Category Archives: new vehicle

Honda Accord Coupe Concept – Its 2013 Comeback Car?

Given the competitiveness of the segment – accounting for ~20% of the cars sold in the U.S., Honda is currently behind in technology. This is an unexpected lag for what normally is a company that resides at the top of the innovation column of the scorecard is puzzling. Continue reading

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

Stubby Buick Encore SUV Debuts – Revenge of CAFE Regs?

Buick today introduced the all-new 2013 Encore – a Korean-made small crossover that goes on sale in early 2013 in North America. Encore joins a line of Buick vehicles that has recently seen the additions of the Verano compact luxury sedan, the Regal GS sport sedan, as well as ongoing LaCrosse and Enclave models. The Encore SUV is a mere 168.5 inches long – about 10 inches shorter than the new Honda CRV. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, fuel economy or emissions, new vehicle, news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ford Debuts Mondeo Based, Mexican-Built Fusion at NAIAS

Ford’s relative lack of success in car segments will make this launch one to watch. The Number 2 automaker in U.S. sales should have picked up more than a 3.7% increase in passenger car sales during 2011 while the industry gained 9% in the view of critics. Continue reading

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

Ford Shows Fiesta Derived EcoSport at New Delhi Auto Expo

India is projected to become the world’s third largest light vehicle market by the end of the decade behind China and the U.S. Ford lags badly behind competitors in Asia, and is playing catch-up while losing money. Continue reading

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

Car Spy Jim Dunne Catches Revised Lincoln MKS or MKZ?

Following the Ford Jaguar debacle, success is also not a word that can be applied to Ford’s management of Lincoln, which is a poseur in the world of luxury cars dominated by the German Brands and Toyota’s Lexus, which even though it was out of the U.S. market for five months this year because of the Japan earthquake, still managed to outsell Lincoln by a better than 2:1. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, customer satisfaction, design and styling, distracted driving, new vehicle, news, news analysis, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Toyota Launches Prius c Hybrid as Aqua in Japan for $21,700

In Japan the Prius c comes in seven models with a price ranging from $21,750 to $34,500 for lavishing equipped models for handicapped people. Look for the Japanese-built Prius c in the U.S. to start somewhere under $20,000 with several more expensive option packages. AutoInformed is betting Toyota will continue to use aggressive ‘comeback pricing’ and incentives to regain market share lost post-tsunami and Thailand floods this year. With the introduction of the all-new reduced price Camry last October, Toyota has regained 2 percentage points of U.S. share in the last two months. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, marketing, milestones, new vehicle, news, news analysis, shows and events | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IIHS Posts a Record 115 Winners for 2012 Top Safety Pick

The independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick has a record number of choices – 115 – among 2012 models. The best vehicles are those in IIHS’s view that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, awards, new vehicle, news, results, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cadillac CTS Touring Package All Show No Go?

Cadillac CTS Touring package is a new option – $2,065 or $2,810 depending on which V6 engine – that takes some showy stuff from the CTS V-series such as the Recaro seats, microfiber suede inserts for seats and steering wheel, high-intensity discharge headlamps, a ‘performance tuned’ suspension, the V-series aerodynamic spoiler and performance wheel packages. It’s an old automotive marketing trick used to boost revenue that is still widely used because it works even as it complicates build combinations. Continue reading

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

Lexus LF-LC 2+2 Sport Coupe revealed. Sort of…

In November, the Lexus Division of Toyota reported total sales of 19,458 units, up 6.7% year-over-year, the best month since March, the month of the infamous tsunami. With Lexus attempting to regain it’s top selling luxury brand spot in the U.S. that it lost this year to the Germans post tsunami, look for LF-LC to appear sooner rather than later. Continue reading

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

GM China Advanced Technical Center Nears Completion

GM intends to use Chinese battery suppliers in future electric vehicles – the latest setback for beleaguered U.S. workers who are facing grim employment prospects in the moribund U.S. economy. This is no longer a blue-collar or solely a UAW problem. College level white collar engineering jobs are at stake in advanced technologies touted by politicians as the key to returning the U.S. to global competitiveness. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, electric vehicles, environment, labor issues, new vehicle, news, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Buick 2013 Encore Teaser Photo – Will it Play in China?

The real challenge for all new Buicks going forward is not whether the vehicle will play in Peoria, but rather how it plays in Shanghai? Buick sold a record of 59,763 vehicles in China in November – more than 5 times what it sold in the U.S. Little wonder the head of GM advance design in China is now Chinese. Continue reading

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

Finalists in for 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year

Cars selected were the 2012 Ford Focus, 2012 Hyundai Elantra and the 2012 Volkswagen Passat. Last year the Chevrolet Volt was the car winner. In the misleadingly named ‘truck’ category, the 2012 BMW X3, 2012 Honda CR-V and the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque made the final cut. Continue reading

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

New 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Revealed after Press Leaks

Press leaks about the new Mercedes-Benz SL have apparently prompted an extensive official release of the all-aluminum sports car ahead of its official introduction at the North American International Auto Show next month. Continue reading

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

New 2.0-Liter Turbo Engine Debuts in the Cadillac ATS

The Cadillac version of GM’s new powerplant will be one of highest specific output automotive engines, bar none, and more than 20% higher than the next closest competitor, the Mercedes-Benz C250 1.8-liter turbo at 111.6 hp/L. The turbo four will be joined in the ATS with a normally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a 3.6-Liter V6 engine when production begins next summer. Frankly, it’s the price of entry in a segment where Cadillac has failed several times with inferior offerings. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, engineering, new vehicle, news, performance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chrysler to Build 2013 SRT Viper at Conner Avenue Plant

Chrysler Group announced today that it will reopen its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit for the production of the next generation 2013 SRT Viper. The closed Viper plant was the victim of the Chrysler bankruptcy in 2009 and was originally listed as an asset to be sold. However, there were no takers for the sale of the Viper and its entire Conner Avenue plant for only $10 million. The Viper business earned $16 million in 2008 by building 1,545 cars and engines, according to a bankruptcy filing. Continue reading

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