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I made a new one, but original was deleted! http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?showtopic=33417
Last reply by CSpec, -
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Would it be possible to allow avatars to grow a little bit? From 90x90 to perhaps 100x100?
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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They are all tryin to catch the volt or beat it to production.... http://gm-volt.com/2008/08/28/volt-competi...-fleet-to-2009/
Last reply by pow, -
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Report: Asian automakers closing in on 50% share of U.S. auto sales While it may come as no surprise that Asian car companies are constantly gaining market share in the U.S. market, the actual numbers are quite amazing. Ten years ago, companies like Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and the rest accounted for a little more than one-quarter of total light-vehicle sales in the States. By 2005, that figure stood at 36.6 percent. By 2007? 41.9 percent. In 2009, Asian automakers sold a full 47.9 percent of the cars and light trucks we Americans bought. These numbers come from the latest report by Ward's Auto. Perhaps predictably, that same dispatch tells us that American automa…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Link to Autoblog Summary: 1. Supra is teh shelved!!!@21!!! 2. FJ Cruiser is in it's final generation. 3. 4Runner gets refreshed for 2010. 4. NG Pruis to get 1.8 litre from Corolla, Liion battery issues delay plug in model. 5. Sienna and Venza will be equipped with hybrid drivetrains in 2012.
Last reply by siegen, -
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I had to change the email server provider for C&G. This is the server that sends out password resets and the newletters. If you get stuck in a password reset situation and aren't getting the email, please email admin at cheersandgears.com directly and I will reset your password for you.
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Maybe instead of displaying just the most recently updated topic in each thread on the main forum page, how about the most recent two or three. I'm sure that many topics actually get missed for this reason. It has happened to me many times, where I don't see a topic until much after it was started. I know this will take up much more room, but there's got to be some way to make it work. Just a suggestion, i dunno I'm just lazy i guess.
Last reply by corvette_dude729, -
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We'll be pulling C&G into the bay for a wash, clay, and wax. Please try to be offline by 9:00PM. Thanks.
Last reply by z28luvr01, -
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Notice that there have been no new members since 12/23/07........friend said that the registration process never sends him a confirmation email, despite re-clicking the re-send confirmation button.....
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/14/bugatti...-for-next-year/ Some of you may know already, but the article is dated today, so I thought I post it here.
Last reply by SuperSport623, -
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The German SuperBrand Battle. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Audi (VW Group), BMW and Mercedes-Benz (Daimler) are locked in an all-out battle for prestige luxury bragging rights, and it's about to get even nastier. BMW (including its Mini brand) is out to increase its annual sales a staggering 55 percent by 2020, which equates to 2 million vehicles annually. They sold 1.29 million vehicles last year. And we all know VW's plan, which is to have Audi keep pouring on the coals and ratcheting up its sales numbers to pass BMW and Mercedes - while riding a huge wave of popularity in China - not to mention VW's plan to sell 800,000 vehicles in the U.S. by 2018. And Mercedes? They don't…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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I performed a few server and software updates today: Apache updated from version 2.2 to 2.4 (already seeing a huge drop in resource usage, this means faster response times for you) PHP updated from 5.2 to 5.4 InvisionPower updated from 3.4.3 to 3.4.6 (bug fixes, security fixes) Report any issues in this thread.
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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I better hope those tires are pretty skinny, cause if they ARE 335 series tires, they'll be taller than the car!!! OK. Who's responsible for fixing typos..?
Last reply by Northstar, -
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The server is being migrated today, August 1, 2013. This is the move I spoke of a few weeks ago.
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Uh-oh ...
by Guest YellowJacket894- 5 replies
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Looks like "Bluehost" has been giving me a slew of error messages saying something along the lines of, "This site has exceeded its CPU usage," ever since I got my Broadband up and running today.
Last reply by AAS, -
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http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080715.003/vw...-plus-rendering
Last reply by loki, -
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Here's the new 7-Series:
Last reply by HarleyEarl, -
Toyota and Honda Hold Back as the Rest of Japan’s Automakers Go Electric THURSDAY, DECEMBER 09, 2010 The electric vehicle market in Japan is now burgeoning. Once the mainstay of small independents building low speed, short range Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs), major manufacturers including Nissan, Mitsubishi and Subaru are now hopping on the EV train in the hopes of raking in some greenie revenue. With its U.S. launch mere weeks away, Nissan already has 6,000 orders in Japan and a further 20,000 in the United States for its lithium-ion powered Leaf EV. The automaker has so many orders, in fact, that they won’t be taking any more. As you would expect, Nissan …
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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any idea why relog-in screens pop up when going from ...page 1 to page 2 of a topic? it seems to happen a lot to me. I'm using FF2.0.11 (moving to FF3 when it's un beta'd, but have played with beta 2 a little)
Last reply by Duncan, -
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Japan, Inc. From the "Here We Go Again" File comes word that Japanese authorities intervened in the foreign-exchange market today, launching the dollar up sharply against the yen. They say the move is Japan's first foreign-exchange market intervention in more than six years. Really? We find that hard to believe. It may have been the first official move in six years, but when foreign currency manipulation is part of the standard operating procedure of the government there, we're not buying that explanation. At any rate, this will be a giant rice bowl of Not Good for the U.S.-based auto manufacturers in no time. Count on it.
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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We enjoy posting Craigslist and eBay finds quite often on C&G, yet there is no dedicated place to post them. They simply get lumped into the lounge, and often get lost. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to have a dedicated section just for these sorts of posts. Something like For Sale Finds or something with a better title than that. Just a thought.
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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Hey guys. Long time no see. I'm trying to change my email address in the control panel, and the system tells me I can't use the one I'm giving it. Can anyone tell me why not? I'll PM details to one of the admins on request, but other than that, I was wondering if there was a general issue with changing email addresses. Thanks.
