Subaru Debuts Gen 6 Outback at New York Auto Show

AutoInformed.com on Subaru 2020 Outback

Click to enlarge.

Subaru of America has introduced the all-new 2020 Outback with the most advanced systems and capability in its history. The sixth-generation SUV comes standard with All-Wheel Drive and Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. (Subaru Sells One-Millionth Eyesight Driver Assist) With data from two Subaru-developed color cameras mounted behind the windshield, Eyesight can identify vehicles traveling in front, traffic lanes, obstacles and pedestrians. The system has helped reduce the rate of pedestrian-related insurance claims by 41% according to the Highway Loss Data Institute.*

With an optional tablet-style 11.6-inch Starlink Multimedia system with integrated center information display, DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation and new XT models with 260 horsepower, the 2020 Outback has more technology, safety and performance than before. Pricing for the 2020 Outback will be announced closer to this fall’s on-sale date. Continue reading

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Cayenne Coupé Marks Asian Premiere

AutoInformed.com on Asian Premier of Porsche Cayenne Coupe - Shanghai 2019

Expensive truck maker?

SUV and car maker Porsche has debuted the Cayenne Coupé, the new model from Porsche at its exhibition premiere at Auto Shanghai, arguably Asia’s most important motor show. The new Porsche will be on view there until 25 April and will play a major role in the further growth of Porsche in China.

“With the Cayenne Coupé, we’ve brought along a special version of our Chinese Porsche customers’ favorite model,” says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, at the kick-off of the exhibition: “We are expanding the Cayenne family with a vehicle demonstrating a very strong character of its own. And as in every other segment in which we compete, we also want the Coupé to be the sportiest option in its class. That’s why we continue to develop our product range in a focused way, in order to give our customers what they want and gain new ones – especially here in China, our biggest individual market.” Continue reading

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Carlisle on Cadillac Investment Plan Promises

The 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz had Pizzazz – from the grille, to the leather, to the big fins, it lived large. Moreover, it cost large – $7401.

Steve Carlisle, president of Cadillac, said today at the New York International Auto Show discussed its 10-year plan to rebuild the Cadillac brand and recapture a leadership position in the global luxury landscape.

“Today, following years of intense and strategic investment in the brand, in products and in technologies, we’re accelerating our momentum around the world… with the goal of growing our global volumes in a sustainable way,” Carlisle said. Continue reading

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Kia HabaNiro Concept Debuts in Manhattan

AutoInformed.com on Kia HabaNiro Concept Interior

Production when?

Today Kia Motors America (KMA) unveiled its vision of the future of electric vehicles at the new York International Auto Show. The HabaNiro concept is a fully-electric, all-wheel drive, four-seat car with an All Electric Range (AER) of more than 300 miles, level-five autonomous mode, butterfly wing doors and more advanced tech than what helped land men on the moon.

However,  it’s still a concept. Kia claims this is no fanciful supercar that will likely never be built, but a look into the future of mobility where automobiles allegedly will seamlessly integrate design, capability, usefulness and creativity. Continue reading

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Cadillac CT5 Debuts at New York International Auto Show

AutoInformed.com on Cadillac CT5 Debuts at New York International Auto Show

The Germans are firmly entrenched in compact RWD vehicles and other luxury segments. Cadillac has a long, long way to go globally.

The global debut of new Cadillac luxury sedan CT5 went on display in New York today surrounded by German luxury brands that have conquered and held large portions of what used to be Cadillac’s market. *

The all-new compact sedan is the latest attempt – after spending billions of dollars on decent product – to resuscitate the brand’s once award-winning glory days in segments it once dominated as well as segments undreamed of in Detroit during the Ike and Mamie good years and the swinging sixties. Continue reading

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Nissan Moves China Design Center to Shanghai

AutoIformed.com on Nissan Design ShanghaiIf you have any doubt that the automotive universe now revolves around China – the earth’s largest market –  follow the orbital migrations and machinations of the world’s largest automakers. It comes as no surprise that Nissan Motor Co. is moving its China design center, one of five global hubs charged with designing the company’s vehicles, to Shanghai.

Nissan Design China, previously based in Beijing, will continue creating products for global customers including those in China, and presumably (pay no attention Trump) Japan, the Americas and Africa and Europe.   Continue reading

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Global Light Vehicle Sales Drop -5% in March

AutoInformed.com on Global Light Vehicle Sales - March 2019

A rising U.S. economy with the Federal Reserve pumping money in at low rates per Trump will help U.S. sales – and his re-election.

There was no growth in light vehicles sales anywhere during March  as Global sales fell -5% in year-on-year. However, the selling rate picked up to 91 million  units/year, a slight improvement over the first two months of the year. The slight nudge up came from an easing in YoY losses in China, and an  improved selling rate in the USA. Consultancy LMC notes that Western Europe had a “disappointing month, while the Japanese, Korean and South American markets all continued to struggle in YoY terms.” (See AutoInformed on WLTP How Does It Work? Will it Work?) Continue reading

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World Piece or Pieces? SAE Joins International Alliance for Mobility Testing & Standardization

AutoInformed.com on Connected Vehicle Testing Standards

Bringing together smart and advanced mobility test-beds will be troubled by nationalist protectionism schemes.

SAE International has joined China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), TÜV SÜD, Shanghai SH Intelligent Automotive and International Transportation Innovation Center (ITIC) as charter members of a new Alliance for Mobility Testing and Standardization (IAMTS).

