Automotive News (Page 1181)

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.

Hybrid owners among the first to buy recently launched electric cars

By Don Bain on October 19, 2011 - 4:48PM

Not surprisingly, hybrid owners were among the first to trade in their Prius hybrid for a Chevrolet Volt or Nissan Leaf during 2011. Those who years ago made a commitment to the greening of the planet and their pocketbooks logically would be among the first to take the next step to a plug-in vehicle promising even greater savings on both fronts.

The Chrysler Group HQ covered by the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

Chrysler covers the HQ with a gigantic 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

By Patrick Rall on October 19, 2011 - 4:04PM

This morning, a group of workers put the finishing touches on a new window dressing at their Auburn Hills headquarters, showing off a 70-foot tall likeness of the incredible new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 with the bold statement “Autobahned. 0-60 MPH in 4.8 seconds”.

Tesla loses libel claim against Top Gear

By Adam Yamada-Hanff on October 19, 2011 - 3:15PM

Tesla, the electric car company, lost a libel claim against Top Gear, the immensely popular BBC automotive TV show, in a court ruling today. Tesla is still continuing it's court battle against Top Gear and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), regarding an episode where it showed the company's Roadster running out of battery charge on its test track.

The Chrysler 200 convertible is one of the models produced at the Sterling Heigh

Chrysler to build $165 million Sterling Heights Body Shop

By Don Bain on October 19, 2011 - 3:05PM

Chrysler’s Sterling Heights Body Shop will house state-of-the-art technology in a one million square foot facility, ready to begin fabrication of new Chrysler products during 2013. This raises the company’s U.S. investment level to $3.5 billion since 2009.

UAW workers approve new Ford labor contract - new details revealed

By Patrick Rall on October 19, 2011 - 1:27PM

While the days immediately following the announcement of the proposed 4-year deal between Ford Motor Company and the United Auto Workers union were tense with some major Ford factories voting against the deal, today the UAW announced that the workers have voted to approve the new contract by a margin of roughly 2 to 1.

The Holden Hurricane, advanced vision even in 1969

GM resurrects the 1969 Holden Hurricane

By Frank Sherosky on October 19, 2011 - 1:11PM

Talk about a classic resurrection. Holden has gone back to the future, restoring its first concept car – the 1969 Holden Hurricane - for the 2011 Motorclassica in Australia.

The 2012 Fisker Karma luxury sport sedan fuel economy ratings

By Patrick Rall on October 19, 2011 - 12:34PM

The 2012 Fisker Karma is like no other car in the world, combining the efficiency of an electric vehicle with the high performance output of a modern sports car wrapped in a high end luxury package and today, the official fuel economy ratings from the EPA are official with the Karma sedan receiving a rating of 52 MPGe along with offering 32 miles of electric only range.

Volvo giving away S60 R-Design in Twilight Saga Facebook contest

Volvo's Twilight Saga Facebook Contest Giving Away Rio Trip, S60 R-Design Sedan

By Keith Griffin on October 19, 2011 - 11:23AM

What do Volvos, vampires and Brazil all have in common? It's a Facebook contest revolving around the upcoming premier of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" that features prizes like a trip to Brazil, a new Volvo S60 R-Design and tickets to the premier.

Ferrari 458 Italia gets Performance Car of Year award

By Armen Hareyan on October 19, 2011 - 10:04AM

The British Auto Express magazine awarded the Ferrari 458 Italia with the 'Performance Car of the Year' for the second time in a row.

KBB.com Makes Car Buying Easier with Guaranteed Trade-ins

By Keith Griffin on October 19, 2011 - 7:17AM

Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com is working with AutoTrader.com to provide consumers guaranteed trade-ins when buying new cars. It's the latest trend in car buying and removes one of the biggest concerns for buyers: the trade-in.

2012 Nissan Quest minivan nears a second decade in U.S. showrooms

By Hawke Fracassa on October 19, 2011 - 12:33AM

The 2012 Nissan Quest comes in four grades this model year, with prices starting at $27,750 for the base S model, the Japanese carmaker announced on Tuesday.

Porsche adding 1,000 auto workers to build 2013 Cajun

By Hawke Fracassa on October 18, 2011 - 11:29PM

Porsche will ramp up production of the 2013 Porsche Cajun by expanding an assembly plant in Leipzig, Germany. Besides new investment in the factory of just under $1 billion, the German luxury car marque also will hire 1,000 auto workers to make the Cajun.

Revenge of the Electric Car opening this weekend

By Adam Yamada-Hanff on October 18, 2011 - 9:48PM

Revenge of The Electric Car, a documentary about the rise of the electric car, will be opening this weekend on October 21st, 2011 in three select theaters. It is the sequel to the 2006 documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?”

The 2012 Fiat 500 earns IIHS Top Safety Pick

By Patrick Rall on October 18, 2011 - 5:27PM

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has announced that the subcompact 2012 Fiat 500 has received a Top Safety Pick – making it just the second option in the American minicar segment to receive the major safety certification after the Ford Fiesta became the first to earn these honors.

General Motors will demonstrate this week at the Intelligent Transport Systems W

GM developing mobile tech to warn of potholes, slippery roads, other motorists

By Don Bain on October 18, 2011 - 5:01PM

New mobile technology in development by GM researchers could alert drivers of potentially dangerous driving circumstances well in advance using embedded devices or smartphone apps to create a wireless safety network. Such devices are designed to gather data from other vehicles and infrastructure to alert drivers to slowing traffic, stalled vehicles, hard-braking drivers, slippery roads, sharp curves and upcoming construction or other impediments.