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
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Just a reminder that if you see an article or thread on Cheers and Gears that you enjoy, we ask that you might share it on the other social networks that you use. If you liked our coverage of the LA Auto Show this year, please consider sharing the LA Auto Show page with your friends. Those of you new to the site might not know it, but I travel to each of the big 4 auto shows every year during press day to get on site photos from the show floor. It costs money to attend these shows. More page views means more ad dollars and also means potentially more access to early information. We also don't mind if you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ and shar…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Last reply by BigPontiac, -
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I can't view them. I've tried on IE and Firefox at home, on my laptop, and at work. I can't view them no matter what I do... Any ideas?
Last reply by NOS2006, -
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VW Golf retains top sales spot in Europe; Ford Fiesta climbs to No. 2 Automotive News Europe -- January 17, 2010 21:00 CET TURIN -- The Volkswagen Golf finished 2009 as Europe's best-selling model, retaining the No. 1 spot for the second year in a row. Meanwhile, the Ford Fiesta passed the Peugeot 207 and Renault Clio, -- its main rivals in the subcompact class -- to finish the year in second place. (See table, below) The Fiesta is the newest of the strong-selling subcompacts, having debuted in 2008. All three cars benefited from car scrapping subsidies offered in the major European markets. The thousands of euros in government-sponsored incentives turned used-car bu…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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[source: MotorAuthority] Mercedes Benz Targets 0.20Cd Drag Coefficient in Next Five Years Sometimes, making cars more efficient is best done through the application of more fundamental principles such as improved aerodynamics, rather than complex and expensive powertrain upgrades. Mercedes Benz is embracing that philosophy, with a plan to bring the respective drag coefficients of its cars below 0.20Cd within the next five years. The carmaker claims it already produces the world's most aerodynamic production car - the new 2010 E-Class Coupe, which scores a drag coefficient figure of 0.24Cd. The new coupe even manages to out-slip th…
Last reply by §carlet §wordfish, -
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VIDEO: BMW X3 vs. Audi Q5 in an all-wheel drive man-made hill climb WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2010 Who would have thought that BMW's all-wheel drive systems were enough to shame Audi's famous quattro system? Not the average consumer, that's for sure (though BMW certainly has had enough time to get it right). BMW, which has actually been making AWD cars for the past 25 years, has decided to begin more aggressively targeting consumers who live in harsher climates. According to this video, BMW's xDrive is vastly superior to Audi's quattro - at least when driving up metal inclines built by BMW... In the clip, we get a glimpse at what appears to be some sort of BMW press even…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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When I checked the forums tonight after a few days away, instead of seeing all the posts on one thread in line one after the other when I open the thread, I now see only the first post with a tree below it and the subsequent posts collapsed to show only the author and first line....what's up with that?
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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I noticed the login now requires using the 'display name' rather than username to login ? Weird. It's working well on mobile otherwise. Interesting I had to use the 'login through Facebook' to get in, and it worked seamlessly. ( I couldn't remember the formatting on my display name) Moltar
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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So Sorry By Drew Dowdell Today, our newsletter app got stuck in a traffic circle and emailed out our weekly newsletter to a number of our users 7 to 10 times . We believe we have fixed the issue and it should not happen again. Sorry for any inconvenience. Drew
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Perhaps one of the most violently ugly customs evar.. Porsche Attack
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
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You may see the site flicker on and off this morning as I make some changes. I'll knock it off around 9am EST.
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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A tale of two lost automakers in search of their mojo. By Peter M. De Lorenzo (Posted 10/12, 12:00 p.m.) Detroit. No, I’m not going to write about the Chevrolet Volt this week in this column, although I do have a mini-rant in this week’s “On the Table” if you just have to read more about it. I’d rather talk about two Japanese car industry stalwarts – Toyota and Honda – and where they’ve been, where they are now and where they need to go given increasingly stiff competition from Ford and the Hyundai-KIA group, etc. Five years ago you could pretty much predict the tone of any article mentioning either Toyota or Honda, the two most successful Asian automakers of their tim…
Last reply by 67impss, -
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We are currently under a brute force attack on our server. Things may be a little unstable here for a bit.
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Well since I can't find a "View your threads" or "View your posts" button like many other forums do, I do a manual search on things I posted. But this morning when I searched, the last post I made (according to the search) is back in mid March, whereas I just posted yesterday. Something going on with the database?
