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 Gordon Block Oct 7 2011 - 2:48pm

Mazda RX-8 to end production with special SPIRIT R edition, but only in Japan

Mazda is waving goodbye to the rotary-powered RX-8, but not before seeing it off with a special-edition called the SPIRIT R, of which only 1,000 units will be available, and only in Japan

BMW TwinPower Turbo technology now extended to 4-cylinder engines

By Frank Sherosky Oct 7 2011 - 12:03pm

BMW 5 Series 4-cylinder engines to feature BMW TwinPower Turbo technology

From the autumn 2011 lineup, both the BMW 5 Series Sedan and the BMW 5 Series Touring ranges will for the first time feature two newly developed four-cylinder gasoline engines with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology.

By Hawke Fracassa Oct 7 2011 - 11:33am

Critics lambaste turquoise look for Rolls Phantom

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has come up with a new color for its Phantom: Turquoise. After it posted a picture of the car on a Facebook page, readers bristled, saying the brightly colored luxury car looks more gaudy than good.

By Hawke Fracassa Oct 7 2011 - 10:52am

Rolls-Royce sets up shop in the most fashionable section of Paris

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the Goodwood, England-based maker of the world most luxurious automobiles, opened a small showroom today in Paris to showcase its premium motor cars for French buyers.

OnStar mobile apps are key to GM's car-sharing business with EasyRides

By Frank Sherosky Oct 7 2011 - 10:32am

Mobile Apps are key to GM entering car-sharing business with RelayRides

General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) is teaming up with RelayRides, the world's peer-to-peer carsharing marketplace; and OnStar with mobile apps are once again playing a key part.

By Hawke Fracassa Oct 6 2011 - 8:18pm

Lexus meeting challenges, exceeding expectations

Lexus, the luxury brand of Toyota, keeps making progress rebounding from the March quake and tsunami in Japan.

By Patrick Rall G+ Oct 6 2011 - 7:36pm

The Nissan Leaf continues its dominance of the Chevy Volt in September 2011

Sales numbers for September 2011 are in and for the sixth month in a row, the Nissan Leaf has outsold the Chevrolet Volt even though the Nissan saw a drop in sales last month while the electric Chevy saw a healthy increase from the month before.

By Patrick Rall G+ Oct 6 2011 - 7:07pm

Ford introduces a new jump-free spot for the 2012 SVT Raptor F150

Ford Motor Company and the Special Vehicle Team have introduced a few changes for the 2012 Ford F150 SVT Raptor and unlike the earlier videos that show the Raptor soaring through the air – this new online video segment shows the SVT pickup storming through the mud, dirt and water with few looks at the high performance pickup leaving the ground.

By Hawke Fracassa Oct 6 2011 - 6:26pm

Toyota RAV4 crossover adds high-tech toys for 2012

The RAV4, Toyota's premium crossover vehicle, adds new audio systems for 2012 that provide occupants with hands-free phone capability, phone book access and music streaming via Bluetooth. The next step up from the base, the 2012 Toyota RAV4 Limited Grade, adds an optional display audio system with navigation and Toyota Entune connectivity services.

Kia's Music-Loving Hamsters from Popular "Share Some Soul" Campaign Honored With

By Don Bain Oct 6 2011 - 5:30pm

Kia's soulful Hamsters honored by Madison Avenue

Not content to solely sell cars, Kia’s music-loving Hamsters have been recognized by the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame who honored Kia's hamsters yesterday with the first-ever "Rookie of the Year" award.

The gauge cluster of the Ford F250 Super Duty

By Patrick Rall G+ Oct 6 2011 - 5:30pm

The 2013 Ford Mustang to get Track Apps, special gauge modes

Thanks to some spyshots posted on StangTV, it looks as though the 2013 Ford Mustang will receive the 4.2” information screen previously seen on the Ford F Series (shown on the right), but the mighty Mustang will receive special performance minded gauges and in place of Truck Apps comes Track Apps – including tools to measure the Mustangs performance capabilities.

By Patrick Rall G+ Oct 6 2011 - 5:06pm

Video of the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 tearing up the Nürburgring

General Motors announced yesterday that they had taken the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to the famed Nürburgring through the world of social media and today, we have our first look at the ZL1 roaring around the massive road course – offering us a virtual ride along in the new super Camaro as it ran a time that puts it on par with some very exotic company.

By Patrick Rall G+ Oct 6 2011 - 4:46pm

Volkswagen recalls Jetta, Golf, Audi A3 diesel models over fuel leak concerns

Earlier today we brought you the news of a stop sale order issued by Volkswagen to their dealerships over a concern of fuel rail leaks and now VW has recalled those Jetta, Golf and Audi A3 models powered by the 2.0L diesel engine option.

By Hawke Fracassa Oct 6 2011 - 4:20pm

If you liked the 2011 Toyota Avalon, you'll like the 2012 Toyota Avalon, too

Toyota's 2012 Avalon is in showrooms now. The American-made luxury car has no significant changes for the new model year over 2011, when it got a complete makeover.

By Don Bain Oct 6 2011 - 4:17pm

Ford goes cuckoo for coconuts

Ford and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company are working together to explore the potential of coconut fiber reinforced molded plastic parts to reduce petroleum use while making parts lighter and more natural-looking. Coconut husks, are a waste product from Scotts' soil and grass seed production lines. The team is examining their use as a renewable material for Ford's vehicles.