Kia teases their 2011 SEMA Show vehicles

By Patrick Rall on October 18, 2011 - 3:06PM

The 2011 SEMA Show opens exactly two weeks from today but the corporate teaser shots continue to flow, with the folks from Kia offering up a shot of their compact Kia Soul - giving us a glimpse at what to expect from the six sporty vehicles coming to the Las Vegas Convention Center later this month.

Bosch developing long-range automotive radar

By Don Bain on October 18, 2011 - 3:02PM

In the very near future, long-range radar will allow your car to maneuver through fog – fog so thick you can hardly see the hood of your car – without a care in the world. If for some reason you don’t perceive what the radar sees, it will stop the car for you before you hit anything. Then you need only pray the person behind you also has automotive radar.

IEEE states 90 percent of all auto accidents could be prevented

By Don Bain on October 18, 2011 - 2:10PM

Nearly every auto accident caused by driver error, which amounts to 90 percent of all crashes, could be eliminated if existing intelligent mobility technologies were implemented in both vehicles and roads, state experts at IEEE, the world's largest professional technical association. These technologies include features such as the detection of drowsy drivers, lane departure warning, and vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications for safety.

GM's Akerson and Renault/Nissan's Ghosn have gloomy outlooks for 2012

By Gordon Block on October 18, 2011 - 1:08PM

Thanks to the worsening European debt crisis, both the CEOs of General Motors and the Renault/Nissan Alliance are predicting slow sales growth and general uneasiness in the automotive industry for 2012.

Cutaway of Cyclone Engine, courtesy of Cyclone Power Technolgies

Cyclone Power updates with news on Waste Heat Engine builds and LSR run at NASA

By Frank Sherosky on October 18, 2011 - 10:51AM

The LSR run on the NASA landing strip has been known for a while, but Cyclone Power Technologies Inc. (Pink Sheets: CYPW), developer of the all-fuel, clean-tech Cyclone Engine, and Phoenix Power Group LLC announced that they have also successfully completed fabrication, assembly and initial testing of the first pre-production Waste Heat Engines (WHE-25) manufactured by TopLine Energy Systems. It doesn't take an engineer to see the connection with automotive.

The first new Chevrolet Malibu is built in Korea

By Patrick Rall on October 18, 2011 - 10:47AM

General Motors announced this morning that the first production unit of the new Chevrolet Malibu rolled off of the assembly line in Korea, introducing the eighth generation of the Malibu that is expected to be a big success with the sharp new exterior design – both in the American market and around the world.

Some used cars, like this Buick LeSabre, live longer than others. Photo Don Bain

Is there life after death for old used cars?

By Don Bain on October 18, 2011 - 12:30AM

Susan Sawyer-Beaulieu, a post-doctoral researcher in civil and environmental engineering, has spent the last eight years finding out whether old used cars have a life after death when they are removed from the road only to find most are stripped, shredded, sorted and resold as parts of other consumer products from large appliances to lawn mowers.

A typical private parking sign. Photo by Don Bain

Revelers beware of parking scams

By Don Bain on October 17, 2011 - 9:46PM

It’s that time of year when Haunted Houses spring up in the most unusual places. Many of us are drawn to these exercises in elevated anxiety or humor, as the case may be. The really scary part comes after you park at these attractions in strange parts of town and return to look for you car, only to find it missing after the person who took your money for parking said you had nothing to worry about.

Ernst Lieb out as CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA

Ernest Lieb Out as CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA

By Keith Griffin on October 17, 2011 - 7:02PM

In one of the more befuddling shakeups, Mercedes-Benz USA has announced that Ernst Lieb is out as CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. The move comes in the midst of the company enjoying some of its most successful years ever in terms of products and sales.

Will the Mercedes-Benz F125! concept be the sports luxury EV of 2025?

By Don Bain on October 17, 2011 - 6:23PM

The futuristic Mercedes-Benz F125! concept incorporates many of the technological aspects one would assume to be part of a sports luxury car of the mid 2020's – sleek design, advanced telematics, an extended range, a cutting-edge drivetrain plus computer aids to driving.

NHTSA investigating 2007 and 2008 Mini Cooper S for fire risks

By Patrick Rall on October 17, 2011 - 5:45PM

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into the 2007 and 2008 Mini Cooper S models over concerns that the vehicle could catch fire – even when the vehicle is parked with the engine off.

Infiniti M35h wins UK fuel economy competition

By Adam Yamada-Hanff on October 17, 2011 - 4:41PM

The Infiniti M35h is the world’s fastest-accelerating hybrid. Including it's speed, the Infiniti M35h also delivers fuel-economy in a class of its own.

New electric DeLorean DMC-12 coming in 2013

By Patrick Rall on October 17, 2011 - 3:26PM

Since Texas businessman Stephen Wynne reincarnated the DeLorean name in the mid 1990s, the company has worked to service the original stainless steel gullwing sports cars from the early 80s but according to company reports, in 2013 the company will introduce the new electric DeLorean DMC-12.

Mercedes Benz recalling select BlueTec diesel models over fire hazards

By Patrick Rall on October 17, 2011 - 2:48PM

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall of select 2011 and 2012 Mercedes Benz models equipped with the 3.5L V6 BlueTec turbo diesel engine over concerns of a fuel leak around the fuel heating system – an issue that can vastly increase the chances of fire in the affected cars and SUVs.

BMW and Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) ensures networked driving

By Frank Sherosky on October 17, 2011 - 11:27AM

Perfect integration of the Apple iPhone™ and the Apple iPad™ into the automobile ensures that the BMW driver is always securely, reliably and completely in touch with his own personal online world when on the road.

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