Last reply by ToniCipriani, -
Nissan, Hyundai reportedly duking it out for No. 2 Asian automaker in U.S. by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Aug 30th 2010 at 9:32AM Nissan has long been the number three Asian automaker in the U.S., lagging behind both Honda and Toyota on the sales charts. But the Japanese automaker has been on a bit of a roll of late, with 10 straight months of sales gains and an aggressive product onslaught planned for the next 24 months. Nissan would love to unseat Honda to finally sneak up to the number two slot in the States, but a funny thing's happening: Hyundai is doing its best to push Nissan down to number four. Nissan and Hyundai are currently in a dead heat in U.S. auto sales.…
Last reply by siegen, -
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Report: Tata to go on Motown hiring binge by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Dec 6th 2010 at 8:28AM The state of Michigan has been especially hard-hit by the Great Recession, slow auto sales and the 2009 bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler, but there appears to be a bit of employment help on the way from an unlikely source. Drive reports that Tata Motors subsidiary Tata Technologies is looking to hire 400 workers at its Detroit-area technical center. Tata Technologies is a supplier for several auto companies in North America. Tata is looking for designers, engineers and professionals with experience dealing with product lifecycle, and these aren't jobs that will be…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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[source: Motor Authority] Ferrari patent for turbocharged V8 surfaces online Earlier this week we saw leaked Ferrari patents for a new AWD hybrid system that were filed with the European Patent Office. Today, a new patent diagram for a turbocharged powerplant from the Italian carmaker has surfaced online, confirming that Ferrari is at least considering adopting more efficient technologies for its future models. The image above shows the patent in all its glory, and according to Autocar other documents revealed a layout diagram for a turbocharged internal-combustion engine in a "V arrangement". While this could possibly be referring…
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Report: Renault-Nissan engines to power future Mercedes, Smart models by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) on Dec 8th 2010 at 3:58PM The door metaphorically adjoining the offices of Msr. Ghosn and Dr. Zetsche swings both ways. The two executives – heads of Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance respectively – signed a deal that would see the two auto groups collaborating on future products. So far all the reports appear to be benefiting Nissan – including the latest on AMG engines in Infiniti Performance Line models – but the latest indicate a measure of reciprocation. According to the wire coming in from across the pond, the next generation of Mercedes-Benz A- and B-Class hat…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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Brazil's boom is good news for Fiat and VW October 12, 2010 - 11:30 pm ET The unthinkable has finally happened. Brazil has overtaken Germany as the fourth-largest market for passenger car and light commercial vehicle sales. That's good news for Fiat, Volkswagen and other European volume carmakers. Fiat and VW have dominated the Brazilian auto market for decades. Their rivals Renault and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen have big growth plans for South America and Brazil, the region's biggest market. Let's take a look at the numbers: In the first eight months, Brazilian car and LCV sales grew 8.4 percent to 2.08 million while Germany fell 27.3 percent to 2.03 million, according to m…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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2 brands on move; 2 on hold Subaru is new darling; Mazda adds to lineup; questions dog Mitsubishi, Suzuki Ryan Beene Automotive News -- September 6, 2010 - 12:01 am ET High-flying Subaru has been outperforming the U.S. market for the past two years. But overall, Japan's smaller carmakers have had a tough time in the United States for much of the past decade. Getting the right products at the right time has been a struggle. Mazda and Subaru have been filling out their product lines, but at Mitsubishi and Suzuki, there seem to be more questions than answers. The Forester and Outback have led the charge for Subaru. Now the Japanese brand plans to add in late 2011 or…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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* Porsche schedules 8 days of production stops at main plant * Volkswagen may stop production in Wolfsburg for 3 weeks * Audi says production halts are a precaution * BMW says will cut further 400 temporary jobs in Leipzig * Porsche shares down 8.8 pct, VW down 17.7 pct (Adds Audi production stops, BMW temporary job cuts) FRANKFURT, Nov 25 (Reuters) - German carmakers made another move to cut output levels towards the end of the year to offset slumping demand as the global economic crisis prompts consumers and companies to closely monitor their finances. Sports car maker Porsche (PSHG_p.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) halted production at its headq…
Last reply by cletus8269, -
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Very strange, but in the last few days, I've noticed I can't post or reply to posts from my phone. I'm logged into the site on Safari, but when I submit a post or reply post nothing is posted. No error I'm seeing on the screen either. Just doesn't post. Works fine on Safari on my Mac.
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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Report: Mahindra says it has terminated U.S. dealer agreement by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) on Aug 28th, 2010 at 11:25AM Mahindra's four-year saga with Global Vehicles is taking so many turns, it should get a telenovela on Univision. When we recently posted that the Pik-Up finally received EPA certification, GV and its dealer network were excited and ready to go. However, commenters on that post noted a message on Mahindra's site indicating that the company's relationship with GV was kaput. Mahindra hasn't said a word since, but Global Vehicles and the dealers have let folks know that they aren't impressed and that they have no idea what Mahindra thinks it's doing. Gl…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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We are currently being targeted by multiple spam bots. Please report spam with prejudice as 3 reports will automatically hide it. We do have spam protection software but it isn't protecting us at the moment and I have a ticket in with the provider.
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Japanese automakers expected to increase overseas production Christine Tierney / The Detroit News Japanese automakers, grappling with a strong currency and flagging demand in their home market, are likely to boost production abroad, adding the equivalent of four assembly plants in North America by 2017, according to new forecast. Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Honda Motor Co. and other Japanese automakers now have the combined capacity to produce 5.36 million cars and light trucks in North America. By the end of 2016, they're expected to add capacity totaling just over 800,000 vehicles, Masatoshi Nishimoto, a forecaster at IHS Automotive, said at a news briefin…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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NHTSA PROBING 2006 HONDA CR-V, 2007 KIA OPTIMA OVER SAFETY CONCERNS By Drew Johnson The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced it has two separate safety probes involving the Honda CR-V and the Kia Optima. The first investigation, involving the 2006 Honda CR-V, is due to an electrical issue. The NHTSA is investigating complaints that the vehicle’s master power window switch is defective, causing the melting or burning or related electrical wiring components. The NHTSA has only received three complaints about the issue, but all of them have involved a vehicle fire. If a recall is issued, it could include 150,000 2006 CR-V models. In a separate in…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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Is the Lotus Europa set to be reborn as a Proton? by Jeff Glucker (RSS feed) on Dec 3rd 2010 at 2:29PM The Lotus Europa died so that the Evora could live. Now it seems that Lotus-owner Proton is looking to revive the Europa and stick the Proton badge on the bodywork. The resulting Proton-badged Europa would provide a relatively affordable sports car for the Malaysian market. In fact, this very car has recently popped up in the form of the Proton Lekir Concept, which is essentially a tiger-badged Europa. If this conceptual car ever comes to fruition, we'll be interested to see how the Malaysian market would respond to a Lotus they can truly call their own. link: htt…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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Audi, Mercedes forge ahead in China September 6, 2010 06:01 CET Print Email Reprints FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- Audi and Mercedes-Benz racked up more eye-popping sales in China in August, tapping into a rich vein of growth as living standards rise in the world's most populous nation. Audi said its China sales jumped by two-thirds to 22,350 units, bringing the total for the past eight months to nearly 152,800, a year-to-date gain of 63 percent. This puts China on track to eclipse Germany as Audi's single-largest market as domestic new-vehicle registrations amounted to 144,365 units through August, according to official data. Audi controls a much bigger slice …
Last reply by pow, -
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Starting today you now have the ability to log in with your e-mail address or your display name. We encourage you to please make sure you can log in with your e-mail address moving forward. Beginning July 1st, you will only be able to log in with your e-mail address and display name log in will be disabled. Logging on with Google, Facebook, or Twitter remains unaffected.
