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 Frank Sherosky May 31 2011 - 12:14am

Axion Power (OTCBB: AXPW) advancing battery tech into micro-hybrid vehicles

Do not count lead-acid batteries out of the energy picture yet, especially for the micro-hybrid vehicle market featuring stop-start. The Axion PbC® technology represents the first major advance in lead-acid battery and electrode technology in 30 years.

By Don Bain May 30 2011 - 7:49pm

Close-up: The 2011 Toyota Yaris Liftback

The 2011 Toyota Yaris, in any of its variations, is the essence of the modern commuter – efficient, easy to drive, technologically up to date, inexpensive to operate and far safer than small cars were just a few years ago.

By Hawke Fracassa May 30 2011 - 6:57pm

Auto parts supplier moving forward with tech center in Novi

A suburban Detroit vehicle tester and supplier of auto parts such as sensors, crash-test software and other products and services to car companies worldwide announced on Memorial Day that it is on schedule to open a North American Technical Center in September.

By Keith Griffin May 30 2011 - 1:26pm

Volkswagen and MoMA Launch Artistic Partnership

It's a growing trend among German carmakers: form partnerships with artists and museums to build brand awareness. Volkswagen is the latest to join the artistic fray as it partners with New York's Museum of Modern Art.

By Hawke Fracassa May 30 2011 - 10:33am

Fame can't protect crash victims like NC State basketball star Lorenzo Charles

"Jackass" movie star Ryan Dunn is the latest celebrity to die in a car crash. Dunn (pictured) has wrecked his car in West Goshen, Pa., near Philadelphia about two months after a car crash that killed Macho Man Randy Savage in Florida.

By Frank Sherosky May 30 2011 - 12:12am

Higher break-even price for Saudi oil sets new normal for auto fuel

In 2003, the breakeven for Saudi crude oil was $30 per barrel. It’s now reported to be $85 and expected to rise to $110 by 2015, according to the latest MarketWatch article.

By Hawke Fracassa May 29 2011 - 11:23pm

Coach Jim Tressel quits; were car deals for Ohio State players the last straw?

The Ohio State University football program is under scrutiny over the sale or loan of used cars from two auto dealerships at bargain prices to a few dozen football players and their families in the past six years. And the impact of the controversy in part is the resignation today of Coach Jim Tressel.

By Keith Griffin May 29 2011 - 10:56pm

Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle Displayed at Indy 500

Seems like the Army is concerned about fuel efficiency, but probably not for the same reasons as the rest of us based on the Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle that was displayed at the Indianapolis 500.

By Frank Sherosky May 29 2011 - 8:21pm

China sends clear message it will protect its own car manufacturers

You may have missed it. China’s Development and Reform Commission released a draft of guidelines last month for foreign investments into the Chinese market that limits foreign capital to 50% of any investment in certain electric vehicle component technologies.

By Hawke Fracassa May 29 2011 - 4:36pm

Suzuki Kizashi No. 1 with satisfied owners in AutoPacific survey

The value-driven 2011 Suzuki Kizashi has aced AutoPacific's 15th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards for overall satisfaction among all new midsize cars sold or leased in the United States. It is the second straight year the under-$20,000 Kizashi has come out on top.

By Roman Rosa May 29 2011 - 1:52pm

Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Roadster revealed

What would have Luciano Pavarotti been without his voice? What would Usain Bolt be without his speed? What would Christina Hendricks from Mad Men be without her, well... you know. Most importantly, what would the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG be without it's gull wing doors? I'll tell you: The SLS Roadster.

By Hawke Fracassa May 29 2011 - 10:57am

Porsche Cayman S Black Edition gets $67,500 MSRP

Porsche will start selling a limited-issue 2012 Cayman S Black Edition this summer. It will retail for $67,500 and only 500 of the sporty cars will be assembled. Peak speed when equipped with a 6-speed manual trans is 173 mph.

By Frank Sherosky May 29 2011 - 10:41am

A123 Systems stock (Nasdaq: AONE) falls hard from grace of IPO

In March, A123 Systems (Nasdaq: AONE) stock traded very shaky after an annual net earnings loss of 1.56 loss per share. A few month’s later, the stock chart reveals it has broken every price support since its IPO.

By Hawke Fracassa May 28 2011 - 11:04pm

Driving tests: Men are better than women, but both sexes are failures

LeaseTrader.com reports after quizzing 500 men and women about their driving habits that men are more likely to get answers on a driver's test right than women (59% to 46%). At the same time, results show both sexes need to brush up on their studies because 75% of test takers flunked.

By Hawke Fracassa May 28 2011 - 10:16pm

Cali ready to celebrate classic Porsche cars

Porsche Cars North America and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca are planning Porsche's Rennsport Reunion IV at the track in California Oct. 14-16. Rennsport Reunion IV is expected to be a landmark event that collects Porsche vintage and current race cars and the drivers who made them great in one place.

