Automotive News (Page 1115)

Automotive News

This section of Torque News provides the latest auto news and updates from the car manufacturers. Every day number of news stories and editorials are published here that give our readers an overview of what is happening in the automotive industry. Read this section daily to find out about new cars, vehicle reviews and car pictures. Torque News is an automotive news website by Hareyan Publishing, LLC, dedicated to covering the latest news, reviews and opinions about the car industry.

Projected fuel cell costs decline 81 percent since 2003

By Frank Sherosky on December 22, 2010 - 12:31AM

Contained within a 2010 update by the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE), fuel cell costs have reduced to the level of high-end internal combustion engines. This means Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) can become cost effective within a few years if produced in high volumes.

Suzuki Uses Humor in Last-Ditch Effort to Revive Brand

By Keith Griffin on December 21, 2010 - 10:29PM

Suzuki is apparently trying to use humor when all else fails to sell an amazingly good car – the Suzuki Kizashi. Its latest commercial is a comparison among the Audi A4, the Kizashi and a motorized sofa that needs to succeed to revive the brand.

BMW EfficientDynamics Supercar i8 to cost $200,000

By Patrick Rall on December 21, 2010 - 5:29PM

During the official launch announcement of the new 1-Series M Coupe, BMW’s Sales and Marketing Director Ian Robertson commented that when the production version of the BMW EfficientDynamics supercar hits showrooms, it will carry a price around $200,000.

Judge rules that Toyota must disclose recall settlement terms

By Patrick Rall on December 21, 2010 - 4:16PM

Toyota Motor Corp reportedly settled with the first of what could be a great many lawsuits from consumers against the automaker for their lethal recall practices and when the settlement was achieved, Toyota requested that the terms of the settlement not be disclosed publicly but Judge Anthony J. Mohr has ruled that Toyota must indeed disclose the terms of the agreement.

Four alternate engine technologies for 2011 and beyond

By Frank Sherosky on December 21, 2010 - 1:37PM

With ultra-green ideas on the minds of many legislators that may one day force 60-plus mpg and ultra-low CO2 levels into law, the auto industry best rethink its entire engine technology position for 2011 and beyond. Fact is, there are technologies and concepts just waiting for development and a chance to prove the ICE and other combustion technologies can compete, not only on a fuel mileage basis, but on a cost and an ecological basis as well.

Tesla has already taken 3000 buyers for the 2012 Tesla Model S sedan

By Patrick Rall on December 21, 2010 - 11:59AM

In a form filed recently with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Tesla Motors revealed a handful of information about the current goings-on within their company, including the fact that they have already received 3,000 pre-orders for the 2012 Tesla Model S sedan – accounting for $15 million in revenue from a car over a year away from seeing production.

Cadillac Donates Super Bowl Tickets to Cure Duchenne Auction

By Keith Griffin on December 21, 2010 - 11:29AM

Auto manufacturers are doing their best to get you to Super Bowl XLV in Dallas. Yesterday, Mercedes announced a tweeting contest while today Cadillac has announced its donation of 50 tickets to benefit a charity called Cure Duchenne.

Toyota fined $32.4m more for lethal recall practices

By Patrick Rall on December 21, 2010 - 11:16AM

Toyota Motor Corp. has reportedly agreed to pay an additional $32.4 million dollars to the US government stemming from their careless recall practices which may have cost over 100 people their lives.

Dodge announces free maintenance program for 2011 Durango, Journey

By Patrick Rall on December 21, 2010 - 10:37AM

The all-new 2011 Dodge Durango and refreshed 2011 Dodge Journey are all packed full of reasons to belong in your short list for your next new car but in case you needed one more reason, Dodge has just announced a free maintenance program for the highline versions of their crossover and new SUV.

TD Bank Buys Chrysler Financial, Chrysler Says no "connection"

By Armen Hareyan on December 21, 2010 - 8:36AM

TD Bank this morning announced that it acquired Chrysler Financial. The news is so sensitive that Chrysler Group immediately tweeted reminding they have no connection with the acquisition.

SLS AMG GT3 Undergoes Final Testing Before Delivery

By Keith Griffin on December 21, 2010 - 7:00AM

Top Gear America co-host Adam Ferrara may not like the Mercedes SLS in its street clothes, but even he would have to be a fan of the SLS AMG GT3 that undergoes final testing at a 24-hour race in Dubai before delivery to customers.

Laurence Fishburne named the new voice of Cadillac

By Patrick Rall on December 20, 2010 - 3:26PM

During college football’s Rose Bowl Game on January 1st, 2011, Cadillac’s new “red-blooded luxury” advertising campaign will begin and when it does, the luxury arm of General Motors will use Hollywood star Laurence Fishburne for voiceovers.

New 2011 Chrysler 300 revealed ahead of the Detroit debut

By Patrick Rall on December 20, 2010 - 1:59PM

The redesigned 2011 Chrysler 300 is expected to make its grand debut next month at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show but today, we have a full spread of images showing what the new luxury sedan will look like.

The 2012 Lamborghini Aventador already selling well in Singapore

By Patrick Rall on December 20, 2010 - 12:53PM

The 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 hasn’t been official unveiled yet, but pre-orders for the next generation of Italian supercar are already streaming in, with over 50 orders in Singapore alone.