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Tata to offer 4-year warranty on Nano Safety fears after several models catch fire Automotive News Europe -- December 9, 2010 08:16 CET MUMBAI (Reuters) -- India's Tata Motors Ltd. will offer a four-year manufacturer's warranty on Nano cars. It's a perk that will be extended to all existing customers of the vehicle. There have been concerns over the car's safety after several of them caught fire in the last year. Last month the company announced it would contact the 70,000 Nano owners to offer them the option of installing "additional safety protection in the exhaust system and the electrical system." "We have noticed instances of additional foreign electrical equip…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bentley expand use of carbon fiber Rhoda Miel Automotive News Europe -- October 13, 2010 06:01 CET European carmakers such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley and McLaren made carbon-fiber composites the standard for high-end supercars. Now they're taking carbon fiber even further, creating new ways to reduce molding time and get more of the material into structural parts. Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A made its new technology the centerpiece of its Sesto Elemento concept, which was introduced Sept. 30 at the Paris auto show. The car uses carbon fiber for the passenger compartment, the front and rear-end structures, suspension components, the i…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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Can we edit taglines? I mis spelled a word in the Ford section.
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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Report: BMW, Mercedes experiment with upscale car-sharing by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Dec 29th 2010 at 6:39PM If you think that joining in on the car-sharing party means that you'll be stuck behind the wheel of a low-buck auto, prepare to be amazed. According to AutoWeek, both BMW and Mercedes-Benz are diving into the car-sharing world with programs designed to allow users to experience a slice of luxury without having to foot the hassles associated with car ownership. BMW on Demand will provide drivers with a 1 Series for as little as €16 per hour in Europe (around $21 USD/hr). Those wanting a little more room can opt for a 5 Series for the low price of €23/hr ($30/…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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Mahindra to buy 70% Ssangyong stake for $378 million Staff and Wire Reports Automotive News Europe -- November 23, 2010 06:01 CET Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., India's largest SUV maker, will pay 427.1 billion won ($378 million) for a controlling stake in Ssangyong Motor Co., the companies said Tuesday. Mahindra, which aims to widen its model range and boost sales overseas, will take a 70 percent stake by buying new shares in the deal, which needs approval from Ssangyong creditors. Mahindra also will buy 95.4 billion won (about $84 million) of new bonds from Pyeongtaek-based Ssangyong. Mahindra expects to complete the acquisition by March, the company said. The au…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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Global Vehicles Bitch-Slaps Mahindra... With A $35 Million Pickup Truck Order?! Global Vehicles alleges Mahindra delayed EPA certification on their built-in-India pickup trucks to purposely cancel the contract granting exclusive rights for distribution in the United States. Now Global Vehicles is fighting back — by placing a $35 million order?! Here's what Global Vehicles is saying: Global Vehicles believes that Mahindra purposely delayed the EPA certification process so it could invoke a contract clause that would allow it to walk away if the truck could not be certified for sale in the United States. Global Vehicles extended the deadline for certification three times…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Finalists For 2011 European COTY Awards Announced By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Editor November 2nd, 2010 2011 Volvo S60Enlarge PhotoThe finalists for the 2011 European Car of the Year awards have been announced and surprisingly there is not a single luxury car among them, except perhaps the 2011 Volvo S60, which sits near the bottom of the luxury car spectrum. This means that original candidates like the new Jaguar XJ, Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW 5-Series were all overlooked. Not surprisingly, most of the finalists are economical compacts, reflecting the changing trend of what’s most important when judging new cars. Even the all-electric Nissan Leaf has made this year’s fi…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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German luxury cars in high demand, but not in Germany 10:28 AM If you're interested in a German luxury car, you're probably not German. Business is booming for BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Porsche, a nice turnaround from a slow 2009,the Detroit News reports. Plants are so busy that some are apparently avoiding the end-of-the-year shutdown and running this week to try to catch up with demand. Demand, that is, in export markets like China, Brazil and the U.S. But not in Germany. There, in the fatherland, German luxury is still just that, a luxury. Sales slipped 25.2% in the first 11 months of the year. How much is demand up. Nine of the 10 top selling luxury nameplate…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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BMW, Mercedes to shorten Christmas breaks as sales rebound BMW's production shutdown at its Dingolfing plant (shown) will be as short as possible to keep up with demand for its 7-, 6- and 5-series models. November 23, 2010 06:01 CET BERLIN (Bloomberg) -- BMW AG and Mercedes-Benz will shorten Christmas breaks at their factories because of surging demand for new models. BMW's German plants in Dingolfing and Leipzig will stay open over the holidays after halting output for about three weeks in 2009. Dingolfing makes the new-generation 5-series and Leipzig produces the strong-selling X1 crossover introduced last year. Mercedes's Hamburg factory, which supplies parts to ve…
Last reply by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY, -
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Honda, Hyundai issue anti-used-parts memos, junkyards object by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Oct 29th 2010 at 9:58AM The Automotive Recyclers Association is ready to go to war with Honda and Hyundai. Why? The ARA claims that the automakers warn against the use of recycled auto parts, saying that the use of these components will void vehicle warranties. The ARA filed an official letter of complaint with the Federal Trade Commission saying that the actions of the automakers fly in the face of the Magnuson-Moss Act of 1975, which was enacted to make warranties more straightforward. Recycled auto parts have been in wide use for decades, and the ARA says that the use of these …
