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 Keith Griffin May 16 2012 - 9:56am

Mazda MX-5 Miata Scores Back-to-Back Wins

Just in time for summer top-down driving, the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) has named the Mazda MX-5 Miata its 2012 Favorite Fun Entry-Level Convertible.

By John Goreham May 16 2012 - 8:14am

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 feature helps avoid embarrassment

The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 will be the first in history to have launch control.

By Aaron Turpen May 16 2012 - 4:38am

Air-powered cars: Tata Air Car plans to go to production

Despite questionable science and wild engineering claims, Tata India appears serious about taking their compressed air powered car to production.

By Aaron Turpen May 16 2012 - 4:04am

Toyota retakes top spot as world's largest automaker, ousting GM

Last year a combination of economic recession and the Japanese tsunami caused Toyota to lose its position as the world's largest auto manufacturer by volume, with General Motors taking its place. Now Toyota has taken that title back.

THe 2012 Chevrolet Volt. Photo by Don Bain

By Don Bain May 16 2012 - 2:22am

How TARDEC's military research advances automotive technology

At the Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) in Warren, Mich., the current project may one day be part of the latest fuel saving features in a Chevrolet or Ford.

By Adam Yamada-Hanff May 15 2012 - 9:48pm

GM pulls ads from Facebook, could other automakers follow?

General Motors has surprised quite a lot of people by pulling its ads from the largest and most influential social media network on the planet, Facebook.

The Quantum Ford F-150 PHEV. Photo courtesy of Quantum.

By Don Bain May 15 2012 - 4:42pm

Quantum bringing Plug-in F-150 to Alternative Clean Transport Expo

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies will bring their modified Plug-in Hybrid Ford F-150 to the 2012 Alternative Clean Transportation Exposition (ACT Expo) May 15-17.

Indy 500 Chevy Corvette Pace Driver Guy Fieri

By John Goreham May 15 2012 - 4:36pm

Guy Fieri celebrity chef to pace Indy 500 in 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1

Guy Fieri will drive the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 pace car at the 96th Indy 500 later this month.

By Patrick Rall May 15 2012 - 3:55pm

The 2013 BMW 135is enters atop the 1 Series range

BMW issued a statement this morning announced the vehicle slated as the “new top performance model 1 Series for 2013” in the form of the new BMW 135is – a compact 2-door coupe and sedan packing more power and enhanced performance measures compared to the 2013 BMW 135i.

By Keith Griffin May 15 2012 - 1:48pm

2013 Nissan Altima Gets its New Start

Today marked the start of production of the new 2013 Nissan Altima at the company's Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in Tennesseee: the start of the 5th generation of the popular midsize sedan.

By Patrick Rall May 15 2012 - 12:59pm

Porsche launches the first prototype hybrid 918 test cars

The Porsche 918 will introduce the world to the German hybrid electric supercar later this year and the innovative sports car has just gotten a step closer to production as the Stuttgart based automaker has built and launched the initial test prototypes of the new 918.

By Nicolas Zart May 15 2012 - 12:24pm

Audi's Smart Electric Bike Is A Sweet Ride

One might remember the German EH Line article written last month*, well here’s another German eBike and none other than Audi is behind it.

Prius C side impact test by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

By Keith Griffin May 15 2012 - 11:01am

IIHS Names Malibu Eco, Hyundai Azera and Prius C Top Safety Picks

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has added the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, 2012 Hyundai Azera and the 2012 Toyota Prius C to its list of vehicles earning the Top Safety Pick designation.

By Denis Flierl May 15 2012 - 7:57am

Jay Leno rides the Mission-R electric superbike [Video]

Jay Leno invited the team from Mission Motors to his garage to learn about the Mission-R electric motorcycle and took it for a spin.

The 2012 Toyota Yaris. Photo courtesy of Toyota.

By Don Bain May 15 2012 - 5:39am

The 2012 Toyota Yaris is on the fast track

High mileage vehicles are selling well this summer and the 2012 Toyota Yaris seems to be hitting a sweet spot - sales are up 140 percent in April over last year with a 70 percent increase so far in 2012.

