Industry News
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Not content with a trade war just with China, Donald Trump has opened a second front in what is slowly turning into a trade world war. Yesterday evening, Trump announced that beginning June 10th a 5% tariff would be slapped on all Mexican products coming into the country. That tariff would increase to 10% by July 1st and then go to its 25% maximum in October. For automakers with razor thin margins, there is absolute certainty that the American consumer will end up paying these tariffs. The White House said in a statement: Goods from Mexico account for 13.6 percent of all imported goods to the U.S, totaling about $346.5 billion. Automobiles and their compo…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Never let it be said that I am not an even-handed kinda guy. They put the Zeta Z/28 against the GT350R and it lost, fair and square. 2 tenths slower in the quarter, 1.4 slower around the road course they used. Still not a bad showing for a five year-old car and a ten year-old engine tho. ...also, there's the small matter of ONE of these cars being off by 25hp or so on their actual hp numbers. Either that, or one uses raw bitumen as gear lube. In any event, here's the link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLA97180860447EE6A&v=vtdtGgf1BF0
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Al Oppenheiser finally states what many of us have suspected: a Camaro SS variant will suffice to take down a Shelby Mustang. "During our time to chat with Al Oppenheiser, chief Camaro engineer, we got right down to business and asked what everyone wants to know: will the 2017 Camaro SS 1LE outperform the Shelby GT350? "'That’s obviously our intent. I have the answer, but I’ll let the rest of you decide how we did. Our goal is to up the game with our competitor, just like they upped the game with the GT350. Everyone had to expect we would punch back. I will tell you this car is three seconds faster than the previous 1LE. Your readers can go out and make their own conc…
Last reply by surreal1272, -
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Motor Trend recently ran a compact-car comparo, in which the Chevrolet Cruze was the only entrant from Detroit. The Dodge Dart is on it's way out, so fair 'nuff. But why no Ford Focus? MT pulls no punches: "An increasingly paranoid and insular Ford PR department refused to participate. Again. Rental options failed to meet our demanding specifications, but be warned, Ford: Next time we’re taking whatever beater Hertz has to offer." Some time ago I cited a piece on Mark Fields where he claimed he hated GM and their success. Now we have a major car magazine openly putting shots across the bow of their PR department. At the time I had a PM discussion going where I opined t…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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The tariffs that Trump had threatened to impose on Mexico starting June 10th will not be going on to effect. Trump tweeted out that Mexico had made concessions to deploy their newly formed Nation Guard to their own southern border and that it only took two days for Mexico to bend to Trump's demands. This is false. The truth, according to a report in the New York Times is that Mexico had already agreed to do that back in March 2019 during secret talks between the (at the time) Director of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen and the Mexican Secretary of Interior Olga Sanchez. Further, Trump claimed a victory via his tariff efforts saying that he had reached an agreem…
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There has been a vague buzz about this place as of late regarding pushrod V8 engines. More specifically, how they are supposedly old hat and unable to meet mileage and power demands going forward. So I came across this truck test from Motor Trend, and I figured I'd just leave it here, like a lump of coal for the TTV6 crowd. Some Christmas cheer for fans of V8 awesomeness here: http://www.motortrend.com/news/2016-gmc-sierra-denali-1500-4wd-first-test-review/
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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MIDSIZE SEDANS 1 2 3
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I posted this in the Saturn Aura topic and thought it would make good banter as its own thread. With all the new entries, tell us what or rank your family sedans. Please try to exclude lux and near lux cars. This is middle class bread and butter cars. I originally started comparing Aura vs. Fusion then it brached out. Here's my pecking order, taking into account to a small degree what the buff books may say and how complete a car it is for what you get. this does not neccessarily reflect what i would buy first. 1. 07 Altima 2A. Accord 2B. Aura 2C. Passat 2.0T 3A. Milan 3B. Fusion 4A. Cam-lee 4B. Impala 4C. 07 Sebring 5A. Mazda 6 5B. Malib…
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https://www.dailysabah.com/automotive/2017/04/20/general-motors-auto-plant-in-venezuela-seized-by-government-gm-decries-illegality
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OOOPS....that would be the Oldsmobile Alero concept. Striking car the Model 3 is...reminds me a lot of that Alero concept. Good luck Tesla!