Last reply by Z-06, -
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Coming: Honda Accord hybrid, Plug-in Toyota Prius, more 09:30 AM CAPTIONBy Mike Ditz, AP Honda will take another shot at making a hybrid out of the Accord, and will add a hybrid version of the Pilot family crossover as well. That's just one interesting tidbit from the product plans of Japan's Big 3, as laid out today by Automotive News. It goes like this: Honda. A redesigned Civic and CR-V crossover is on the way next year. A new Accord comes in summer of 2012. Honda had an Accord hybrid for a few years, but discontinued it because buyers didn't think a V-6 hybrid delivered enough gas mileage. Nissan. Besides the electric Leaf in December, Infiniti will launch the …
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Ghosn says Renault-Nissan EVs may be profitable in 3 years Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has predicted battery-powered autos may account for 10 percent of global auto sales by 2020. November 18, 2010 15:00 CET TOKYO (Bloomberg) -- Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said the alliance's electric cars business may be profitable within three years as the two automakers plan to introduce new models. “There are customers who want really zero emission cars,” Ghosn said in an interview with Bloomberg Television in New York Wednesday. “This segment is going to grow with time.” Ghosn has predicted battery-powered autos may account for 10 percent of global auto sales by 2020. Hi…
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Dispute With Distributor Continues to Keep Mahindra Out of U.S. By Byron Pope WardsAuto.com, Nov 24, 2010 9:00 AM The feud between distributor Global Vehicles U.S.A. Inc. and auto maker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. is growing more contentious by the day, and no solution appears in sight. The argument, which continues to keep Mahindra vehicles out of the U.S. market, stems from a series of long delays in delivering a small diesel pickup produced in India. Alphareta, GA-based Global Vehicles, earlier inked a deal to be the sole distributor of the 2- and 4-door trucks, but Mumbai-based Mahindra continues to refuse to ship the vehicles, contending its contract with …
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German OEMs pick one electrical charging connector to rule them all by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Sep 16th 2010 at 4:31PM One massive sticking point with electric cars is the lack of standards when it comes to plugging in the vehicle. In the 90s, the General Motors EV1 didn't use the same kind of plug as the Toyota RAV4 EV, and that meant electric vehicle charging stations had to keep multiple adapters on hand if they wanted to service to multiple machinery. If there's any hope that EVs will take off in popularity over the next few decades, some standardization is in order. To that end, German manufacturers Audi, BMW, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz and Smart), Porsche a…
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Xenatec Maybach Cruiserio coupe enters production with Saudi investment by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) on Dec 30th 2010 at 11:31AM Want to get your hands on a Maybach coupe? You've got two options. First would be to commission a replica of the Exelero concept car on the chassis of a Dodge Viper. That'll set you back €550,000, or about $730k at today's conversion rates. Your other choice is to have Xenatec convert a Maybach 57 S limo into a coupe for €675,000 ($894k). We brought you initial news of the project back in May, followed by details in October. For a quick refresher, the German coachbuilder brought in Fredrik Burchhardt, designer of the original Exelero, to pen t…
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VW, Fiat, Ford face probe in Brazil on auto-parts policies Automotive News Europe -- December 16, 2010 14:03 CET BRASILIA (Bloomberg) -- Brazil's antitrust agency ordered an investigation into automakers Volkswagen AG, Fiat S.p.A. and Ford Motor Co. to find out whether their policies toward auto parts suppliers are abusive. The agency, known as Cade, wants to determine if the automakers are “abusing their economic power and illegally exercising their property rights on the auto parts,” Cade said Thursday in Brasilia. The investigation was requested by Brazil's federal association of partsmakers, known as Anfape, which claims the automakers, based on their intellectual…
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Suzuki, Nissan, Daihatsu announce recalls in Japan Associated Press Tokyo -- Japanese carmakers Suzuki, Nissan and Daihatsu have recalled hundreds of thousands of vehicles in Japan over separate defects, the Transport Ministry said this week. Suzuki Motor Co. recalled 432,366 vans belonging to two models -- the Every and Scrum -- produced from August 2005 to October 2009 over a design flaw in air conditioning parts that could cause a fire. Suzuki found two cases of partial fire damage, but no deaths or injuries were reported, the ministry said. Nissan Motor Co., meanwhile, recalled 76,415 vehicles from 10 models, including the Tida, Note and March, over defective wiri…
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BMW Group and PSA Peugeot CitroĂ«n want to Expand Cooperation to Hybrid Systems MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2010 The ongoing love affair between the BMW Group and PSA Peugeot CitroĂ«n has just become more intense as the two companies announced today their intention to further expand the cooperation to include hybrid components for front-wheel-drive vehicles by singing a memorandum of understanding. Both parties have agreed not to disclose financial details of the agreement. In a joint statement, the two automakers said the components are to be used in front-wheel-drive vehicles with electrified drive trains with the proposed deal said to offer significant economies of scale for …
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TATA ARIA: INDIA'S FIRST CROSSOVER By Drew Johnson India’s Tata Motors is best known for making rugged SUVs – and of course its recent purchase of the Land Rover and Jaguar brands – but the off road-brand has just announced the launch of India’s first four-wheel drive crossover. Dubbed the Aria, Tata describes the CUV as “a luxurious creation with the finesse of a sedan and the muscle of an SUV all blended in one car.” At first glance, the Aria appears to be a Nissan interpretation of the Mercedes-Benz R-Class. However, the Aria has a higher ride height than your typical crossover, giving it the off-road chops of a traditional SUV. Inside the Aria features three rows…
