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 Adam Yamada-Hanff Jan 15 2012 - 10:16am

Fisker Karma on display at world famous Harrod's in London

If you want to make your car known to consumers, especially those of us that can afford the finest luxury goods, what do you do? Put your car in the window display in the best known retailer of luxury goods in the world. That is Harrod's in London, and that car is the all-electric Fisker Karma.

2012 Hyundai Veloster wins Urban Wheel Awards

By Keith Griffin Jan 14 2012 - 9:22pm

Hyundai Adds More Accolades with Urban Car Award for Veloster

This is the week where the phrase "And the winner is …" inevitably seems to end with a Hyundai model name such as the Veloster being named Urban Car of the Year at the 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards. The esteemed automotive event was held this week at the Motor City Casino Hotel in Detroit, in conjunction with the opening of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

Weekly Chart of Tesla stock for week ending 2012-0113

By Frank Sherosky Jan 14 2012 - 7:56pm

Despite stock selloff, Tesla Model S impresses at NAIAS 2012

Despite the recent departure of two key developers which inspired recent stock selloff, Tesla Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSLA) assured investors that it is on schedule to meet the deliveries for its new Model S; and the display at NAIAS 2012 shows details that are no longer concept, but pre-production level in time for delivery by mid-2012 .

Hyundai is the leader in fleet average mpg thank to vehicle like the Sonata

By Don Bain Jan 14 2012 - 7:09pm

Marginal new car efficiency improvement saving MILLION$

Of the 12.778 million light vehicles sold in the U.S. last year, a modest fleet-wide efficiency improvement of one half mile per gallon totaled a savings of $722 million at the gas pump. It also reduced the U.S. millions of barrels a day consumption habit by 214 million gallons of petrol, according to analysts at TrueCar.com. Divided among those cars and light trucks that’s roughly $60 each.

By Aaron Turpen Jan 14 2012 - 2:11pm

Mercedes E Superlight to be a fuel cell car, coming in 2015

For months now, rumors have been circulating that Mercedes-Benz was working on a carbon-fiber-bodied sedan based on the E-class that would reduce weight radically while improving performance and fuel efficiency. Enter the Mercedes E Superlight, which will first release as a production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (HFCV) in 2015.

By Nicolas Zart Jan 14 2012 - 1:36pm

Beautiful Toyota Model Shares Her Auto Show Experience

More than pretty faces, Auto Show models play a crucial role in representing carmakers. Here is the story of one of these unsung Toyota specialists.

By Nicolas Zart Jan 14 2012 - 12:42pm

Unique 1956 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa at Gooding

The star at the Gooding and Company in Scottsdale, Arizona on 20 and 21 January, 2012 auction this year will no doubt be this rare and unique 1956 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa.

The 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Collector’s Edition

By Patrick Rall Jan 13 2012 - 6:45pm

GM offering most powerful Corvette Convertible ever for 2013

The 2013 model year will mark the 60th anniversary of the fabled Chevrolet Corvette and to mark the occasion, General Motors will offer the 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Collector’s Edition – the most capable, most powerful and most likely the fastest droptop Corvette built in the 60 year history of the ultimate American performance car.

Tom Moloughney of Chester, NJ gives the thumbs up as he and his wife, Meredith,

By David Herron Jan 13 2012 - 6:38pm

BMW delivers first ActiveE car to the first of 700 U.S. based Electronauts

The ActiveE is phase two of BMW's project i which is developing an electric car technology leading to launch of the BMW i3 and i8 in 2013.

By Don Bain Jan 13 2012 - 4:51pm

BMW DNA shines through six generations of the 3 Series

For over 35 years, the BMW 3 Series has been one of the top selling cars in its segment, thanks to the primal DNA that makes it a BMW, even though its face may change over time.

By Adam Yamada-Hanff Jan 13 2012 - 4:23pm

Volvo showcases XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept at Detroit Auto Show

At the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Volvo showcased it's Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid concept. It seems to be a well rounded vehicle as far as we can tell. However the real question remains, when will Volvo bring the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept to the US market?

Chevy Miray Concept at NAIAS 2012 in Detroit

By Frank Sherosky Jan 13 2012 - 2:58pm

Chevy Miray Concept expresses future at NAIAS 2012

GM Korea first unveiled the Chevrolet Miray (pronounced Me-ray) concept at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show. It is now on display at the NAIAS 2012 in Detroit.

The Drayson-Lola EV racer ready for FIA's Formula E in LMP

By Nicolas Zart Jan 13 2012 - 1:54pm

Confirmation the Lola Drayson Racer Will Participate at the Formula E

After years of intensive prototype testing, the Lola-Drayson EV racer is ready to battle it out on the newly sanctioned FIA Formula E series.

By David Herron Jan 13 2012 - 11:16am

Lowered demand in Chevy Volt due to price, not fires, interest in Nissan Leaf stable

Instead of showing that "federal investigation of three fires that occurred after Volt crash tests lowered demand for the Chevy Volt" a recent report instead shows interest in the Volt has fallen due to its price.