NHTSA confirms recall of 2011 Toyota Sienna

By Frank Sherosky on December 20, 2010 - 12:51PM

NHTSA Campaign ID 10V620000 N/A is officially in play for another Toyota recall. Components affected this time are the pedals and linkage of the hydraulic service brakes. The brake stop lamp switch, due to its proximity to the parking brake pedal, in limited circumstances the operator’s foot could damage the stop-lamp switch bracket.

GM Recycles Gulf Disaster Oil Booms for Chevrolet Volt

By Keith Griffin on December 20, 2010 - 11:46AM

GM has managed to make something good from the ecological disaster that was the massive BP gulf oil spill. It is recycling oil-soaked plastic booms from the Gulf disaster into parts for the Chevrolet Volt.

Tweet Your Way to the Super Bowl and a Mercedes

By Keith Griffin on December 20, 2010 - 11:24AM

Mercedes wants to give you and a partner two tickets to the Super Bowl and two Mercedes C-class coupes. All you have to do is Tweet your way to Dallas 140 characters at a time at a special Mercedes contest.

New Sail Electric Concept Vehicle Debuts in China

By Keith Griffin on December 20, 2010 - 9:58AM

General Motors has taken the wraps off a new electric concept vehicle called the Sail. It debuted in China at the 2010 Guangzhou Auto Show, which began today.

GM Introduces First Four-Cylinder Turbo Cadillac in World

By Keith Griffin on December 20, 2010 - 9:36AM

General Motors, through its Shanghai GM joint venture, has introduced the first Cadillac with a four-cylinder turbocharged engine in the world. It’s an effort by Cadillac to get into the increasingly popular 2.0 to 2.5-liter luxury powertrain segment.

Ford C-Max Features a World First Hands Free Liftgate

By Keith Griffin on December 20, 2010 - 6:52AM

The battle to capture the hearts and minds of soccer moms with hot, new, hipster minivans has been ratcheted up a notch with the introduction of the 2012 Ford C-Max and the world’s first hands free lift gate.

Nissan's HR12DDR engine implies longevity for the internal combustion engine

By Frank Sherosky on December 20, 2010 - 1:00AM

The Nissan Leaf to be introduced for 2011 represents the future, but it is only one part of Nissan's two-pronged vehicle strategy. The other part of the company's plan is “Pure Drive,” aimed at developing vehicles with high-efficiency internal-combustion engines (ICEs), transmissions, and hybrid systems.

GM reveals GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept prior to 2011 NAIAS

By Frank Sherosky on December 19, 2010 - 8:35PM

In an unusual move, GM has preempted media days by revealing its GMC concept weeks before the start of this year’s North American International Auto Show. Its news release of the GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept says it is an exploration of heavy-duty truck capability combined with greater off-road versatility.

Mitsubishi Production Cutbacks in Europe Could Signal U.S. Problems

By Keith Griffin on December 19, 2010 - 11:42AM

Mitsubishi’s woes in Europe could be a harbinger of problems in the United States market as well with news that its Netherlands plant will scale back production and the UAW in the U.S. has approved wage cuts.

Nissan Versa Gets Upgrades for 2011

By Keith Griffin on December 19, 2010 - 11:03AM

The Nissan Versa, a surprisingly good sedan for under $10,000, has received some upgrades for 2011 that is going to make the sub-compact a more compelling car for first-time new car buyers (as well as bargain hunters). You need to drive a 5-speed manual to get the lowest price, though.

Honda Investing $95 Million in Ohio Plant

By Keith Griffin on December 19, 2010 - 10:39AM

The Honda Transmission of America Mfg. Inc. facility in Russell Points, Ohio, is receiving a $95 million investment. The funds will mean an additional 160 full-time jobs at the plant.

Auto industry turning more to outside research to fulfill technology needs

By Frank Sherosky on December 19, 2010 - 12:36AM

Today, new automotive technologies present the opportunity for enormous gains; the more disruptive the better. Nonetheless, taking a new tech concept from the lab to the marketplace is a risky and time-consuming proposition. Automakers have thus increased their collaborations with universities, research labs, suppliers and start-ups.

GE demonstrates dual battey system as optimal for heavy vehicles

By Frank Sherosky on December 17, 2010 - 9:20PM

It appears everything is capable of being combined or hybridized these days, including batteries. GE researchers successfully demonstrated on a hybrid transit bus a dual battery system that pairs a sodium battery from GE with a Li-ion battery from A123Systems.

GM recalling 2011 crossovers due to seatbelt breakage

By Patrick Rall on December 17, 2010 - 2:43PM

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a voluntary recall of almost 98,000 General Motors crossovers from the 2011 model year, including the Chevrolet Equinox, the GMC Terrain and the popular Cadillac SRX over concerns of safety belt failure in the event of an accident.

The 2011 Ford Explorer V6 offers 25mpg highway

By Patrick Rall on December 17, 2010 - 2:19PM

When Ford Motor Company announced that the new 2011 Ford Explorer would feature a unibody construction over the traditional body-on-frame style of the previous Explorers, they cited that this new lightweight chassis would help the full sized SUV achieve 25% better fuel economy than the previous version and thanks to the EPA, that claim has been verified.

Chrysler, Dodge recall 367,000 minivans over airbag scare

By Patrick Rall on December 17, 2010 - 1:32PM

Chrysler Group announced that they are issuing a recall for 367,350 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravans for a concern over airbags opening when they are not needed.

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