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Rumormill: Marussia bringing seven new models to Frankfurt by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) on Dec 27th 2010 at 11:01AM If you're going to make it in the exotic supercar business, it helps to have two things: a substantial lineup and an F1 team. The Ferrari case, first of all, goes without saying. McLaren has the latter covered, and is in the process of kicking the former into high gear. Spyker bought its own F1 team, and though it subsequently sold it, look at the Dutch automaker now: they own Saab. Lotus is following the same path with not one, but two F1 teams, and an aggressive model rollout plan. Now Marussia looks poised to follow the same path. The exotic Russian au…
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Tata Nano retrofitted with four-year warranty to assuage quality fears by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Dec 10th 2010 at 2:00PM Tata Nano sales may have started out strong, but a number of price increases and several reports of electrical or exhaust fires have resulted in a huge sales plunge for the world's most affordable vehicle. Last month, Tata sold just 509 copies of the micro mini – a far cry from the massive waiting list for the Nano back in 2009. Automotive News reports that the Indian automaker is looking to once again win over perspective buyers by introducing a four-year factory warranty. What's more, Tata will extend the warranty to all 70,000 owners already…
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Wiesmann upgrades all V10 models to twin-turbo V8 by Jeff Glucker (RSS feed) on Oct 21st 2010 at 3:32PM Wiesmann was in a bit of a pickle when BMW announced it was no longer producing its V10. In addition to the M5 and M6, the high-revving 10 was used to power the Roadster MF5 and GT MF5 and we assumed Wiesmann would make the switch to the new 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. We were right. What we didn't guess is that it would be sticking the new mill under the hoods of both the Roadster MF4 and GT MF4. The Wiesmann MF3 will retain its 343 horsepower six-cylinder engine. No word yet on how much power the twin-turbo will produce when utilized with the MF4, but wh…
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Asians Go Green in Paris By Christie Schweinsberg WardsAuto.com, Sep 30, 2010 4:52 PM Asian auto makers’ Paris debuts have a decidedly green hue. Almost all Japanese or Korean manufacturers are rolling out hybrid- or battery-electric vehicles at the Paris auto show, which opened to the media today. The eco-friendly models include the production Toyota Auris HEV, Honda Jazz HEV, European-spec Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicle and the concept Kia Pop and Nissan Townpod EVs. While not electrified, several other small, fuel-efficient cars also are taking their public bows, including the Hyundai ix20 multipurpose vehicle, Suzuki Swift subcompact and Toyota Verso-S,…
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Dollar's rise helps Germans Appreciation indirectly boosts value of their booming luxury car sales in China Christine Tierney / The Detroit News With the dollar up nearly 10 percent against the euro, Germany's luxury carmakers should be toasting a big jump in profits on their American car sales. But their Chinese business has proved to be even more lucrative. That's because Germany's carmakers traditionally hedge their currency exposure in North America and Japan to buffer the impact of currency swings. Similar to insurance, hedging protects exporters when currencies move in an unfavorable direction, but it also limits potential gains. As a result, Daimler AG, the …
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Fiat, Ford lead monthly sales decline in Europe Paul McVeigh November 16, 2010 12:37 CET Fiat S.p.A., Volkswagen AG, Ford Motor Co., Opel/Vauxhall, Renault and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen all saw steep declines in their European new-car sales in October as the region's auto market fell by 16.1 percent to 1.06 million units. Fiat brand led the decline with a 36.4 drop in volume last month followed by Ford, whose sales were down by 29.3 percent, according to figures released on Tuesday by ACEA, the European automakers association. Renault brand sales fell 21.5 percent, PSA's volume was down 19.1 percent, while Opel/Vauxhall sales declined 18.7 percent and Volkswagen brand sales…
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Fiat, Toyota, Ford lead European car-sales drop Opel/Vauxhall was the only major European volume maker to post a sales gain in November, thanks to cars such as the new Meriva, shown. Automotive News Europe -- December 15, 2010 08:16 CET PARIS (Bloomberg) -- Fiat S.p.A., Toyota Motor Corp. and Ford Motor Co. led an eighth-consecutive monthly decline in European car deliveries as fallout from last year's government incentives hampered a recovery in the region's largest markets. Registrations fell 6.5 percent to 1.11 million cars in November from 1.18 million a year earlier, Brussels-based industry association ACEA said today in a statement. Eleven-month sales dropped 5.…
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Toyota, Honda, Nissan shares surge as Japan halts yen rise September 15, 2010 - 9:00 am ET TOKYO (Reuters) -- The Nikkei stock average today jumped 2.3 percent to a one-month closing high after Japan intervened to weaken the yen, boosting shares of Toyota, Honda, Nissan and other exporters. Japan intervened to sell yen for the first time in six years, bringing the currency off 15-year highs against the dollar. The action lifted the Nikkei out of negative territory and the index surged as much as 3 percent at one stage. Automakers rose across the board with Toyota Motor Corp. surging 3.8 percent to 3,010 yen and Honda Motor Co. advancing 4 percent to 2,944 yen. Nissan…
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European jurists announce seven finalists for 2011 Car of the Year by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) on Nov 9th 2010 at 8:58AM While it may seem like every magazine worth its bar-code is clamoring to select its own Car of the Year, over in Europe things are a bit more civilized. Seven publications from seven different countries get together each year to nominate their collective Car of the Year, speaking in one united voice. The process takes place over the course of months. First comes the nominees, then the finalists and ultimately the solitary winner. The super best-friends have just arrived at that middle step, announcing the finalists for 2011, and as in years past, it'…
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German new car market to return to growth after sales decline slows in Sept. Automotive News Europe -- October 5, 2010 06:01 CET FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- After new car registrations in Germany declined at a significantly slower rate in September than in August, the VDA industry body said the German car market should return to growth towards the end of 2010. New car registrations fell 17.8 percent in September to 259,748 vehicles. Registrations fell 27 percent in August due to a high comparison with last year's month that was distorted by the country's scrapping scheme. "The trend change in new orders from domestic customers has finally been reached with September, when …
