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.

By Aaron Turpen Nov 7 2012 - 12:26pm

Suzuki drops U.S. market

Suzuki has finally called it quits and will be pulling out of the U.S. auto market as sales continue to flag and decades of trying to gain a foothold prove wasted.

The 2012 Shelby 1000 Mustang in Forza Horizon

By Patrick Rall Nov 7 2012 - 11:29am

November Forza Horizon DLC Car Pack pays tribute to Carroll Shelby

While there was technically an October Car Pack that came with the VIP program for the new racing simulator Forza Horizon, November brings us the first true downloadable content car pack for the new open world racing game – introducing six new cars.

Bucky Lasek's Subaru PUMA RallyCross WRX STI

By Denis Flierl Nov 7 2012 - 7:53am

Top skateboarder Bucky Lasek flies high in Global RallyCross

Rookie Global RallyCross driver Bucky Lasek has jumped from being one of the world’s top skateboaders to driving a WRX STI for the Subaru PUMA RallyCross Team.

By Patrick Rall Nov 6 2012 - 8:05pm

Ford Mustang named Hottest Car, F Series named Hottest Truck at SEMA 2012

The Scion FR-S was clearly one of the most popular models at the 2012 SEMA Show, with the SEMA organizers naming it the Hottest Sport Compact of the event but with more examples throughout the show than any other models – the Ford Mustang was named Hottest Car and the Ford F Series was named Hottest Truck.

By Patrick Rall Nov 6 2012 - 6:44pm

TRD rumored to be building a supercharger for the Scion FR-S

Rumors around the automotive water cooler suggest that Toyota Racing Development (TRD) is currently developing a supercharger package for the Toyota GT86 and the Scion FR-S that would be offered via their aftermarket performance parts division – a modification which would go a long way in helping the sporty rear drive Scion keep pace with the other rear wheel drive sports cars in the US market.

By Patrick Rall Nov 6 2012 - 5:58pm

Ford Mustang bests Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger in October 2012 sales

Just when it looked like the Chevrolet Camaro would cruise to the end of the year to win the sales title among the American muscle cars for 2012, the Ford Mustang battled back in October 2012 to lead the segment and close the gap a bit between the Ford and Chevy muscle cars.

By David Herron Nov 6 2012 - 5:43pm

How do changes in electric car fast charging affect the NRG/eVgo settlement with California?

When the NRG settlement with California was announced last Spring, CHADEMO was the only fast charging standard on the market, but did the rapidly changing market for electric car fast charging throw a monkey wrench into that agreement?

By Patrick Rall Nov 6 2012 - 5:24pm

The Chevrolet Volt posts best month ever in October 2012, continues to rout Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf posted its best month of the year and one of the best of its existence in the US through October 2012 but the electric Chevy Volt answered with its best month ever – helping the Volt to widen its already massive lead in annual sales over the Nissan EV.

By David Herron Nov 6 2012 - 3:46pm

NRG/eVgo free to expand into California following FERC's rejection of ECOtality's intervention

In March, California and NRG agreed to settle a decade-old lawsuit by having NRG build a large electric car charging network in California, and while ECOtality raised objections attempting to stop the deal, those objections have met with rejection, allowing eVgo to begin its expansion into California.

By Nicolas Zart Nov 6 2012 - 3:05pm

Toyota RAV4 EV Has Compatibility Issues

The Toyota RAV4 EV is an amazing electric SUV but it has been frustrating a few users. So what is the compatibility problem we are hearing about?

Electric cars and plug-in hybrids break another record months in October

By Nicolas Zart Nov 6 2012 - 12:38pm

October Best Months for Electric Car Sales

The month of October has surprised a few as the best month ever for sales of electric and plug-in hybrid cars. What does this mean for the future of alternative energy cars, especially after this election?

By Patrick Rall Nov 6 2012 - 12:16pm

2013 Dodge Challenger R/T Blacktop packs sinister look, improved performance

The Chrysler Group has announced that for the 2013 model year, the Dodge Challenger R/T will be available with the optional Blacktop package that provides a dark, sinister look and while the Blacktop edition is available for other Dodge brand models, the Challenger R/T Blacktop is far more than just an appearance package.

By Denis Flierl Nov 6 2012 - 8:03am

Audi design is moving in a new direction

Audi has a new design strategy that will take the German automaker in a new direction with greater differentiation between model series.

Guy Fieri Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition

By Patrick Rall Nov 5 2012 - 11:02pm

Guy Fieri's Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition debuts at SEMA

Food Network star of the show Diners’ Drive-Ins and Dives is a hardcore Chevy fan with a history of owning Bowtie clad performance models but at the 2012 SEMA Show, Fieri and Chevrolet Performance introduced the Guy Fieri Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition – an open aired sports car with the power of the Corvette Z06.