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
Industry News: Senate Passes Mandatory Black Boxes In Vehicles By 2015, House Expected To Follow 1 2 3
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 15, 2012 Its been working its way through the halls of congress, but according to Car and Driver, the "black box" mandate for cars could be in the books. The Senate has already voted to adopt a transportation bill that has a provision mandating event data recorders to be equipped into new vehicles starting in 2015. The House of Representatives is considering a version with slightly different language. The current state of the bills are "vague". In the Senate version, the bill states that devices must “capture and store data related to motor vehicle safety” and release this information to an “interoperable data acc…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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Helped by a plethora of CUVs, the hottest selling segment, and the on fire 4-series, BMW managed to stave off Lexus, its German rivals, and Cadillac for the fourth year in a row. BMW(+1.4%) finished 2015 with 346,023 sales. Lexus (+10.7), not far behind with 344,601 sales came in at number two, just 1,422 fewer. The 4-series, which despite BMW being propelled in terms of growth mostly by CUVs, was the lone stalwart car nameplate to actually show gains. Although the 1/2-series were up 77%, it must be noted that they are, for all intents new entries after the 1-series was discontinued in 2014 and re-pinned the 2-series for 2015. The 3,5,6, and 7-Series, in addition to t…
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Link: http://m.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/2016-ford-mustang-gt-first-test-review/
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Is Ford Motor Company Falling a Step Behind Rival General Motors? 1 2 3
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Link to Fool Column There are a lot of developments that suggest Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) has had the drop on rival General Motors (NYSE:GM) for years. You can start with the fact that Ford survived the Great Recession on its own dime. You can note that Ford Credit is generating the kind of business GM Financial hopes to achieve years down the road. You can definitely point out that Ford reinstated its dividend roughly two years before its rival did. Ford has definitely beaten GM to the punch many times in recent years, but here are two product decisions that show Ford is lagging behind. Where art thou, subcompact crossover? Ford management ha…
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Leaked Draft Shows What Could Be Coming Down The Line For Auto Safety William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 6, 2011 Congress is looking at whether to reauthorize the highway bill, which will bring with it a wave of changes . A 500 page draft of a bill was leaked this week on capitol hill and gives some indication of what the Obama Administration and Congress are looking at. One of ideas the bill listed was to form a Surface Transportation Revenue Alternatives Office. The office would "study framework that defines the functionality of a mileage-based user fee system and other systems." This would help provide funding to fix roads. An offi…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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A record number of consumers are finding themselves 'underwater' when it comes time to trade-in their vehicle - the vehicle is worth less than what they owe on their loan. The Detroit Free Press cites a study done by Edmunds revealing that in the second quarter of this year, 32 percent or nearly one-third of vehicles being traded in fall into the 'underwater' category. This isn't good news for consumers since the difference is tacked on to the new vehicle they had their eye on. To put this in perspective, the previous high was 29.2% in 2006, around the time where the housing market was reaching its cresting point. “There’s been a lot of water building behi…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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http://www.insideline.com/features/do-kids-hate-cars.html a great summation about where it's at...... phones are more important than cars..... and cars are not connecting with the young set, and they are too expensive, and probably not fun enough......