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BMW, Mercedes, Audi weigh tiniest models for U.S. 08:31 AM CAPTIONBy Virginia Mayo, AP Germany's famous luxury automakers are thinking the unthinkable -- bringing their smallest cars to the U.S. Audi, for instance, is weighing whether to bring its next-generation A1 compact car to America. BMW and Mercedes-Benz are also taking a close look at the market. German automakers have always hesitated in the past out of fear that their smallest cars would dilute their image as makers of the wor'd finest cars. But the Obama's new fuel economy standards have them over a barrel. They need smaller cars to offset the bigger, less fuel-effienct ones they plan to sell. "Consumers …
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Mahindra & Mahindra Agrees to Buy Controlling Stake in Korea's Ssangyong By Sookyung Seo - Aug 23, 2010 2:46 AM CT Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., India’s largest sport-utility vehicle maker, may jointly build new cars with Ssangyong Motor Co. if it takes control of the South Korean automaker. The two companies will work together and share technology, said Pawan Goenka, president of Mumbai-based Mahindra’s automotive and farm-equipment division, speaking to reporters after the two companies signed a preliminary agreement concerning the acquisition in Seoul today. The Indian company will help Ssangyong “develop new product and modernize their lineups,” he said. Mahin…
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Mahindra trying to back away from another U.S. deal? by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Dec 27th 2010 at 8:29AM After Mahindra notoriously backed out of a deal with a U.S. supplier, Compact pickup fans are still licking their wounds over the news that the company's trucks won't be coming to our shores anytime soon. As it turns out, Global Vehicles USA may not be the only American company to have been wronged by Mahindra. According to The Post-Standard, electric car start-up Bannon Automotive LLC has filed a law-suit against both Reva Electric Car Company of Bangalore, India and Reva's parent company, Mahindra & Mahindra. Bannon Automotive claims that the two broke a dea…
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Merging Malaysia’s National Car Companies Hard to Justify, Analysts Say By Mack Chrysler WardsAuto.com, Aug 31, 2010 9:00 AM To unite Malaysia’s two national car companies or not; that is the question, but just how seriously such a move should be considered is unclear. Industry analysts believe a pairing of Proton Holdings Bhd and Perusahaan Otomobile Kedua Nasional Sdn Bhd (Perodua) would be awkward at best and hard to justify on several important counts. As national companies, both auto makers have been indulged and overprotected by the government for years, safely ensconced behind a wall of tariff barriers, tax exemptions, rebates, subsidies and other special…
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BMW, Mercedes see strong September sales Associated Press Berlin — Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz and BMW AG today reported annual sales growth of well over 10 percent, with both automakers' deliveries in China soaring. Mercedes-Benz sold 118,600 cars worldwide last month, an increase of 13 percent compared with a year earlier and the best September sales result in its history, Daimler said. Global sales at the BMW Group, which includes the core BMW brand, Mini and Rolls-Royce, were up 16.8 percent at 142,950. BMW said growth was driven by its large models, with the 5 series sedan showing the strongest gains. Mercedes-Benz's sales in China were up 98 percent to 13,500. S…
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Europe Still Working to Reach Agreement on EV Recharging-Plug Standards By William Diem WardsAuto.com, Oct 26, 2010 9:00 AM PARIS – Dozens of cities around Europe are preparing to install recharging points for electric vehicles in public areas, but the French-German working group that will recommend what type of plug to use has until March 31 to report. Until a standard is agreed upon, recharging for early EV arrivals on the market will be done from normal 220-volt household sockets. “The industry can begin with domestic charging for urban and suburban driving,” says Igor Czerny, director-transportation for EVs at the French electric-company EDF. The “second stage” i…
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TATA MOTORS SELLS $750M IN STOCK TO REDUCE DEBT By Mark Kleis The ambitious Indian automaker, Tata Motors, has announced it will sell shares of stock worth $750 million - the proceeds from which will be utilized to help pay down some of the $4.5 billion in debt the automaker owns. Although $750 million may be a far cry from the tens of billions being discussed for General Motors' upcoming IPO, this sale, for starters, is not an IPO, only an isolated release of shares. Secondly, as Bloomberg points out, it is a significant amount because the automaker has originally announced intentions to sell $525 million worth, but higher than expected demand drove Tata to increase t…
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German car industry thriving again Weak euro makes sought-after European vehicles affordable Juergen Baetz / Associated Press Berlin -- Germany's car industry, the backbone of Europe's largest economy, is booming again. Fueled by the huge appetite for German luxury cars in China and the fact that the plunging euro has made European products cheaper abroad, manufacturers say they are shaking off the last of the economic downturn, adding extra shifts and hiring more workers to meet increasing demand. Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW and Audi told the Associated Press this week that order books are full and some plants are operating at full capacity, and that they are bullish …
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Fiat, Ford lead sales decline in Europe as Audi gains Automotive News Europe -- September 16, 2010 10:40 CET (Bloomberg) -- Fiat S.p.A., Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. led a fifth-consecutive monthly drop in European car sales as the end of government incentives hit demand. Volkswagen AG's Audi luxury unit gained market share. Registrations fell 12 percent to 731,503 vehicles in August from a year earlier, Brussels-based industry group ACEA said Thursday. Eight-month deliveries decreased 3 percent to 9.3 million. Fiat declined 24 percent, while Ford slipped 20 percent and Toyota slumped 19 percent. European demand is declining as governments end or trim subsidi…
