Automotive News (Page 1243)

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.

The Chevrolet Volt outsells the Nissan Leaf in March 2011

By Patrick Rall on April 1, 2011 - 5:40PM

Sales numbers from March are trickling in and for the third month in a row, the Chevrolet Volt has beaten the Nissan Leaf in the battle of the “green” heavy weights.

Ford Beats GM in March Sales

By Keith Griffin on April 1, 2011 - 5:35PM

Ford edged GM in total sales in March with 212,777 vehicles to 206,621 total sales with both companies showing double-digit increases over February sales.

BMW M3 Pickup is the fastest April Fool’s joke ever

By Patrick Rall on April 1, 2011 - 3:55PM

We have all, at some point, fallen prey to some stupid joke or prank played in honor of the first day of April but with the new BMW M3 Pickup, the German automaker has offered up an April Fool’s joke that the performance vehicle world isn’t likely to forget.

Mustang rebounds but falls short of Camaro in March 2011 sales

By Patrick Rall on April 1, 2011 - 3:07PM

he numbers from around the industry are trickling in on this April Fool’s Day and GM has won the battle for March 2011, as the Chevrolet Camaro lead the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger in monthly sales – marking the third straight month that the Bowtie bruiser has lead the segment in sales.

Dodge and Fast Five join for promo and prizes

By John Matras on April 1, 2011 - 1:57PM

It's called product placement, and when Dodge can have 2010 and 2011 Dodge Chargers in Fast Five, the latest installment of the Fast and Furious movies, it's a match made in Hollywood, exported from Detroit with prizes you can win.

Jobs Report not affecting auto industry as much as dollar, earthquake and oil

By Frank Sherosky on April 1, 2011 - 11:02AM

Friday’s jobs report says the economy added 216,000 jobs in March, while the unemployment rate dropped to 8.8%. Question is, not how it affects today's trading, how will it affect the auto industry when the dollar is still weak, earthquake effects are still here and oil tensions are still in play?

Innovation Motorcade slated for Washington, DC April 19

By Don Bain on April 1, 2011 - 5:34AM

U.S. Secretary of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu, will launch Earth Week in the nation’s Capitol as the electric drive industry highlights advances in electric drive systems on April 19. A motorcade of battery, hybrid and fuel cell powered vehicles will proceed through Washington D.C. as part of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) conference.

Chrysler reinvention showing promise as Denver Auto Show opens

By Don Bain on March 31, 2011 - 5:51PM

Chrysler executives invited members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press association (RMAP) to a luncheon at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Denver yesterday where the 2011 Town and Country, 200 Convertible, 200 and 300 models were on display. They were understandably proud of what Chrysler hath wrought.

Ford Mustang and Chevy Cruze lead PSCars.com top ten research list

By Frank Sherosky on March 31, 2011 - 1:28PM

The list for March was compiled using the most advanced 3D “Car Configurator” for new and used vehicles on PSCars.com. Most revealing, new-car buyers showed strong future interest in the 2012 Ford Mustang and the 2011 Chevy Cruze.

GM debuts the Chevrolet Mi-ray ahead of the Seoul debut

By Patrick Rall on March 31, 2011 - 12:11PM

When the Seoul Motor Show opens tomorrow the world will be formally introduced to the futuristic Chevrolet Mi-ray concept but today General Motors offered a preview of the sleek new hybrid roadster.

The first 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 to run an 11 second quarter mile

By Patrick Rall on March 31, 2011 - 10:47AM

Video has hit the intrawebz of a 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 ripping down the quarter mile, turning in an amazing bone-stock elapsed time (ET) of 11.72 at 117 miles per hour with the window sticker still on the glass and a set of drag radial tires out back.

New Malibu Being Introduced at Shanghai Auto Show – not New York

By Keith Griffin on March 31, 2011 - 7:58AM

Set your calendars to yawn – the new eighth-generation Chevrolet Malibu will be introduced live starting at 8:30 p.m. EDT on April 18 on Facebook and live from the Shanghai Auto Show via webcast and not the New York Auto Show as might have happened in the past.

Kia Naimo battery-electric vehicle concept debuts at Seoul Motor Show

By John Matras on March 31, 2011 - 12:12AM

Kia ups its ante in the electric vehicle poker game by introducing a new battery electric concept vehicle at the Seoul Motor Show. Called the Kia Naimo, the new concept has boxy styling reminiscent of the Kia Soul.

Mercedes-Benz Dealer Offering Future Customers Up to $2000

By Keith Griffin on March 30, 2011 - 10:34PM

The rich get all the breaks as demonstrated by an offer from a Mercedes-Benz dealership to pay $2000 for BMW, Audi, Lexus, Porsche, Jaguar, Range Rover or Land Rover, Acura, Infiniti or Cadillac owners.

GM $30M investment in Pontiac Stamping Plant targets Chevy Sonic and Buick Verano

By Frank Sherosky on March 30, 2011 - 5:29PM

The Pontiac, Mich., Stamping Plant will get $30 million in new equipment to help make sheet metal for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic that will be built at the nearby General Motors Orion Assembly Plant. Pontiac also will make stampings for use in the Buick Verano that goes into production later this year.

