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Automotive News (Page 1217)

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.

Toyota Prius steps up performance with PLUS option
By Hawke Fracassa on
Toyota has added a new, custom-badged PLUS accessory performance package for the 2011 Prius, the best-selling hybrid in America. Prius PLUS, which can be ordered at Toyota dealerships beginning today through October, features components culled from the new PLUS hybrid Toyota Racing Development line.
Your first look at the dashboard of tomorrow
By Don Bain on
TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., a global leader in active and passive safety, has just revealed their design for a conceptual folding steering wheel that retracts into the dash, making driver and passenger egress and ingress much easier. Featuring two retractable handles that close fully, the steering wheel then folds away into the dashboard.
IIHS: majority of drivers favor red light cameras
By Don Bain on
A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports two thirds of drivers in cities where red light cameras have been used for a significant length of time support their use. According to their findings, intersection cameras have reduced the number of fatal crashes caused by drivers running red lights by 24 percent in these cities. Opponents of red light cameras, while vocal and sometimes influential, are in the minority.
Porsche Design builds a high speed external hard drive
By Patrick Rall on
Italian automakers Ferrari and Lamborghini have both offered branded laptops but the folks at Porsche have taken a different route to entering the computer world – designing a set of low profile external hard drives for storage experts LaCie.
Renault-Nissan to gain controlling share of Russian AvtoVAZ automaker
By Gordon Block on
The Renault-Nissan Alliance is looking to gain a controlling interest in AvtoVAZ, Russia's largest automaker.
GMC releases free shopping app for smart phone
By Frank Sherosky on
Consider it a sign of the times. As 50 percent of smart phone owners use their devices as a shopping tool, GMC is releasing a new app so smart phone users can shop, research and configure a GMC vehicle via the GMC Showroom Mobile App whenever the urge strikes.
US Supreme Court to decide GPS use in surveillance
By Richard Gray on
The US Supreme Court will decide if lawmen must have a warrant to use a GPS tracking devise for an extended period of around-the-clock surveillance.
Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn is highest-paid CEO of any Japanese automaker
By Gordon Block on
Nissan president and CEO Carlos Ghosn's bank account grew $11.46 million for the 2010 fiscal year, more than the CEO of any other automaker in Japan.
Tow trucks flaunt law when towing your vehicle
By Don Bain on
An article in the Houston Press today highlights a grey area of tow truck practice related to a black and white aspect of the law, a contravention enforcement likely overlooks as a form of professional courtesy. According to the Houstonian who brought this to the paper’s attention, Houston Police state flatly any forced entry into a vehicle is a criminal act and yet tow trucks there and chances are where you live too regularly break into cars to secure the front wheels for towing.
Go farther on the Fourth with “Green tires”
By Don Bain on
As everyone gets ready for their Fourth of July, everybody would like to get a little more out of their gas dollar despite the slight lull in gas prices. Though only a few will be replacing their tires over the next week, that decision does have an effect on the mileage you get. Everyone else can benefit from the following reminders on how to get the most out of your fuel dollar.
State business ranking by CNBC reflects same criteria important to auto industry
By Frank Sherosky on
CNBC has ranked all 50 states for business in ten categories, based on criteria used by the states to self promote. Michigan, for example, the home of the automotive Big 3 as well as technical centers for Toyota, Hyundai and many auto suppliers, ranked 34.
Should there be a Pothole Alert highway sign?
By Don Bain on
We’ve all been there – had hot coffee splashed all over us or had our bones jarred by an unexpected pothole. In some of our cities, the roadways are nearly half and half relatively smooth roadway as opposed to dips, bumps and potholes. Then the trucks repairing them are about as good for traffic flow as the eroded asphalt gaps are for the suspension of your car – and so it goes.
GM to explore advanced natural gas engine technology
By Richard Gray on
General Motors tapped alternative fuel leader Westport Innovations, Inc., of Vancouver, BC, to develop advanced natural gas engine technology.
Bake a cake for the Interstate Highway System
By Don Bain on
It was 55 years ago today the 46,876 miles of the Interstate Highway System began to become a reality with the passage of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 – popularly known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956 – on June 29. The road system was originally named The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways after the former President who championed its creation. Now most simply refer to it as “the Interstate.”
Saab secures another $35 million loan, production could begin soon
By Patrick Rall on
Just yesterday, Saab parent company Swedish Automobiles announced a sale of 50.1% of the Trollhattan production facility after selling 582 vehicles to a Chinese firm and today, the company has announced a new creditor who may put Saab one step closer to resuming production.