By Hawke Fracassa May 28 2011 - 8:23am

Lexus lives it up, mixes fine dining with fine automobiles

Lexus is known for its fine automobiles. Now it is also dabbling in the culinary arts with fine foods and vintage wines. So it makes sense that the luxury car marque sponsored the Pebble Beach Food Wine Festival, where celeb chefs Daniel Boulud, Michael Chiarello, Dean Fearing, Christopher Kostow, Masaharu Morimoto and Michael Symon performed demonstrations for about 200 guests.

By Hawke Fracassa May 27 2011 - 11:47pm

Group, data make roads 3 times safer than national average

The Traffic Improvement Association, whose efforts have resulted in local roads being three times safer than the national average and two times safer than the state average, has opened a new headquarters. The new site is in Auburn Hills, Mich., to serve drivers and pedestrians in suburban Detroit's Oakland County.

By Don Bain May 27 2011 - 8:00pm

Kansas man the acknowledged guru of the vintage Studebaker

Those concerned with keeping a model of the long gone Studebaker line road or show worthy know the name of Vern Ediger. In addition to his Halstead KS E&V Motors, he owns a salvage yard with over 120 of the vintage automobiles providing recycled parts to collectors and restorers around the globe.

By Patrick Rall May 27 2011 - 5:48pm

GM reportedly cancels plans for a Cadillac SRX plug-in hybrid

In December, TorqueNews brought you the news that General Motors was reportedly working on a plug-in hybrid luxury SUV based on the Cadillac SRX but according to a variety of sources – that program has reportedly been canceled.

By Patrick Rall May 27 2011 - 4:57pm

Ford raises prices for the third time in 2011

Ford Motor Company has raised prices again this month, citing increased commodity costs as the cause for the third increase of the year in just 5 months.

By Don Bain May 27 2011 - 4:43pm

Mopar's new Ram Runner Kit for serious off-roaders

If you want to turn your Ram Truck into a desert racer, Mopar's new Ram Runner kit boasts it will provide performance on a par with dedicated off-road racers, give you superior shocks and suspension and do it all while looking drop dead desert gorgeous. You too can have a Mopar-powered desert racer.

By Patrick Rall May 27 2011 - 4:27pm

Fiat plans to buy last 6.6% of Chrysler from US govt

When Fiat SpA paid off $7.6 billion dollars in debt to the US and Canadian governments this week, they effectively raised their ownership of the Chrysler Group to 46%, leaving the US government to own 6.6% while the Canadians now hold 1.7%; but according to a statement filed to the US Treasury department Fiat plans to purchase the 6.6% held by the US government before the end of 2011.

By Don Bain May 27 2011 - 3:46pm

Twenty percent of drivers unsafe at any speed

The 2011 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test results revealed today nearly 1 in 5 drivers cannot meet the basic requirements for a driver's license. That adds up to 36.9 million American drivers – roughly 18 percent – could not pass a written driver’s test if taken today.

By Hawke Fracassa May 27 2011 - 3:44pm

Lexus CT 200h excels in crash tests, nabs Top Safety Pick

The new Lexus CT 200h hybrid, a showroom baby in that it's only been on the market for two months, has already earned the Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

By Hawke Fracassa May 27 2011 - 1:03pm

Porsche adds boss, builds momentum toward new HQ

Porsche Cars North America bolstered its communications staff on Friday, announcing the appointment of Nick Twork as manager of product communications. The new role makes Twork No. 2 on the Porsche PR team in America and comes at an opportune time.

By Keith Griffin May 27 2011 - 12:06pm

Nicola Bulgari adds last Cadillac DTS to collection

The Cadillac DTS, first introduced in 2006, saw its short history end this week when the last one rolled off the line at General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant. But this sedan is no orphan as it has found a home in the prestigious collection of Nicola Bulgari.

By Keith Griffin May 27 2011 - 11:40am

Nissan Extends Special Pricing to Military Personnel

Active duty military personnel and members of the reserves will get a break through the Nissan Vehicle Purchase Program, the Japanese manufacturer announced just in time for the Memorial Day holiday, which honors those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending our freedom.

By Hawke Fracassa May 27 2011 - 11:26am

Suzuki giving away spending money on relaunched site

American Suzuki, hoping to promote itself so people think of it as a car company that possesses "the power of engineering" instead of just a cool maker of motorcycles and bikes, relaunched its Web site Friday morning to make it faster, easier to use and more informative, so people are ready to buy when they hit the showroom floor.

By John Matras May 27 2011 - 11:09am

Saab production restarts at Trollhattan with 1,300 car order from Chinese distributor

The assembly lines are rolling again in Trollhattan as Saab restarted production after a month and a half of sitting idle, thanks to an influx of cash from a 1,300 car order from Pang Da Automobile, the current Saab suitor from China.

By Frank Sherosky May 27 2011 - 10:43am

Chevy Volt owners plug-in to the sun

It was bound to happen eventually, a 2011 Chevrolet Volt plugged-in to a solar array. And Chevrolet is proud enough to tout the good news on its media page.

Automotive News

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