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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I'm not sure how Motor Trend releases COTY winners online anymore. But if their link is anything to go by, only a split decision on the styling keeps it from being the perfect ponycar: http://www.motortrend.com/news/chevrolet-camaro-2016-motor-trend-car-of-the-year-finalist/
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Securing American global EV manufacturing leadership, dramatically improving public health and significantly reducing carbon pollution is some of the key goals that ZETA or Zero Emission Transportation Association was formed for. This industry association is focused on creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs. In quoting their www.zeta2030.org web site they state the 3 core points. Job Creation - Enacting ambitious, but realistic policies to accelerate transportation electrification will create hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs. Congress must seize this opportunity or risk ceding this economic growth to others. Cleaner Environment - The…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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In a not surprising move, President Donald Trump announced today that his administration will reopen a review into the 2025 fuel economy standards set by the EPA before the end of President Barack Obama's term. “We’re going to work on the CAFE standards so you can make cars in America again. There is no more beautiful sight than an American-made car,” said Trump at an event in the former Willow Run bomber factory in Ypsilanti, Michigan - soon to become a testing ground for autonomous vehicles. "These standards are costly for automakers and the American people. We will work with our partners at DOT to take a fresh look to determine if this approach is realistic.…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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I was just reading a review of the refreshed Lacrosse, and the author made a surprising point that I hadn't considered. Personally, I disliked the Buick commercials with their dorky music and over-sold punchline: "That's too nice and stylish, it can't be a Buick." But I'm an enthusiast, I already know about cars, I'm not the audience they want. What if that message rang loud and clear with their target demo? What if people--who didn't know Buick still existed--suddenly realized the brand had evolved back into slick luxury cars, cars worth cross shopping? Maybe it's such a simple concept that it's genius. Here's an excerpt from the link: "Everywhere I went in t…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Despite countless studies and reports that say Gen Y (AKA millienals) aren't interested in cars, a new study released this week says this key group are interested in cars. Deloitte LLP, a financial consulting firm published their Global Automotive Consumer Study which showed that Gen Y is very much interested in getting their own vehicle, despite not having the same love affair as their parents and grandparents. "Well over half (61 percent) of Gen Y consumers in the Deloitte report expect to buy or lease a car within the next three years," said Craig Giffi, vice chairman of Deloitte. Giffi went onto say that "almost a quarter (23 percent) expect to purchase or lease in …
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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RIVIAN Electric Adventure Vehicles WebSite This coming LA auto show we will be introduced to the world's first electric adventure vehicles. November 30th to December 9th at the LA Auto Show you will be able to see their Pickup Truck and SUV. The company's tagline is to explore the planet and charge deeper into the world farther and deeper than ever before by building electric vehicles that allow you to explore be it a big or small adventure. RIVIAN electric adventure vehicles will reimagine the truck and SUV with offering the following: Up to a 400+ mile range per charge Sub 3 seconds zero to 60 Superior capability on and off road …
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Rivian has announced MSRP price spikes on both the R1T and R1S vehicles, of 17% and 20% respectively, citing "inflationary costs". https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rivian-hikes-vehicle-prices-20-011627886.html For the R1T, that mean the originally-announced $67,500 base price will rise $11,475 to $78,975. For the R1S, it's original $70,000 tag will jump $14,000 to $84,000. Apparently effective immediately, this INCLUDES vehicles already ordered. Customer backlash is already occurring, with buyers threatening to cancel orders. With no dealer network to compete on pricing, this is your new 'no-haggle' mandatory base price. Just don't call it 'bait …
Last reply by balthazar, -
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The automotive industry in the U.S. has been enjoying one of the best years in terms of sales. But one segment is seeing a drop in their sales. That segment is the midsize sedan. Automotive News reports that the demand for midsize sedans is at a five-year low. The numbers tell this sad story. In the first quarter of 2016, sales of midsize sedans dropped 3.4 percent. The second quarter saw sales dropped 13 percent, while the third quarter saw a whopping 21 percent drop. For the month August, all 16 midsize sedans saw an average drop of 27 percent. The Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, and Nissan Altima reported drops of over 30 percent. Automakers have bee…
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California is considering joining France and Great Britain in banning the sale of gas and diesel-powered vehicles. Governor Jerry Brown has been expressing an interest in banning the sale of internal-combustion engines according to Mary Nichols, chariman of the California Air Resources Board. “I’ve gotten messages from the governor asking, ‘Why haven’t we done something already?’ The governor has certainly indicated an interest in why China can do this and not California,” she said to Bloomberg. As we reported earlier this month, China is also considering a ban on internal combustion engines. California has set an ambitious goal reducing carbon dioxide…
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...and at last, Ford has a car that will match the Camaro SS. But according to MT's numbers, that's it-its basically a dead heat. Here's the link to the video, and a few of the pertinent stats... except for price. I'll dig for that one a but more: 0-60=4.1 seconds Braking 60-0=102 feet Lateral acceleration=1.00 G MT Figure [email protected] Curb Weight=3,781 "I know I'm a lot of feathers for that much chicken." -Kim Mitchell
