Category Archives: new vehicle

BP Oil Spill Spawns Chevrolet Volt Plastic Parts

Posted on 20 December 2010 by Ken Zino

General Motors announced this morning that it has a process to convert the boom material used to soak up spewing oil in the Gulf of Mexico from the BP Oil spill disaster into plastic parts for its Chevrolet vehicles. The ongoing project is expected to create enough parts to supply the first year of production of the Chevrolet Volt hybrid vehicle that has just gone on sale. Continue reading →

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Nissan Adds Power Windows to All Versa Sub-Compacts

Posted on 17 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Nissan North America says that all Versa sub-compacts now come standard with power windows and door locks. This change affects all Versa 1.6 Sedans, as well as Versa 1.8 S Sedan and 1.8 S Hatchback models (power windows and door … Continue reading →

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Redesigned Models Offer Automakers the Best Chance to Increase Buyer Consideration

Posted on 14 December 2010 by Ken Zino

A redesigned new model is an automaker’s best opportunity to change the perceptions of the past, according to a new study released today that analyzes the reasons auto buyers fail to consider – or avoid – particular models when shopping for a new vehicle. Continue reading →

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Cadillac Returns To SCCA GT Racing With CTS-V Coupe

Posted on 13 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Cadillac today announced that it will return to racing in 2011 with a version of its CTS-V Coupe competing in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge.

The return to SCCA sanctioned tracks sees Cadillac rejoin a series where it successfully competed from 2004 to 2007, capturing the Manufacturer’s Championship in 2005 and 2007, the Driver’s Championship in 2005. Continue reading →

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World Car – 2011 Buick Regal

Posted on 10 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Buick Regal sales since a late summer U.S. introduction – 9,000 to date- and 2,000 sales in November are a start, but honestly more time is needed to see if the sedan is an enduring success at the GM division that U.S. Treasury Department officials wanted to kill during GM’s forced and well earned bankruptcy. Continue reading →

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Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative Moves Forward

Posted on 8 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Ten companies, agencies and universities have joined The Gas Company (TGC), and General Motors to make hydrogen-powered vehicles and a fueling infrastructure a reality in Hawaii by 2015. Taxpayers are subsidizing the program. Continue reading →

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Honda Cancels Element

Posted on 3 December 2010 by Ken Zino

The 2011 model Honda Element will be the final year of the boxy crossover utility vehicle, American Honda Motor said today. Honda sold fewer than 1,000 Elements in November. First introduced in concept form as the Honda Model X at … Continue reading →

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Honda Cuts Price of 2011 Insight Hybrid

Posted on 30 November 2010 by Ken Zino

The 2011 Honda Insight is officially on sale today with a less expensive base model that starts at $18,950. It’s the latest attempt by Honda to counter Toyota’s ongoing success with the Prius hybrid, which at more than 115,000 sales … Continue reading →

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Boeing Phantom Eye Uses Ford Ranger Hydrogen Engines

Posted on 30 November 2010 by Ken Zino

The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) has shown a new hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye unmanned airborne plane that can aloft at 65,000 feet for as many as four days. The first flight is expected at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air … Continue reading →

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Chevy Camaro Convertible, Buick Regal Added at GM Oshawa

Posted on 29 November 2010 by Ken Zino

The Oshawa Assembly Plant in Canada today added 700 employees for a new second shift on a flexible assembly line as General Motors takes the final steps for upcoming 2011 launches of Chevrolet Camaro Convertible and Buick Regal models. Camaro … Continue reading →

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2011 Honda Accord Freshening

Posted on 29 November 2010 by Ken Zino

The 2011 Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe models have changes that include improved fuel economy, modified exterior and interior styling and the addition of a new leather-Special Edition (SE) trim level at a relatively inexpensive $24,000 price. It’s a mild, … Continue reading →

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Driving the Hyundai Sonata

Posted on 27 November 2010 by Ken Zino

Funny thing about incremental gains in automobiles, they eventually add to something big. Last year was something big for Hyundai Motor America as it picked up more than one percentage point of U.S. market share during the worst business climate … Continue reading →

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First Drive – the 2010 Cadillac SRX

Posted on 27 November 2010 by Ken Zino

Cadillac, once the uncontested U.S. luxury vehicle leader, is coming off a disastrous rear-drive SRX model built from an aging truck platform. It’s finally seeing things the way Lexus envisioned. The new 2010 SRX crossover is built from a GM front-wheel-drive architecture that offers relative efficiency in a mid-size package for five adults. Continue reading →

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Chevy Volt has MPGe Rating of 93, 37 MPG Combined

Posted on 24 November 2010 by Ken Zino

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of the Volt starts at $41,000, including a destination freight charge of $720, or $33,500 if the buyer qualifies for the full federal income tax credit that ranges from $0 to $7,500.

This is roughly $8,000 more than the Nissan Leaf EV, which has a similar rollout plan for the U.S. starting in December, and also qualifies for lavish taxpayer subsidies. How long these remaining place in deficit ridden Washington is an open question. Both cars can be leased for $350/month.

So here the arguments will begin. The four-passenger Volt is a fully developed car without any range anxiety. The Leaf is a full electric with green bragging rights.

How many customers there are for both, remains to be seen? Continue reading →

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EPA Says Nissan LEAF Gets 106 MPGe

Posted on 23 November 2010 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the fuel-economy label of the Nissan LEAF electric vehicle, claiming that the five-passenger car is best-in-class with a miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) of 106 city, 92 highway or a combined 99 MPGe. Continue reading →

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