IAMTS is founded “to develop and grow an international portfolio of advanced mobility testbeds that meet the highest quality implementation and operational standards.”  Continue reading

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Renault Nissan Establish Joint Innovation Hub in China

AutoInformed.com

Leaf assembly in Smyrna Tennessee.

It might have been a bad marriage with an ongoing messy divorce, but Renault and Nissan, the French and Japanese automotive alliance partners have opened a new research and development joint venture in Shanghai, China. It’s the opposite of the parents staying together as the children are sticking it out to survive. The Alliance Automotive Research and Development (Shanghai), Ltd., dubbed as Alliance Innovation Lab Shanghai (AIL-SH) has Renault and Nissan each hold 50% of this new entity. Continue reading

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New 2020 Mustang High Performance 330-hp Four Banger

AutoInformed.com on 2020 Mustang High Performance – 330 Horsepower 4-Banger

It’s optional on “entry-level” Mustang EcoBoost fastback coupe or convertible models this fall.

Here comes an SCCA special from Dearborn. The 2020 Mustang this fall has a new 2.3-liter  High Performance Package – yes a force fed four-banger –  for the so-called as yet unpriced entry-level Mustang motor

This appears to be – subject to Dodge and Chevrolet responses – the most powerful four-cylinder sports car offered by an American automaker. This comes from an, ahem, EcoBoost engine via Ford Performance and upgraded handling components from the Mustang GT Performance Package. Continue reading

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New 2020 Jeep Gladiator Begins Shipping to U.S. Dealers

AutoInformed.com on The all-new 2020 Gladiator midsize truck.

Revealed in November 2018, Gladiator Sport starts at $33,545 and ranges to $43,545 for the Rubicon and that’s before all the Mopar goodies available are added on.

Jeep says its all-new 2020 Gladiator – claimed to be the most capable mid-size truck ever – began shipping to U.S. dealers from its home at the FCA US Toledo (Ohio) Assembly Complex on Friday 12 April 2019. The Company invested $273 million to retool and modernize the plant for Gladiator production and added 329 full-time positions to support the build.

Revealed in November 2018, the Gladiator Sport starts at $33,545 and ranges to $43,545 for the Rubicon and that’s before all the Mopar goodies available are added on. (AutoInformed.com Mopar Debuts Six Concepts for Moab Easter Jeep Safari) Continue reading

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GMC CarbonPro Has – what else – a Carbon Fiber Bed

AutoInformed.com on 2019 GMC Sierra Denali CarbonPro Edition

CarbonPro bed has best-in-class cargo volume. Sidewalls are pushed out farther by the formability of carbon fiber composite that allows molding deep, complex shapes with variable thicknesses.

The GMC Sierra CarbonPro Editions will begin appearing at some dealerships this summer with a carbon fiber bed on the Sierra Denali 1500 and the Sierra AT4 1500. The purpose-built CarbonPro bed is the first application of its kind for carbon fiber composite and delivers best-in-class dent, scratch and corrosion resistance.

“CarbonPro is made of the same raw material found in seven-figure super cars and even aerospace applications,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president, Global GMC. “Coupled with offering the world’s first six-function MultiPro tailgate, the 2019 Sierra packs a one-two hauling punch for whatever the situation demands.” Continue reading

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Final Gen 7 Corvette Auction to Benefit Foundation

AutoInformed.com on Mid-Engine Corvette

The announcement, along with the laughable confirmation of the Next Generation Corvette’s development, was made last night by General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra.

General Motors will auction the final production seventh generation Chevrolet Corvette this summer, with the proceeds benefiting veterans and first responder families through the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. GM’s current and retired workforce includes 60,000 veterans.

The announcement, along with the laughable confirmation of the Next Generation Corvette’s development, was made last night by General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra, who was honored at the foundation’s annual Footsteps to the Future Gala in New York. Continue reading

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Chinese Driver Ye Yifei Joins Renault Sport Academy

AutoInformed.com on Ye Yifei - Renault Sport Academy

In 2018 Yifei finished third in the Eurocup, taking two wins, 10 podiums, one pole position and three fastest laps.

Renault Sport Racing says upcoming Chinese driver Ye Yifei is the latest Renault Sport Academy recruit. The announcement was confirmed at the Shanghai International Circuit in a media and VIP event on the eve of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend.

The 18-year-old, who hails from Xian, China is claimed to be one of the most promising stars of the junior categories. In 2019 Yifei will race for Hi-tech GP in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. Yifei started karting aged ten, taking two national titles. At 14, he made the move to Europe and single-seaters. In 2016 Yifei became the first Chinese driver to win an international title winning  the French F4 championship with 14 wins, 17 fastest laps and 10 pole positions. Continue reading

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F1 Champ Mika Häkkinen to Run Suzuka in McLaren 720s GT3

AutoInformed.com on McLaren 720S GT3Mika Häkkinen will return to the Suzuka circuit in Japan later this year at the wheel of a McLaren, 20 years after claiming his second Formula 1 world championship title with the brand that has collapsed into an also, also ran on F1 circuits during the past couple of years. McLaren confirms that the Finnish driver will contest the Suzuka 10-Hour endurance race in a customer racing McLaren 720S GT3. (See AutoInformed.com on Honda Title Sponsor of Formula One Japanese Grand Prix)

Häkkinen will make his debut start at the Suzuka 10 Hour alongside two-time Super Formula champion Hiroaki Ishiura and Japanese Formula 3 racer Katsuaki Kubota. The trio will drive the new 720S GT3 for the fourth round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli on 23-25 August. Further information on the entry, including details of the customer team  running the car, will be confirmed in the coming weeks. Continue reading

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