Automotive News (Page 1183)

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.

2012 Kia Rio 5 door has an attractive price starting below $14,000

Review: 2012 Kia Rio 5-Door Substantial Improvement in Many Ways Including Price

By Keith Griffin on October 12, 2011 - 11:51AM

The hot spot in the automotive world right now is the B class or sub-compact segment as most folks know it. Sweet in that hot spot is Kia with the 2012 Rio five-door hatchback currently in dealers and the four-door sedan that rolls out by year’s end. The base 2012 model has the same price as the 2011 model but much more value.

Tesla Roadster at the BPI 2011 Ride and Drive

The Business of Plugging In 2011: Media drives EVs at Ride and Drive

By Frank Sherosky on October 12, 2011 - 10:49AM

The Business of Plugging In 2011, a Center for Automotive Research (CAR) Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Michigan held a Ride and Drive event on October 11 for the media. With representation by Eaton, GE, GM, Ford, Mercedes-Benz-AMP and Tesla, what are the best three combo-words to describe the experience?

Chevy Spark to follow Volt and Malibu Eco in 2013, but for select drivers

By Armen Hareyan on October 12, 2011 - 10:21AM

General Motors (Public, NYSE:GM) this morning announced its new all electric urban minicar 2013 Chevy Spark. This electric car, coming to US market, will be for sale only in limited quantity and only for select types of drivers. The stock market welcomed today's announcement, sending GM stock up 3.33 percent at the time of this writing.

Chrysler and the UAW heads agree on new labor contract

By Patrick Rall on October 12, 2011 - 9:29AM

Reports out of Detroit indicate that the Chrysler Group and the United Auto Workers union have come to a tentative agreement on a new labor contract that is expected to add around 2,100 jobs thanks to over $4.5 billion in facility investments around the country.

Kia Celebrating Its Success as It Launches 2012 Rio and Soul

By Keith Griffin on October 11, 2011 - 11:47PM

At the national media launch of the 2012 Kia Rio and 2012 Kia Soul in Austin, Texas, company executives were singing the Korean manufacturer’s praises and emphasizing that it’s not going to be overshadowed by its corporate sibling Hyundai.

Bob Weed and John Hipchen of Copper Development Assoc at BPI 2011

Copper Development Association scores well at The Business of Plugging In 2011

By Frank Sherosky on October 11, 2011 - 8:51PM

The Copper Development Association did more than just spread the word at The Business of Plugging In 2011 about the value of copper induction motors now used by Tesla Motors in their electric vehicles. It gave new insight to attendees of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) conference.

Tesla and Panasonic enter into new supply agreement

By Adam Yamada-Hanff on October 11, 2011 - 6:19PM

Panasonic and Tesla, the electric car company, have finalized a supply agreement for lithium-ion battery cells to be used in Tesla's new electric sedan, the Model S. The automotive-grade lithium-ion battery cells will be provided by Panasonic, which is the world’s leading battery cell manufacturer.

A pedestrican crossing sign indicates one place where TRW's system could help.

TRW takes auto/pedestrian collision avoidance to the next level

By Don Bain on October 11, 2011 - 5:39PM

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. is today demonstrating its latest cutting-edge pedestrian detection and accident mitigation system that utilizes advanced signal processing algorithms to instantly process data from a video camera and radar sensors while working with electronic stability control to automatically brake a vehicle reducing the severity of an impact on a pedestrian.

The Petersen Automotive Museum pays tribute to the car

By Adam Yamada-Hanff on October 11, 2011 - 3:15PM

The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is a stunning automotive history museum, dedicated to showcasing the automobile and its impact on American life and culture. On multiple floors the Museum houses some of the most fascinating vehicles you will ever see.

UAW-Chrysler contract bargaining back in session

By Hawke Fracassa on October 11, 2011 - 10:34AM

Chrysler Group LLC and the UAW resumed bargaining this morning after taking time off Monday to rest after days of round-the-clock negotiations on a new four-year contract left negotiators close but short of an agreement, and exhausted.

Ford's Health & Wellness tech to be discussed in San Diego

By Don Bain on October 10, 2011 - 6:52PM

Ford Researchers have developed in-car health and wellness apps and services to monitor people with various medical problems so they can manage their condition and yet still get about town. Ford's senior technical leader, K. Venkatesh Prasad, will discuss these innovations at a "Health and Wellness Connectivity Services on the Go" with Anand Iyer, COO of WellDoc, and H. James Dallas, SVP at Medtronic at the Wireless Health 2011 Conference held Oct. 10-13 in San Diego.

Ford to receive Breakthrough Award for industry-first rear inflatable seat-belt

By Adam Yamada-Hanff on October 10, 2011 - 5:00PM

Ford is about to receive Popular Mechanic's prestigious Breakthrough Award for its industry-first safety innovation, rear inflatable seat belts. This is part of the well-respected magazine's seventh annual Breakthrough Awards.

The Business of Plugging In 2011 in Dearborn, Michigan runs Oct 11-13

The Business of Plugging In 2011 opens today, focuses on widespread adoption of PEVs with Ride and Drive

By Frank Sherosky on October 10, 2011 - 4:39PM

The Business of Plugging In 2011, a Plug-in Electric Vehicle Conference will open at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Michigan and runs from October 11 - 13, uniting automotive, utility and new technology thought-leaders with policy makers, financiers and researchers as they focus on widespread adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV). [See updates from Torque News via here and Twitter, especially Ride and Drive report.]

A screenshot from the BMW Group Facebook page

The new BMW 3 Series to have streaming world premiere on Facebook

By Patrick Rall on October 10, 2011 - 2:18PM

The folks at BMW have announced that they will debut the new BMW 3 Series in Munich, Germany on October 14th, 2011 and for those who cannot attend in person, the German automaker will also offering streaming video on Facebook of the 3 Series world premiere.

