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 Patrick Rall Nov 7 2011 - 10:49am

Sport compacts rule the Hyundai display at SEMA 2011

While last year’s Hyundai display at the SEMA Show focused more on their flagship Equus sedan, the 2011 SEMA display from the booming Korean automaker focused on the high performance aspect of their popular sport compacts – specifically the unique new Veloster hatchback and the Genesis Coupe.

By Frank Sherosky Nov 7 2011 - 9:57am

Bosch to host Power of Innovation media event today

Torque News along with other media organizations have been invited to join Bosch on Nov. 7, 2011, as the company brings together its leadership to address the latest market trends and technological advancements that will impact the car buying consumer – everything from smart navigation and driver assistance systems to estimates on the U.S. market penetration for diesels and hybrids.

By Hawke Fracassa Nov 6 2011 - 11:42pm

Toyota and Discovery Education court teens to teach them to drive safely

Toyota and Discovery Education are teaming to create the Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge. In it, students in high school will be asked to create 2-minute videos "describing how they would encourage safe driving among their peers."

By Hawke Fracassa Nov 6 2011 - 11:16pm

Pepsi using HydraGen to make 178 of its trucks fuel efficient

Dynamic Fuel Systems Inc. (TSX-V:DYA) has sold a large quantity of its HydraGen product to Hydrogen Fuel Systems Inc. of Michigan to equip trucks that haul Pepsi products.

By Adam Yamada-Hanff Nov 6 2011 - 10:53pm

Tesla opening three new dealerships in US

Tesla is expanding its dealership network to three new locations across the country. The new Tesla dealerships will be in Bellevue WA; Chicago IL; and Newport Beach CA. This will lay the groundwork for the company to sell the Tesla Model S, the first electric premium sedan.

By Hawke Fracassa Nov 6 2011 - 6:46pm

Former Ford Motor Co. exec joins IMPCO Automotive as training boss

IMPCO Automotive has named former Ford Motor Co. executive Armando Ramirez technical sales, service and training manager to respond to and support customer and industry partners for all post-sales technical matters.

By Hawke Fracassa Nov 6 2011 - 6:17pm

Honda Pilot and Acura RDX help their marques claw forward toward 2012

Acura and American Honda Motor Co. both recorded sales increases for October, giving the Japanese car companies impetus to turn the corner toward healthy profits heading into 2012.

By Hawke Fracassa Nov 6 2011 - 5:44pm

Minority council makes Toyota 'Corporation of the Year' again

Toyota won a big honor this week: For the second time, it was named "Corporation of the Year" by the National Minority Supplier Development Council. The award recognizes the Japanese car company's "continued commitment to minority suppliers and diverse communities."

By Keith Griffin Nov 6 2011 - 5:38pm

Honda Rose Parade Float Demonstrates Company's Design Woes

Try as it might, lately Honda has not been able to wow the general car buying public with its automotive design. Maybe it should borrow a cue from its 2012 Rose Bowl Parade float for something people will notice to overcome its design woes.

By Keith Griffin Nov 6 2011 - 4:33pm

Hot New 2012 BMW M3 Competition Edition Available in Limited - Make That Very Limited – Quantities

The 2012 M3 Competition Edition features Frozen Silver exterior paint and other enhancements to honor the 40 years since the founding of BMW M in 1972 but you're going to have to act quick because supplies are very limited and you'll need $81,000 to cover the cost.

By Adam Yamada-Hanff Nov 6 2011 - 1:59pm

Mazda keeps car values up with Digital Service Records

Mazda was the first car company to have what is known as digital service records (DSR). This has added convenience, efficiency, and security for consumers and dealers. Most importantly though it has added value to Mazda cars.

From the show car room at Lotus Engineering in Sterling Heights, MI

By Frank Sherosky Nov 6 2011 - 12:57pm

Lotus Engineering cues media on future of automobiles with Technical Press Workshop

In a rare private workshop following the week of The Battery Show 2011, Lotus Engineering brought together a small group of journalists to its Sterling Heights, Michigan office for a Technical Press Workshop, a review of its technologies that will define the cars of the future.

By Keith Griffin Nov 6 2011 - 12:13pm

FTC Exploring Issue of Yo-Yo Sales, Other Leasing Ripoffs

The Federal Trade Commission is tackling the issue of consumer leases of new cars and the ripofffs that can ensue including the practice of spot deliveries or yo-yo sales. The FTC roundtable will be held Nov. 17 in Washington, D.C.

By Don Bain Nov 5 2011 - 6:25pm

One in three drivers admit to drowsy driving

Thirty-two percent admitted to drowsy driving within the last month in a AAA safety survey, despite the fact 96 percent of everyone considers this unacceptable behavior. This is pursuant to last year’s survey that revealed one of six fatalities and one in eight accidents causing serious injury resulted from drowsy driving, a rate substantially higher than thought, reaffirming the negative impact of this behavior on automotive crashes, injuries and deaths.

By Keith Griffin Nov 5 2011 - 5:06pm

AT&T on Aggressive $565 Million Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fleet Plan

AT&T is on an aggressive pace to make 20 percent of its fleet alternative fuel vehicles by 2018. It deployed its 4000th AFV in its nationwide fleet – putting it less than halfway to its goal with six years to go.

Racing hotty Danica Patrick kicks off 2012 at Daytona 500

By Keith Griffin Nov 4 2011 - 10:00pm

Danica Patrick Opens 2012 Sprint Cup Series at Daytona 500

Danica Patrick, who can be considered among the most famous female drivers in racing history, has announced she will kick off her NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2012 at the prestigious season-opening 54th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 26.