Chrysler loses lawsuit over Imported from Detroit slogan
By Patrick Rall on
In March, we reported that Chrysler was suing a Detroit-based clothing manufacturer for the use of their “Imported from Detroit” slogan introduced during the Super Bowl and reports are now coming out that the judge has ruled against Chrysler in their attempt to make this other company stop selling knock-off products.
Shelby considering the return of Rent-A-Racer
By Patrick Rall on
Shelby American has twice offered modified Ford Mustangs through Hertz rental car agency, first in 1966 and then again in 2006, and if rumors are true there could be a new Shelby/Hertz rental Mustang available in the coming year.
Sept. conference will show how polyurethane helps auto industry
By Hawke Fracassa on
The latest polyurethane innovations for the auto industry, ranging from advancements in flexible molded foams to improvements in paint protection, will be showcased at the Polyurethanes 2011 Technical Conference this fall in Nashville.
Americans are making things great, Obama tells Iowans
By Hawke Fracassa on
President Obama continues to use the auto industry's robust turnabout as a talking point as he pushes a platform of prosperity to boost Americans' morale. In Bettendorf, Iowa, the president told workers who make car hoods and doors at an Alcoa plant about the critical role he sees for manufacturing in America's return to greatness.
Rules relaxed to give teen drivers leeway
By Hawke Fracassa on
Michigan's Legislature, in support of teenagers statewide, has given its blessing to House Bill 4533 and sent it to Gov. Rick Snyder to sign and implement. The new legislation eases driving restrictions for teens who are good drivers with exemplary records.
82,200 Toyota, Lexus hybrid vehicles recalled
By Hawke Fracassa on
Toyota today voluntarily recalled 45,500 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and 36,700 Lexus RX 400h trucks from the 2006 and 2007 model years so it can inspect for a faulty part.
Scion adds cool technology to xB for 2012
By Hawke Fracassa on
Scion's high-tech, affordably priced xB utility vehicle, continuing to take aim at hipsters, will be outfitted with Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio as well as HD Radio for 2012. It is on track to reach dealer showrooms in July, the Japanese car company said today.
Fight over Right to Repair Bill rapidly escalating
By Don Bain on
The proposed legislation in Massachusetts that would force auto manufacturers to provide computer codes to third party repair shops and mechanics is heating up. Manufacturers understandably are unwilling to hand over data they consider proprietary, but the opposition says non-compliance gives OEMs a virtual monopoly over certain repairs, bypassing the traditional competition of the American marketplace.
Defective seatbelt flaw ruling costs Kia $40 million
By Don Bain on
A Mobile, AL county jury has returned a $40 million wrongful death verdict against Kia Motors of America after five years of litigation and two appeals to the Alabama Supreme Court. The case, filed by Tonya Leytham, was focused on the A97 seatbelt buckle installed in Kia Sportage and Sephia models from 1995 to 2000.
EV Standards Panel creating a roadmap for America
By Don Bain on
The Electric Vehicles Standards Panel (EVSP) of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) gathered in Detroit last week to lay the groundwork for a strategic roadmap defining the standards and conformance programs needed to cultivate widespread acceptance and deployment of electric vehicles as well as the correlating infrastructure within the United States.
Surprise, VW Micro Bus Garners Macro Bucks
By Richard Gray on
Astonishing the throngs crowded into the auction tent, an immaculate 23-window Volkswagen microbus sold for more money than any of the muscle and classic cars at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Orange County California over the weekend.
Nissan Leaf sets new record at 2011 Pikes Peak Hill Climb
By Patrick Rall on
In April, the organizers of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb announced that the 2011 Nissan Leaf electric vehicle would be competing in the 2011 Hill Climb event along with one other purpose-built electric race car that set the original record for an electric vehicle ascending the famous mountain race course.
Ford to export Ranger from South Africa
By Gordon Block on
Ford will export its Ranger pickup truck out of South Africa and sell it in 148 different countries.
Breaking: Saab sells plant to investment group
By Patrick Rall on
Saab has announced that they have sold 50.1% of Saab Automobile Property to a consortium of Swedish real estate investors – a sale that brings the automaker 255 million Swedish Krona and a year of free rent in their Trollhattan production facility.
GM considering a Chevrolet Cruze coupe
By Patrick Rall on
The new Chevrolet Cruze has quickly become one of the brand’s bestselling cars – even doing so well as to lead the segment in sales last month – and now it appears as though General Motors might offer up a 2-door coupe of the popular C-segment model.
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