Automotive News (Page 1227)

Mini, one of the smallest cars in the North American market, has finally come out with the model it should have had all along: a 2012 Mini coupe, the first two-seater in its lineup.

According to the latest Buick news release, across-the-board use of direct injection in the Buick lineup is helping to take translation layers out of the delivery process to reduce both fuel consumption and emissions.

This is the beginning of the “Green Highway,” a vision for safe and consistent charging infrastructure spanning the West Coast, allowing EV drivers to travel with confidence from San Diego to Vancouver, B.C; and AeroVironment (Nasdaq: AVAV) will be the company to provide its DC Fast Charging Stations.

Memorial Day ushered in various activities marking the start of summer. Among these you will find the first cookouts of the year, swimming pool openings and thoughts of summer vacations. It also means the summer driving season and higher gas prices are having an impact. Fifty-one percent of American auto owners say they have cut their budget to pay the added cost of transportation.

President Obama spoke to 400 auto workers and Chrysler Group executives and random people Friday in Toledo. He used $20 bills from his pocket to spur the local economy by buying everything from gardening gloves to hot dogs to Faygo red pop. He listened intently and spoke forthrightly of the resurgence of the auto industry. What follows is the complete text of his prepared remarks.

Here is a White House Blog Post today on "the Revitalization of American Cities with the Resurgence of the Auto Industry." It was prepared by David Agnew for the president and the American people. Agnew is deputy director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Cary, N.C.-based Deere & Co. introduced its new 1 Series subcompact tractors on Friday. The 1023E and 1026R rides will allow everyday people to drive as needed with confidence, either as a farm getaround vehicle in rural areas or as a mower of large fields, among other things.

Attention on deck! Since the IPO of the new General Motors Company (NYSE: GM), the stock has failed to meet investor and analysts expectations, with the latest route to a new low, breaking below $29. (Monday, June 6, 2011 Morning Update: GM stock still languishing)

According to the St. Petersbug Times, a Broward County judge has ruled this week that police officers cannot cite drivers for running red lights. Will this end all red-light cameras? Or put them on every corner?

The Auto Alliance plant in Flat Rock, Michigan is a joint venture between Ford and Mazda, with the mighty Mustang built alongside the new Mazda6 but according to reports out of Japan, Mazda may be looking to end production of the slow-selling sedan at the shared production facility.

Not only can you drive green with the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, you can also drive safely because it has garnered a five-star overall vehicle score for safety as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program.

The Audi R8 coupe has always been such a serious super car. It truly is the type of car that a humorless German businessman would drive. Today, however, we have discovered that the most austere super car in the world has a twin that nobody knew about (officially), until now. Introducing the R8 GT Spyder.

Hyundai Motor America headquarters in Fountain Valley, California announced new pricing for its 2012 Genesis Sedan to reflect the chassis, engine and transmission refinements announced in February.

Late last night, Fiat SpA reportedly came to an agreement with United State Department of Treasury to purchase the final 6.6% of the Chrysler Group held by the US government along with the feds remaining options in Chrysler for a total price of $560 million.

President Obama got the red carpet and as much pomp and circumstance as a king Friday as auto workers and others in Toledo serenaded him with cheers and adulation for his role in providing billions of dollars in federal bailout loan money that salvaged many of their jobs during one of Chrysler's bleakest hours in 2008.

The Nissan Leaf NISMO RC, the battery-electric race car version of Nissan's battery electric Leaf, is going to run at this year's Le Mans. But don't worry about long extension cords or lengthy pit stops to recharge the battery, the Leaf NNISMO RC will be making only a demonstration performance at Le Mans Vers Le Futur.

It's lean, it's mean, and now the 2011 Kia Optima can declare itself officially green after being named the ECOCar Magazine Car of the Year with its editor calling it the most impressive car he has driven in the last year.

Mazda, the famous Zoom Zoom brand, has a less than auspicious May sales figure that was only slightly brightened by the 2012 Mazda Mazda5, which is the least-sporty Mazda in the stable.

General Motors had a rough month like many other automakers in the Japanese-disaster-hit May 2011 but with a miniscule decline of just over 1%, the four remaining brands of GM were able to keep the automaker atop the sales chart for the US auto industry.

We introduced you to T3 Motion, Inc., in April as one of the new companies competing to bring a wider array of electric passenger vehicles to the market. Today the producer of clean, green tech solutions announced a $309,000 order for their T3 Series Electric Stand-up Vehicles (ESV) to be supplied to law enforcement agencies and security companies in Mexico.

May 2011 was a month hit hard by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, causing shortages of all sorts and in this rough month, Ford Motor Company showed negative growth – although Ford did better than did most major automaker groups operating in the USA.

Ford is investing $100 million globally in robotic plant laser inspection to enhance the accurate fit of parts and reduce wind noise beginning with the highly popular 2012 Ford Focus and Explorer models. Their highest volume facilities, including the Chicago and Michigan Assembly Plants along with the Saarlouis, Germany Ford plant, will use the technology to fabricate a more accurate door panel fit. The laser vision technology is part of an effort to achieve leadership in customer satisfaction.

Winnebago Industries, the manufacturer of Winnebago and Itasca motor homes from Forest City, Iowa, has handed out its Circle of Excellence awards for 2011. The awards reward dealerships for having the most satisfied customers in the U.S. and Canada.

The Woodward Dream Cruise is the largest one-day automotive event; and this year Chevrolet will celebrate its own centennial by sponsoring the event.

May 2011 was not a month of great sales as nearly every major automotive group showed a decline compared to May of 2010 but the Chrysler Group was among those showing growth – making them the only American manufacturer to show positive growth in May.

Potential buyers can't keep their eyes off of the 2011 MINI Countryman, which was chosen Thursday as NADAguides' Car of the Month for June. The vehicle pricing and information guide chose the Countryman because of its growing popularity with the public as well as for its fuel efficiency, sportiness, roominess, bucket-seat styling and safety features.

Ford Motor Company has made it very clear that EcoBoost technology is a major part of their drivetrain future and today, the newest member of the EcoBoost family was announced with the news that Ford would soon offer a global 1.0L, 3-cylinder engine along with an 8-speed transmission.

The numbers from the major players in the rear wheel drive performance segment and even though numbers are down across the board, for the fifth straight month the Chevrolet Camaro has posted a comfortable lead in the segment over the Ford Mustang, the Dodge Challenger and the Nissan 370Z.

Sales figures from around the industry are trickling in and it looks as though the 2011 Nissan Leaf has outsold the 2011 Chevrolet Volt as the battle of the electric vehicles rages on.