By David Herron May 14 2012 - 11:40pm

Electric car owners to pay $1/gallon equivalent under PG&E electricity rate proposal

A new electricity rate proposed by PG&E for electricity customers would simplify time-of-use metering for electric car owners, and lower off peak rates to the equivalent of $1/gallon gasoline.

By Denis Flierl May 14 2012 - 9:20pm

2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid selling like hot cakes

Toyota's 2012 Prius Plug-In Hybrid was the third-fastest-selling car in the U.S. in April. In March, it was the second-fastest.

2013 Ford Fusion with chief designer Chris Hamilton

By Keith Griffin May 14 2012 - 9:17pm

New Ford Fusion Earns Award for Design and Elegance

The 2013 Ford Fusion has won the Gene Ritvo Award, which honors the best in design in the automotive world, from concept to production to marketing. The honor is awarded to the vehicle that best defines elegance in design.

The 2012 Toyota Sequoia. Photo by Don Bain

By Don Bain May 14 2012 - 8:51pm

Chinese buyers returning to showrooms, boosting sales 12.5 percent

Chinese buyers are returning to automotive showrooms after modest sales in March lead most to believe the bloom was off the burgeoning Asian market. Sales are up 12.5 percent over April 2011.

Siemens electric trucks on eHighway of the Future

By David Herron May 14 2012 - 7:39pm

Siemens envisions trucks and overhead power lines on eHighway Of the Future

Diesel trucks account for a large portion of the pollution plaguing our cities, and Siemens is testing a system to use components from electric rail systems on those corridors with massive truck populations.

By Aaron Turpen May 14 2012 - 5:43pm

Toyota 100 Cars for Good begins taking your votes today

Toyota is asking the public to pick a charity a day for the next 100 days to receive a free vehicle as part of their annual 100 Cars for Good event. You can vote for your charity picks starting right now.

By Patrick Rall May 14 2012 - 5:28pm

2012 Hyundai Elantra airbag slices off driver's ear, spurs federal investigation

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a preliminary investigation into the 2012 Hyundai Elantra after reports that a side impact curtain airbag severed part of a driver’s ear when it opened during an accident.

By John Goreham May 14 2012 - 4:34pm

Honda Jet's strange looking aircraft aces first flight

The upstart ailine manufacturer is moving ahead with a product and a plan that sounds oddly familiar

By Adam Yamada-Hanff May 14 2012 - 4:32pm

Ferrari celebrates Queen Elizabeth's 60 year reign with Prancing Horses [Video]

Ferrari, an icon of “Made in Italy” craftsmanship across the globe, was at very heart of the Diamond Jubilee Pageant to celebrating 60 years of Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II's reign in the United Kingdom.

By John Goreham May 14 2012 - 3:25pm

Ford’s 2013 Fusion will pass competition with 7 incredible new features

2013 Ford Fusion packs driver assist features previously only found on expensive luxury cars

In 2012, Toyota and Honda remain in first and second place respectively on the W

By Don Bain May 14 2012 - 3:10pm

GM, Chrysler improving relations with automotive parts suppliers

General Motors and the Chrysler Group have continued to improve their rating in this year's survey of suppliers in the12th annual study of OEM working relations.

6 Hours of race at the amazing Laguna Seca with the American Le Mans Series

By Nicolas Zart May 14 2012 - 2:54pm

6 Hours Of Racing Pleasure At Laguna Seca With The American Le Mans Series

Starting on a rather fresh and very foggy day, the little Mazda MX5 are already screaming around the unique bends, twists and famed cork screw of the Laguna Seca Raceway. After that it was 6 hours of familiar faces, some returning Aston Martin and Lotus and with a touch of Hollywood with Patrick Dempsey and his team.

By Patrick Rall May 14 2012 - 12:28pm

Ferrari boss confirms hybrid Enzo replacement in 2012

Information has slowly been trickling out about the future existence of a Ferrari Enzo replacement that would pack hybrid power but with the recent first quarter results announcement from the Italian automaker, company Chairman Luca di Montezemolo confirmed not only that there is a “new Enzo” coming with hybrid power at the end of 2012.