Chevrolet says the Colorado pickup will come to the United States

By Gordon Block on October 10, 2011 - 1:07PM

Chevrolet says that the Colorado that made its debut in Thailand last week will make its way to the United States; however, General Motors is remaining tight-lipped on other details regarding the drivetrain, price, and release date.

The wheel of the Bentley Continental GTC

Bentley SUV to feature high-powered W12 engine

By Don Bain on October 10, 2011 - 1:01PM

When the long awaited Bentley SUV comes to market in 2015, it will feature a W12 engine similar to that released in the Supersport Cabriolet this year. An engine which will, in the luxury convertible, catapult you from zero to 60 in 3.9 seconds – in a car weighing 2.5 tons.

The chassis of the Coda Electric Sedan - HighHorsepowerPhotography Image

Electric car sales in China on track to be Asia's largest

By Adam Yamada-Hanff on October 10, 2011 - 12:44PM

China is set to be Asia's largest manufacturer of battery electric vehicles (BEV) by the year 2015 according to Pike Research. Last year China's battery electric vehicle sales totaled 33,000, but by 2015 the number is expected to grow to 554,000. This means China's electric car sales, for BEVs, are expected to grow at a rate of more than 40 percent a year, over four years.

GM introduces the incredible 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

By Patrick Rall on October 10, 2011 - 11:49AM

General Motors announced today that when the Los Angeles Auto Show opens next month, they will formally unveil the new 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 – one of the most powerful topless cars in the world today and the most powerful muscle car convertible of all time.

Daily chart of Toyota stock as of 10:50 a..m on 10/10/2011

Toyota stock opens higher but still trending below 50-day moving average

By Frank Sherosky on October 10, 2011 - 11:08AM

Despite news about the 2012 Camry debut and the plans to diversify location of key part production around the globe, Toyota stock opened higher this morning which was trading last week near or just below its key price resistance area of 67.56 set in September, 2010 and well below its 50-day moving average.

Marchionne: no more Dodge Caravan after 2012

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

Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne stated at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show that one of the popular Chrysler Group minivans would be terminated in an effort to avoid brand redundancy and it now appears that it will be the Dodge Caravan lineup that meets its maker – effectively ending the incredibly dominating 27 year run by the vehicle that introduced the world to the minivan.

Chrysler's Marchionne, UAW's King getting past bumpy start

By Hawke Fracassa on October 10, 2011 - 4:05AM

If Chrysler Group / Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and UAW President Bob King get past their differences, they will be putting their egos aside for the 26,000 Chrysler auto workers who will benefit from their next four-year contract. Negotiators said they were "up and working" on the deal at 4:23 a.m. today, the UAW confirmed on a Facebook page for its membership.

Chrysler Group Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne gave

Chrysler / Fiat CEO Marchionne: 'I am a man of industry'

By Hawke Fracassa on October 10, 2011 - 4:05AM

Chrysler Group / Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne gave a talk in Montreal this weekend on the future of the global auto industry to the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Canada. Meantime, in Detroit, UAW negotiators said they were "up and working" as of 4:23 a.m. today. Here is Marchionne's take on being a "man of industry."

UAW optimistic it can seal a deal with Chrysler by Wednesday

By Hawke Fracassa on October 10, 2011 - 3:20AM

Leaders of union locals at Chrysler met with UAW President Bob King and his deputies for less than a half hour this morning at the UAW's Region 1 office in Warren, Mich. King told them his bargaining team hopes to have a four-year deal in place with the Detroit Three's smallest carmaker by Wednesday.

The 2012 Ford Explorer. Photo courtesy of Ford

Ford uses the 2012 Explorer to demonstrate the technology driving their sales

By Don Bain on October 10, 2011 - 12:04AM

The 2012 Ford Explorer is an ambassador or sorts to the GITEX Technology event held in the Middle East where their telematics and other cutting-edge features are driving a 57 percent sales increase over last year in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

What China wants is what automakers like Bentley and Rolls Royce will deliver

By Don Bain on October 9, 2011 - 9:32PM

It is the Chinese market that now drives the research and development for every auto manufacturer in the global market. Gone are the days when what Americans or Europeans wanted to drive were what really moved the market. The numbers of those consumers are dwarfed by the burgeoning and massive appetite and capacity for cars and trucks in China.

2012 Toyota Sienna van is versatile, affordable

By Hawke Fracassa on October 9, 2011 - 8:26PM

The American-made 2012 Toyota Sienna van, coming off a complete redesign in 2011, adds a standard power passenger seat and auto on / off headlights to the XLE grade this new model year.

Renault to move production of Trafic LCV to Sandouville plant

By Gordon Block on October 9, 2011 - 4:40PM

Renault will build the new generation of Trafic light commercial vans for the European market in the Sandouville plant in France, starting in 2014.

Chevy to invest $40 Million into 16 Eco-Friendly projects across the country

By Adam Yamada-Hanff on October 9, 2011 - 1:07PM

Chevy, part of GM, is investing in 16 various eco-friendly projects across the country. The projects combined will receive 40 million in funding from Chevy.

Is the INDYCAR announcment related to the 100th Anniversary of Chevrolet?

GM set to announce return by Chevrolet to INDYCAR

By Frank Sherosky on October 9, 2011 - 1:04PM

Set your calendar to Wednesday, October 12, 2011 when General Motors (NYSE: GM) will announce to the media and the public about details of returning Chevrolet to INDYCAR.

Chevrolet Sonic to get hot hatch version, but it won't be called an SS

By Gordon Block on October 9, 2011 - 12:21PM

The Chevy Sonic will get a higher-performance version powered by the Cruze's 1.4L turbo engine, but Chevrolet admits it's not worthy of an SS badge.

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