Acura NSX concept at NAIAS 2012 Press Preview

By Frank Sherosky Jan 12 2012 - 9:50pm

Acura NSX Concept thrills NAIAS 2012 Press Preview

Acura has been teasing then denying a replacement for the Acura NSX which ended its 15 year reign in 2005. Now it’s back, finally. It is more than a concept, though, as production may arrive within 3 years. Question is, how much?

By Nicolas Zart Jan 12 2012 - 7:43pm

VIA Motors to Convert GM Pickup Trucks and SUVS to Plug-in Hybrids

VIA Motors announced at the Las Vegas CES event it will convert conventional trucks, cargo vans and SUVs into plug-in hybrid, PHEV vehicles based on GMs.

By Don Bain Jan 12 2012 - 6:09pm

The 2013 Porsche Boxster - less flab, more muscle

The Porsche Boxster returns for 2013 with longer, wider and more svelte body with a completely new undercarriage.

By Adam Yamada-Hanff Jan 12 2012 - 11:19am

"War Horse" features horses and Vauxhalls

In the new movie War Horse, backed by Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg, there are not only stunning sequences of horses, countryside, battles, but horsepower too. It features two exquisite vehicles of the period, a Vauxhall C-Type and Vauxhall D-Type.

By Aaron Turpen Jan 12 2012 - 10:49am

Clean diesel sales beating hybrids, up 27% in 2011

Sales of clean diesel vehicles in the United States rose by 27.4% in 2011 compared to 2010. At the same time, hybrids saw sales drop by 2.2% in the same period. Clean diesels make up about twice the market segment that hybrids do.

By Aaron Turpen Jan 12 2012 - 9:50am

How to hack into a car and why the industry is nervous about it

Computer security experts have shown how easy it is to hack into a car's electronics and control brakes, steering, and more. Even remotely. It has got the auto industry on edge and SAE is taking steps to form new security standards for automotive electronics.

By Don Bain Jan 12 2012 - 3:24am

Japanese automakers moving more production to North America

Due to the rising value of the yen compared to the American dollar, Toyota, Honda and Nissan have indicated more of their production for global markets is moving to North America. Doubtless, escaping the earthquake prone Pacific Rim provides even further incentive after the supply and production problems caused by last years natural disaster.

The iconic 2012 Tesla Roadster is updated for overseas markets.

By Don Bain Jan 11 2012 - 7:17pm

2012 Tesla Roadster updated for overseas markets only

The iconic Tesla Roadster, the first fully electric production automobile on the market when it came out in 2008, will be updated with significant improvements offered only in Europe, Asia and Australia – presumably in right-side steering models – while the limited supply lasts.

By Patrick Rall Jan 11 2012 - 5:03pm

Ford recalling 200k+ minivans over torque convertor failure

Ford Motor Company and the folks at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced a recall of 2004 and 2005 model year Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans over a concern that they may have been built with defective torque convertor output shafts – a problem that could leave the vehicle “dead in the water” if the output shaft was to fail on the open road.

By Patrick Rall Jan 11 2012 - 4:36pm

Ford recalls 244,000+ Escape SUVs for master cylinder fire risk

Ford Motor Company and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced a recall of over 244,000 2001 and 2002 model year Ford Escape compact sport utility vehicles over a concern that the master cylinder cap could leak – increasing the risk of an underhood fire if the problem is not addressed.

By Aaron Turpen Jan 11 2012 - 1:21pm

Smart's nose-snubbing For-Us concept flops in Detroit

If you are Smart, what do you do when your cars are a complete flop in the North American market? Why, you produce a concept for the area's largest car show of the year that snootily tells your market why they suck. That's what.

By Adam Yamada-Hanff Jan 11 2012 - 9:55am

The Car Show crashes second season hopes

If you are a fan of SPEED channel's “The Car Show”, you might be disappointed to hear that show has not been picked up for a second season. Sadly, this means the show has been canceled.

By David Herron Jan 10 2012 - 11:22pm

Daimler's Dr. Zetsche talks about internet-connected electric cars at CES

What's a car company Chairman doing at CES, in Las Vegas, when one of the largest auto shows in the industry (NAIAS) is happening the same time in Detroit?

Tesla Model S third row seating - courtesy Craig Agranoff

By Aaron Turpen Jan 10 2012 - 11:10pm

Tesla Model S to have optional throwback third row seating

Remember when you were a kid riding in the back of your family station wagon, facing the wrong way and making faces at the cars behind you? Well, engineers at Tesla Motors do and they've thrown in an optional third row of rear-facing kiddie seats in the Model S.

By David Herron Jan 10 2012 - 7:09pm

Via Motors introduces plug-in hybrid-electric truck in Detroit, partnering with PG&E

Via Motors unveiled today their "extended range electric" truck meant for commercial fleet customers, such as their partner Pacific Gas and Electric.

Toyota NS4 Concept at NAIAS with COO Jim Lentz

By Aaron Turpen Jan 10 2012 - 5:45pm

Toyota NS4 Plug-in Concept Bombards Detroit With New Technology

Toyota's latest NS4 plug-in concept unveil at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit shows the direction the company is taking with its new technologies packaged in one concept auto

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