An interior shot of the Superdome show Mercedes-Benz signage.

By Don Bain Oct 6 2011 - 3:02pm

Mercedes-Benz secures naming rights to Louisiana Superdome

The Mercedes-Benz three pointed star will comingle with the New Orleans Saints fleur-de-lis, as the Louisiana Superdome becomes the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, thanks to a 10-year agreement providing official naming rights and other sponsorship benefits to the U.S. arm of the German manufacturer.

2012 Hyundai Veloster by PM Lifestyles for 2011 SEMA Show

By Keith Griffin G+ Oct 6 2011 - 2:09pm

Hyundai, PM Lifestyle Partner on 2012 Veloster for SEMA

Hyundai has announced the second of its 2012 Veloster models headed to the 2011 SEMA show next month in Las Vegas. This version is being produced by PM Lifestyle, which plans to turn the Veloster into a teaching tool once it sees the bright lights and glitter of the Vegas strip.

By Adam Yamada-Hanff Oct 6 2011 - 2:06pm

Porsche 928 influenced Steve Jobs Mac design

An interesting fact about the first Macintosh computer was that Steve Jobs wanted it to look like a Porsche 928. While the designer, James Ferris, thought the Mac should look like a Ferrari.

By Patrick Rall G+ Oct 6 2011 - 1:32pm

Volkswagen issues stop sale on diesel models for fuel leakage concerns

Volkswagen has reportedly issued a stop sale order to their dealerships for select Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen and Golf models fitted with the 2.0L TDI diesel engine over a concern of under-hood fuel line failures that could lead to fire.

By Gordon Block Oct 6 2011 - 12:39pm

Nissan announces $1.42 billion investment in Brazil

Nissan, and its alliance partner Renault, have both announced aggressive expansion plans in Brazil, which is one of the fastest-growing automotive markets worldwide.

By Patrick Rall G+ Oct 6 2011 - 12:11pm

The Camaro ZL1 stakes its claim as a supercar on the Ring

You rarely think of an American muscle car as fitting into the category of a supercar but with a recent trip to the famed Nürburgring, the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 turned out lap times on par with some of the most well known (and most expensive) supercars in the world with a stunning time of 7:41.27.

By Patrick Rall G+ Oct 6 2011 - 11:27am

New 5.8L V8 confirmed for 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Since the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was introduced with 580 horsepower, rumors have been plentiful that the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 would get a new motor to out-muscle the ZL1 with upwards of 600hp and while there are no specifications available, the new Ford-UAW contract has confirmed that the 2013 GT500 will indeed sport a new 5.8L V8 engine.

By Adam Yamada-Hanff Oct 6 2011 - 10:55am

New video shows Ferrari California tested on Snow

Ferrari California comfortably drives both on asphalt and on the snowy mountainous roads.

By Armen Hareyan G+ Oct 6 2011 - 6:57am

Novitect Revises Maserati Gran Torismo MC Stradale for $31,851

Look and see what German tuning company Novitec Tridente has done to Maserati Gran Torismo MC Stradale. When Maserati was unveiling MC Stradale in Paris Auto Show in 2010 it would probably did not envision this new beauty and muscle.

By Hawke Fracassa Oct 6 2011 - 12:00am

UAW-Ford contract: Will auto workers do what they want or do what they're told?

The UAW's handshake deal with Ford Motor Co. is so sweet that the union council that endorsed taking the four-year contract to the membership for ratification isn't worried about backlash or backtalk from the rank and file. And neither is the UAW's brass.

By Gordon Block Oct 5 2011 - 7:48pm

Honda to cut exports in half over the next 10 years

Honda will move half or more of its production to different countries to combat the rise of the Japanese yen, which causes profit margins on exported cars to shrink.

Dr. Oded Tour explain the Tour Engine at the poster presentation of 2011 DEER

By Frank Sherosky Oct 5 2011 - 5:33pm

Tour Engine split-cycle technology draws interest at 2011 DEER Conference in Detroit

For the second year in a row, Dr. Oded Tour, CEO of Tour Engine presented during poster presentations at the Directions in Energy-Efficiency and Emissions Research (DEER) Conference in Detroit, and garnered a healthy interest, including a visitor from Volvo.

The 2012 Mazda3 5-door has a lower price. Photo courtesy of Mazda.

By Don Bain Oct 5 2011 - 5:14pm

Mazda drops price on the popular Mazda3 for 2012

The ubiquitous Mazda3 has been responsible for 40 percent of Mazda sales thus far this year, and returns refreshed for 2012 with SKYACTIV technology resulting in higher efficiency and performance while still delivering a lower price than last year’s model.

Volvo's secret proving ground in Hallered, Sweden

By Adam Yamada-Hanff Oct 5 2011 - 5:14pm

Volvo Demonstrates what Cars go Through before Arriving at Dealerships

Have you every thought about what sort of grueling testing a car goes through before you are allowed to drive it on the road? With a new Youtube video by Volvo shoot at its top secret proving ground in Hallered, Sweden, you can see the testing process every 2012 Volvo car goes through and those that have not quite made it onto the production line.

By Adam Yamada-Hanff Oct 5 2011 - 2:35pm

Tesla Opens New Dealership Showroom and Service Center in Netherlands

Tesla Motors, the electric car company that makes and sells the Tesla Roadster, is expanding its international operations in the Netherlands, opening a new dealership showroom and service center in Eindhoven.

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