The Ford Focus ST-R at the 2011 SEMA Show

By Don Bain Nov 4 2011 - 9:16pm

The Ford Focus ST-R coming to a track near you

The Ford Focus ST-R, a thoroughbred production-based Focus racer, is in the works for small car speedsters and will be displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show November 18-27. The globally focused racer will soon be ready for action and available for purchase. The Focus ST-R is technically based on Ford’s Focus racecar development program aimed at professionals, amateurs and track-day enthusiasts.

Richard Petty with his new Signature Series Ford Mustang GT

By Patrick Rall Nov 4 2011 - 8:52pm

The Richard Petty Garage Signature Series Ford Mustang GT debuts at SEMA

While Richard Petty’s name is best associated with being a dominating force in the world of NASCAR racing, The King recently began offering high performance muscle cars and at the 2011 SEMA Show, Petty’s Garage launched their first Ford product in the form of the 2011 Ford Mustang GT Signature Series.

Eleanor from Gone in Sixty Seconds as Best Movie Car of All Time

By Keith Griffin Nov 4 2011 - 8:25pm

eBay Motors Poll Picks Best Movie Car of All Time and It's a Surprise

In what has to be one of the biggest online automotive polls ever, the winners of the 2011 eBay Motors People’s Picks Poll were announced at SEMA this week in Las Vegas. The selection of best movie car of all time may have some people scratching their heads, though.

By Adam Yamada-Hanff Nov 4 2011 - 7:43pm

Baltimore Grand Prix faces financial issues future uncertain

Baltimore Racing Development (BRD), the company that hosted the Baltimore Grand Prix (BGP), is facing financial woes. It has $1.6 million in unpaid bills that it has not paid to various vendors and companies. This puts into question the ability for Baltimore and BRD to host the event in the future.

Monthly chart of Toyota stock dated 2011-1104

By Frank Sherosky Nov 4 2011 - 2:58pm

Toyota stock treading water after extending production cutbacks from Thailand floods

Toyota stock was just trading over $69 last week; now it's treading water at the $64 level after the company announced it will maintain production cutbacks in Japan, North America and Southeast Asia, due to parts shortages resulting from the flooding in Thailand. Question is, what is Toyota stock's next price support level?

By Armen Hareyan Nov 3 2011 - 8:19pm

The Citroen 2CV: When Green is Old

There are lots of things to admire about the French: their celebration of individuality, contributions to the arts and philosophy, haute couture and haute cuisine, just to name a few. But the Citroen 2CV embodies two that I particularly admire: the French penchant for thrift and a relentless pursuit for what is both simple and finely executed.

By Adam Yamada-Hanff Nov 3 2011 - 5:40pm

Kia to build third auto plant in China

Kia has announced that it plans to build a third manufacturing plant in China. This is in order to meet increasing demand in the country and to maintain its sales momentum in the Chinese market, which has been strong.

The 2012 Ford Focus ST will debut at the LA Auto Show.

By Don Bain Nov 3 2011 - 4:15pm

Ford Focus ST will bring racing badge to American streets next year

The Ford Focus ST will bring a performance car previously unavailable on the continent to American drivers during 2012. As Ford’s first truly global performance car, the Focus ST is building on the Focus ST heritage in Europe, giving drivers worldwide the opportunity to share in the ribald performance, crisp handling, seductive sound and sporty design the ST badge represents.

By Frank Sherosky Nov 3 2011 - 3:45pm

BMW to unveil the BMW i3 and BMW i8 concept vehicles as cars of the future

BMW will host a special sneak-preview event on Nov. 9th in New York City to unveil for the first time in North America what it considers to be the cars of the future – the BMW i3 and BMW i8 concept vehicles.

By Don Bain Nov 3 2011 - 1:30pm

Will the Fiesta ST concept be Ford's first global positioning success?

The Ford Fiesta ST concept will be the automaker's second release under the new global positioning approach to the design and fabrication of their automobiles, following the Focus ST concept when both debut at the LA Auto Show later this month. Ford plans to build vehicles to compete in the global market without continental variants produced in Europe or Asia. Such vehicles are a break from the brand’s traditional business model.

By Patrick Rall Nov 3 2011 - 3:17am

The Ram 392 at SEMA could be the next SRT pickup in 7 easy steps

Among the many high performance models at the Mopar display at the 2011 SEMA Show was the Ram 392 Quick Silver - a Ram 1500 equipped with the 6.4L Hemi from the current SRT8 lineup and while this truck is just an “image vehicle“, Mopar points out just how easy it was to make this truck, perhaps suggesting how easy it could be for Ralph Gilles’ SRT Group to offer a new high performance pickup.

Jeg Coughlin Jr's new Dodge Avenger Pro Stock car

By Patrick Rall Nov 3 2011 - 2:08am

Jeg Coughlin Jr. returns to Mopar

Among the news of new crate engines and all of the sexy high performance show cars, the folks at Chrysler’s Mopar division used the 2011 SEMA Show to announce some massive racing news - that Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr would be making a return to a factory backed Mopar racing team after several years behind the wheel of a GM race car.

By Patrick Rall Nov 3 2011 - 1:11am

Rhys Millen brings a 5.0L powered Hyundai Genesis Coupe to SEMA

Leading up to the 2011 SEMA Show, the good people at Hyundai informed the world that racer/builder Rhys Millen would be bringing something special to the Las Vegas show and when the sheet was pulled away from this mystery car we were introduced to the RM500 - a Hyundai Genesis Coupe powered by the 5.0L Tau V8 from the Genesis Sedan.

By Patrick Rall Nov 2 2011 - 10:24pm

Chip Foose helps WD40, SEMA charities unveil new custom Dodge Challenger SRT8 392

Last week we brought you the news that WD40 and the SEMA Cares charity group would be offering up a new vehicle that would be auctioned off with the help of the good people at the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction to benefit children’s charities and yesterday, the new 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 WD40 SEMA Cares vehicle met the world.

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