Tag Archives: autoinformed

Ford Kills U.S. Gas C-Max Van. Smaller Hybrids Now Due in 2012

The C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid and C-MAX Hybrid will be followed by another next-generation hybrid in 2012, presumably an updated hybrid version of the Ford Fusion, which in its gasoline form remains the best selling car at the Number Two U.S. automaker. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, energy, new vehicle, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SUVs Now Among the Safest as Electronics Stop Rollovers

The safety improvements are so large that SUVs drivers are now statistically less likely to die in a crash than drivers of equivalent size cars. This conclusion on driver death rates was published today by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which for decades pointed out that SUVs were among the most dangerous vehicles on the road. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, insurance, news analysis, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BMW Group to Invest $811 Million in UK to Make Next Mini

The UK is the BMW Group’s fourth-largest single market in the world for sales, behind Germany, the U.S. and China, with sales in 2010 of 154,750. BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles. Continue reading

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

Corvette ZR1 Cuts 6 Seconds from Nürburgring Lap Time

A Porsche 997 GT2 RS posted a 7:18 lap time last year, but the Porsche at $350,000 in Germany is roughly three times more expensive than the ZR1, which begins with an asking price of more than $110,000 in the U.S. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, performance, prices, racing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

OPEC to Keep Oil Production Even. Prices Likely to Stay High as U.S. Economic Recovery Stalls and Unemployment Grows

OPEC’s decision to keep oil production levels constant is the latest setback for the stumbling U.S. economy. Since there has been no change in the way oil is produced or traded – as a fungible commodity – there is no reason speculators cannot keep oil prices moving up toward the record $147 a barrel that it hit in July of 2008. In fact, some analysts warn oil prices won’t stop there this time. Continue reading

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, economy, energy, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Akerson Praises GM at Annual Meeting as Stock Languishes

The weaknesses at GM remain in its sales of traditional trucks, with a 110 days supply of full size pickups; it’s heavy use of incentives, which remain higher than the industry average, (but are lower than the levels that drove it into bankruptcy); and gaps in updating the product line because of delayed programs at the end of the last decade when cash was short. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, financial results, news analysis, people, performance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volkswagen Holds Base Price of New Beetle to $19,765

Transaction prices of the Beetle will be much higher of course than the $19,765 starting point. The sportiest model the 2.0L TSI will start at more than $24,000 with a 2-liter in-line four-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. Continue reading

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

Volvo Recalls S60 for Defective Software and Engine Stalling

Volvo is recalling 2012 model year S60 passenger cars because they can stall without warning. All Volvo S60 models made from 18 November 2010 through 5 May 2011 will have the engine control software reprogrammed to eliminate this safety defect. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, engineering, recalls, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chevrolet to Sponsor 2011 Woodward Dream Cruise

Chevrolet will be the “presenting sponsor” for the 2011 Woodward Dream Cruise this year on 20 August as part of its on going 100th anniversary promotional events. It is the first in a new three-year sponsorship agreement between Chevrolet and the organizers. Continue reading

Posted in aftermarket, auto news, marketing, performance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Washington Dithers as Unemployment Increases Again

There aren’t enough jobs to reemploy U.S. citizens who want to go back to work, let alone absorb new graduates as tax payers into the economy. The real rate of unemployment is much higher – some critics have at more than 18%. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, results | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DOT’s LaHood Praises BMW as it Enables Distracted Driving?

BMW, the luxury brand that is in the process of becoming the first automobile manufacturer in the world to have voice-read e-mail messages inside its vehicles, has been singled out for praise by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation for claiming it is against texting and driving? Continue reading

Posted in auto news, distracted driving, people, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Europe to Build Three-Cylinder. U.S. Sales Promised

The new Ford three-cylinder engine arises in part from the success of the award-winning Fiat Twinair two-cylinder engine already on sale Europe. A large factor is also impending European emission standards that are forcing automakers to produce radical engine designs with low CO2 emissions. The newest Ford Ecoboost three-cylinder is projected to have CO2 emissions under 100 g/km. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, environment, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Korean Automakers Post Huge U.S. Sales Gains as Disputed Free Trade Agreement Heads for Congressional Approval

Some of the biggest sales gains in May were posted by Korean automakers Hyundai (up 20.7% versus a year ago) and Kia (up 53.4%). Combined, the two Korean automakers sold more than 100,000 vehicles for the month. Korea is the fifth largest producer and fourth largest exporter of motor vehicles in the world.

However, Korea ranks at the very bottom — 30 out of 30 among the largest automotive markets — for auto market access. The average among major developed economies is 40% market penetration by imported automobiles, but in Korea, the total of import vehicles from all global manufacturers in all countries entering the Korean market is around 3.6%. This is about 40,000 vehicles in a market that buys roughly one million vehicles annually. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

AutoNation May Sales Down 15% Due to Japanese Shortages

AutoNation, Inc. today announced that its retail new vehicle unit sales in May 2011 totaled 16,347, a decrease of 15% as compared to May 2010. Toward the end of May, AutoNation delivered its eight millionth vehicle, an automotive retail industry first, at the grand opening of Honda of Dulles. Continue reading

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

Japanese U.S. May Sales Plunge as Inventories Evaporate. Toyota, Nissan and Honda Decline in Earthquake Aftershocks

Toyota, Nissan and Honda – the Japanese Big Three – all saw U.S. sales plummet in May as a combination of their limited inventories because of the production disruptions from the Japan earthquake and the decreased marketing activities that followed took a huge bite out of sales. Continue reading

Posted in auto news, economy, news analysis, results, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment