $1,000 or more. Continue reading

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