Buick could be the next GM brand with Volt technology

By Patrick Rall on March 30, 2011 - 2:53PM

General Motors’ innovative Voltec drivetrain combines emission-free electric driving with a range extending gasoline generator to give driver’s the best of the electric and hybrid worlds, with the technology making its debut in the Chevy Volt followed by the European Opel Ampera and according to Bloomberg, Buick could be the next GM brand to offer a car with the Voltec drivetrain.

The Lamborghini Gallardo replacement “Cabrera” could pack 600hp

By Patrick Rall on March 30, 2011 - 1:45PM

Earlier this month we brought you the early rumors of an upcoming replacement for the Lamborghini Gallardo that could carry the name Cabrera and now we have more rumors suggesting that the next Lamborghini model could start with 600 horsepower.

Toyota Yaris downtime to continue after Japanese earthquake

By Patrick Rall on March 30, 2011 - 12:36PM

Toyota has been working to repair their battered assembly plant in the Miyagi prefecture but due to a lack of natural gas flow to the plant, production of the Toyota Yaris is likely to remain stopped until late April.

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 in action in Berlin

By Patrick Rall on March 30, 2011 - 11:39AM

The new Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 has begun hitting showrooms around the world and recently, while a bright Arancio Argos Aventador was being delivered to a German dealership YouTube user BerlinRichStreets captured some fantastic footage of the new supercar in action.

Porsche Panamera Turbo S debuts at New York show; more horsepower, bigger price

By John Matras on March 30, 2011 - 11:18AM

Have a need to take three of your closest friends to sixty miles per hour in a mere 3.6 seconds? May we suggest the Porsche Panamera Turbo S, to be debuted officially at the New York International Automobile Show on April 20 though Porsche released details and preliminary photos today.

Protean Electric to present value of in-wheel traction motors at the 2011 SAE World Congress

By Frank Sherosky on March 30, 2011 - 11:02AM

Protean Electric will orally present “Unsprung Mass with In-Wheel Motors (IWM); the Myths and Realities – Closing the Circle” to address the skeptics of unsprung mass at the 2011 SAE World Congress in Detroit in April.

California dealer group files petition against Motor Village LA

By Patrick Rall on March 29, 2011 - 6:09PM

Motor Village LA is one of Chrysler’s newest projects, combining all five of their American-sold brands in one (immaculate) LA-based dealership but according to the California New Car Dealers Association, Motor Village LA is in violation of California law that prevents automotive manufacturers from owning dealerships within 10 miles of any other related dealership.

Honda recalls 2011 Odyssey minivans – again

By Patrick Rall on March 29, 2011 - 4:39PM

Last week, American Honda recalled over 33,000 2011 Odyssey minivans for a problem with the windshield wiper controls and with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda has now issued another recall for the 2011 Odyssey minivans – this time for a problem with the power front window assemblies.

You could be speeding your way to higher insurance premiums

By Don Bain on March 29, 2011 - 3:23PM

Motorists convicted of speeding could see the cost of their motor insurance premiums rocket by 54 percent, warns moneysupermarket.com. Repeat offenders could find themselves uninsurable.

Safety, comfort trump environment when Americans pick cars

By Don Bain on March 29, 2011 - 2:28PM

According to initial research performed by Mineta Transportation Institute, environmental concerns rarely influence vehicle choice in America. Buyers tend to rate safety, reliability and comfort higher, but that is largely because the impact of that choice is not readily apparent.

Evolution Performance’s 2011 Mustang GT runs a 9 sec ¼ mile

By Patrick Rall on March 29, 2011 - 12:38PM

The 2011 Ford Mustang GT is powered by Ford’s new 5.0L V8 and Ford Racing offers a supercharger package to boost the power to 624hp – Evolution Performance has used those items and a handful of other Ford Racing and Evolution components to get their street legal 2011 Mustang GT into the 9 second range in the quarter mile.

Volkswagen Jetta recall issued for 2011 models

By Patrick Rall on March 29, 2011 - 11:29AM

Volkswagen of America has announced a recall of the popular 2011 Jetta for an issue relating to the horn and anti-theft system but the company has been very vague as to exactly what the problem is with these recalls Jettas.

Chevy Cruze uses patented Regulated Voltage Control technology

By Frank Sherosky on March 28, 2011 - 10:07PM

Regulated Voltage Control or RVC improves fuel economy on the Chevrolet Cruze by up to 1.5 percent, and enables the vehicle to get more than eight additional miles of driving range on every tank of fuel.

European Union considers banning cars in all major cities

By Don Bain on March 28, 2011 - 7:58PM

In a move to cut CO2 emissions by over 60 percent the European Union may ban cars in all major cities, according to a report filed in The Telegraph. This follows on the heels of a report saying diesel vehicles may be forced off the road in Europe by higher parking permit costs, up to £150 per year.

Porsche promotes 'magic everyday' in new print and television ads

By John Matras on March 28, 2011 - 3:25PM

Porsche is rolling out an new advertising campaign that doesn't emphasize the sports car capabilities of its sports car models. Instead, the new Porsche ads will feature the everyday utility of the Porsche 911 and Porsche Cayman. Porsche is also soliciting home videos of people using their Porsches for daily run-of-the-mill activities. The theme of the campaign, appropriately, is "Engineered for Magic. Everyday."

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