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Global Vehicles emails potential customers, attempts to explain delays. Again. by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Nov 5th 2010 at 6:29PM Mahindra Pik-Up – Click above for high-res image gallery The plot thickens. Global Vehicles USA, the one-time and possible-still (pending litigation, of course) importer of Mahindra pickups has sent an email to those who have reserved a spot for one of the first 30,000 or so little diesel trucks in the United States. You'll find the text of the email here, but basically the importer still sounds hopeful that it will be putting the Indian machines into the hands of dealerships at some unknown point in the future. Will it actually ha…
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Daimler to expand Renault-Nissan pact to EVs, exec says September 14, 2010 10:16 CET UPDATED: Sept. 14 15:30 CET STUTTGART (Reuters) -- German luxury carmaker Daimler AG is expanding its cooperation with Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. to develop electric cars in a race to meet tightening emission reduction rules. Daimler's research chief, Thomas Weber, told Reuters in an interview its cooperation with Renault and Nissan "will be expanded to include all three partners as far as electric motors, batteries and powertrains are concerned". The move comes as carmakers and car parts suppliers rush to gain a foothold in the market for zero-emission vehicles as deadlines for…
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Euro market corners top vehicles Some of Detroit's most exciting models aren't offered to U.S. buyers Paris -- The first lesson I learned at the Paris Motor Show was that everything tastes better with a little more butter. Second, European carmakers have been holding out on us Americans, keeping some of their best vehicles on their side of the pond -- and giving us a bunch of leftovers. Even our own carmakers have been sending some of their coolest cars and crossovers abroad, allowing Europeans to fly down the autobahn in fantastic five-doors but never giving us the same Interstate opportunity. Oh, and I'm not including all of the diesel powertrains available in Euro…
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MAHINDRA CONFIRMS IT HAS "NO DATE" FOR U.S. LAUNCH OF COMPACT PICKUP TRUCK By Drew Johnson Mahindra & Mahindra assured Leftlane back in the summer of 2008 that its compact pickup truck was right on schedule for its United States launch, but that guarantee has apparently turned belly up. Following a number of subsequent delays, a squabble between Mahindra and its U.S. distributor – Global Vehicles USA – has indefinitely put the Indian automaker’s U.S. plans on hold. Mahindra was originally slated to begin U.S. sales of a compact pickup truck in mid-2009. Global Vehicles USA recently filed a lawsuit against Mahindra, claiming the Indian automaker unlawfully termina…
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Audi, Mercedes, BMW rely on China as Germany stalls August 16, 2010 06:01 CET SHANGHAI (Bloomberg) -- BMW AG, the world’s largest luxury carmaker, Volkswagen AG’s Audi unit and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz brand are making up for faltering sales at home by selling more cars in China even as industrywide demand cools in the world’s largest auto market. Audi sold 53 percent more cars in China in July compared with a year earlier, while Daimler, the world’s second-largest luxury-car maker, tripled sales of its Mercedes-Benz brand to 14,500 vehicles and BMW raised its deliveries 82 percent to 13,852, the companies said this month. Sales of Audi and Mercedes fell in Germany f…
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Mahindra brushes back Global Vehicles, "rejects any attempt to order" pickups by Jeff Glucker (RSS feed) on Sep 28th 2010 at 6:20PM The automotive soap opera that is Mahindra keeps on turning. Today, the Indian automaker issued a statement regarding the claims put forth by Global Vehicles. Mahindra accuses GV of "engaging in PR theatrics while pursuing an unnecessary lawsuit." It states that the contract with Global Vehicles expired and Mahindra is free to pursue other means of bringing its Pik-Up to its network of waiting U.S. dealers. It has effectively rejected Global Vehicles' $35 million order. Mahindra further claims that Global Vehicles is working hard to damage …
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Europe baulks at GM-style shakeout that could transform prospects Europe's automotive manufacturers lack the will to rid themselves of unprofitable operations that threaten their future, and experts predict a future of muddling through rather than decisive action to restore health and profits. At a conference in Bilbao, Spain, last month, Ford Europe Chairman and CEO John Fleming said overcapacity had reached 35 percent and was getting worse. In a sane world, this would mean that the least productive producers in Europe would be under pressure to close. After all, the existence of a chronically inefficient manufacturer simply makes it uneconomic for everybody. As the w…
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Europeans win big from China's appetite for high-end cars September 14, 2010 - 11:45 pm ET China's rich are more likely to splurge on premium and superluxury cars than anyone else in the world. That finding comes from a recent report by Bernstein Research. London-based Bernstein analyst Max Warburton identified a premium car buyer as someone from a household with more than $100,000 (78,500 euros) of annual disposable income. In China, 231 out of every 1,000 car buyers who met that criterion in 2009 bought premium cars. Germany was No. 2 at 176 out of every 1,000 followed by the UK at 165. Spain ranked fourth (81) followed by Canada (59) and the United States (52) last…
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VIDEO: Ferrari 458 Italia is Auto Express’ 2011 Performance Car of the Year TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 09, 2010 British car magazine Auto Express, has crowned the Ferrari 458 Italia their 2011 Performance Car of the Year (PCOTY). The magazine chose the Italian supercar from a list of 20 contenders, including other big names like the Audi V10 Spyder, Porsche GT3 RS, BMW M3 Competition and Mercedes SLS AMG. The Honda CR-Z, Renault Twingo Cup 133 and Skoda Fabia RS were the more down-to-earth cars of the group. Watch the video summary after the break to see what makes the F458 this year's performance car in AE's opinion. You can also see each car's lap time here. By Csaba Daradi…
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Nissan, Hyundai profits soar; U.S., China seen slowing July 29, 2010 - 4:16 am ET SEOUL/YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Co's forecast-beating quarterly profits may prove tough to match in the second half as robust sales in China and elsewhere start to slow. A patchy recovery in the U.S. market has become one of the biggest concerns for the auto industry, especially Japanese automakers, which rely heavily on the region for its profits. Nissan, Japan's No.3 automaker, reported its strongest quarterly operating profit in more than two years as sales surged, but it left its cautious guidance unchanged amid an increasingly murky outlook for d…
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