By David Herron Nov 5 2012 - 10:18pm

Fisker determines cause of Karma fires following Hurricane Sandy flooding

Last week 16 Fisker Karma's caught fire and burned after being submerged under Hurricane Sandy flood waters while waiting in an automobile processing yard in Newark NJ, and the main battery pack was ruled out as the cause of the fire.

By Patrick Rall Nov 5 2012 - 10:05pm

The Chevrolet Malibu Performance Concept shows "what could be" at SEMA

While the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is in a segment of sedans that is often forgotten at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the 2012 show brought about the Malibu Performance Concept – showing how incredibly sporty this midsized sedan could be with a few aesthetic changes and some Chevrolet Performance accessories.

By David Herron Nov 5 2012 - 7:25pm

Tesla's Q3 had steep losses, predicts rapid revenue gains for Q4 and beyond

While Tesla Motors is revolutionizing the automobile, the company itself is transforming a from visionary role to that of a mass production automobile manufacturer.

By Patrick Rall Nov 5 2012 - 7:02pm

The Ram 1500 Little Red Express packs turbo Hemi power at SEMA

Among the many vehicles at the 2012 SEMA Show was the bright red 2013 Ram 1500 regular cab short bed model that sported the vintage “Little Red Express” name and design scheme complete with exhaust stacks but unlike the 1978 red-and-gold sport pickup – the truck at the 2012 SEMA Show packed a turbocharged 5.7L Hemi engine.

By Anthony Faccenda Nov 5 2012 - 6:23pm

Consumer Reports attacks American muscle in new sports car reliability survey

According to Consumer Reports, American muscle cars are having an "off year" when it comes to reliability.

By Patrick Rall Nov 5 2012 - 5:05pm

The ladies of the 2012 SEMA Show

The SEMA Show in Las Vegas is one of the world’s largest automotive industry conventions and while the hundreds of thousands of square feet of exhibition space in the Las Vegas Convention Center are technically reserved for modified vehicles and product displays – the many beautiful ladies of the SEMA Show play a major role in drawing viewers to a company’s booth so these hard working women deserve a piece of the attention as well.

By John Goreham Nov 5 2012 - 4:24pm

Cadillac’s new 2013 ATS highlights high-tech sound management

New technologies continue to combat old noise issues as well as some new ones.

By Patrick Rall Nov 5 2012 - 3:57pm

A look at the Ford Focus ST at the 2012 SEMA Show

While the majority of the high performance cars at the SEMA Show each year are rear wheel drive muscle cars, Ford helped to bring attention to the launch of the new Ford Focus ST with a quintet of tricked out front drive 5-doors that worked to show the aftermarket potential of this American hot hatch.

By Patrick Rall Nov 5 2012 - 10:43am

Old and new Hot Wheels Camaro coupes draw big crowds at SEMA

We knew that General Motors would be bringing out the new production version of the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition but the bigger surprise was a modified classic Camaro styled after one of the very first Hot Wheels toys from the late 1960s.

By Denis Flierl Nov 5 2012 - 8:04am

If you blink 2013 Ford Fiesta has you covered

Ford has introduced a new Active City Stop safety feature on the 2013 Ford Fiesta that can process 15 images in the blink of an eye and help avoid accidents.

2013 and 2014 promises more hybrids and plug-in hybrids

By Nicolas Zart Nov 4 2012 - 11:12pm

2013 The Year Plug-In Hybrids Become Mainstream?

2012 has brought the best and sometimes the worst from plug-in hybrids. A stepping stones to electric cars or just another market segment?

The Maserati A6G2000, a chef d'oeuvre from Zagato

By Nicolas Zart Nov 4 2012 - 10:23pm

The Best Of France And Italy With Cars

When it comes to fun shows to go see collector cars, the Los Angeles Best of France and Italy ranks very high. See what was shown this year.

By Don Bain Nov 4 2012 - 6:41pm

Gasoline prices register biggest drop in four years

One month after West Coast prices set a new high mark, the price of gasoline has dropped more in the last two weeks, than during any single fortnight since 2008, thanks to a reduced price for crude oil and a sizable drop at California pumps, coupled to certain effects of Hurricane Sandy.

The 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth. Image from the Chrysler public site.

By Don Bain Nov 4 2012 - 4:41pm

Chrysler leads October sales growth by the Big Three

Buoyed by sales of the Fiat 500, Chrysler Group LLC posted the highest increase in sales of the Big Three automakers selling 126,185 cars and trucks, a 10.2 percent jump over last October.