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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The President has threatened to slap tariffs on the import of all cars in a year if Mexico does not completely halt the flow of illegal immigration, a near impossible task. This is after he backtracked on his previous threat to completely close the US-Mexico border, a move his own advisers recommended against. Such actions would have massive economic repercussions on both sides of the border, raising prices for many consumer goods. Trump said, "Mexico understands that we're going to close the border or I'm going to tariff the cars. I'll do one or the other. And probably start with the tariffs". He further added, "I don't think we'll ever have to close the border …
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Ask Peter Welch, the CEO of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) what worries him the most, he'll admit that it is average consumers getting priced out of new cars. He admitted this yesterday at the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit. Welch said that the latest figures he has seen - through October of last year - reveal the average retail price of a new car climbing to a new high of $35,366. The average monthly payment is hovering at $538, and interest rates have climbed to an average of 5.76 percent (new) and 9 percent (used). Longer loan terms are becoming common, with the average length standing at 64.3 months. "You know, people buying $5…
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Insideline
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If you have been following auto sales for the past few years, then you know that SUVs and trucks currently dominate the sales charts partly due to the low gas prices. This is especially true when it comes to the luxury segment, where utility models are eating sedans. But a new report from The New York Times reveals that American automakers are eating the lunches of luxury car manufacturers. According to data from Edmunds, the likes of Ford, Chevrolet, and GMC have seen their share of domestic sales of models with an average price of $60,000 steadily climbing, while luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Lexus have been declining. GMC, in particular, has show…
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The rivalry of the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang has been going for ages in the U.S. But now this fight has expanded into China. Automotive News reports that a growing group of Chinese buyers are being drawn towards to these models as the exude the no-apologies Americana attitude. "We're seeing the beginning of a muscle car culture here. Something that is uniquely American appeals to the Chinese consumer. The image that it relays to the automotive public is very positive," said James Chao, a China market auto analyst with IHS Markit. Sales of both models are small with Chevrolet only moving 2,000 Camaros since its launch 2011. Ford is doing slightly bet…
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Interesting little article.. USA Today article on cranked car windows
Last reply by DetroitNut90, -
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This, according to Carr and Driver. Link here: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2016-cadillac-ct6-priced-caddys-de-facto-flagship-actually-not-all-that-expensive/ Sounds like they're going for the throat with the Korean sedans and the Continental. The engineering alone could command another 10 grand if they so desired.
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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Sooner or later self driving cars are going to come on the market IMO, with some companies like Google already investing in developing them. The million question however is whether people will buy them or not. So, what about you, would you buy one if some manufacturer were selling them already?
Last reply by butterfly1, -
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[source: MotorAuthority] Foreign Car Dealers' Association Angry with Obama's 'Buy American' Message Toyota, Nissan and Honda all build cars in the U.S. General Motors, Chrysler and Ford all build cars in Mexico and Canada in addition to within the U.S. It's hard to know which car is built where as a consumer, and the American International Automobile Dealer's Association (AIADA) is upset over President Barack Obama's 'buy American' message in during the Chrysler bankruptcy announcement yesterday. The organization, which represents the 11,000 foreign nameplate car dealerships in the U.S., thinks the 'American' distinction is irrelevant. "In…
Last reply by Camino LS6, -
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Industry News: Trump Administration To Double Down On Emission Standards and Revoking California's Privileges 1 2
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Fuel efficiency guidelines and California's right to set its own vehicle emissions standards are in the crosshairs of the Trump administration again. Bloomberg has learned from sources that the administration will be introducing a proposal later this week that revises key parts of the Obama-era standards. This includes capping federal fuel economy requirements at 2020 level of 35 mpg fleet wide, instead of the 50 mpg requirement by 2025. There is also a provision that would revoke the Clean Air Act waiver given to California that allows it to set its own emission regulations. Sources go onto say that the proposal is in the final stages of a "broad interagency re…
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No links yet. But a coupla VERY telling pics:
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Whenever Bob Lutz speaks, many people tend to listen as he a number of years of being in the automotive industry under his belt. Recently, Lutz wrote an editorial for Automotive News' Redesigning the Industry where he predicts we are “approaching the end of the automotive era,” within the next 20 years. “The end state will be the fully autonomous module with no capability for the driver to exercise command. You will call for it, it will arrive at your location, you’ll get in, input your destination and go to the freeway On the freeway, it will merge seamlessly into a stream of other modules traveling at 120, 150 mph. The speed doesn’t matter. You have a blending of r…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 28, 2013 California and seven other states have signed a new pact that hopes to increase the number of zero emission vehicles on their roads to 3.3 million by the year 2025. Joining California in this pact are Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, and Vermont. The seven states have already adopted a rule like California where by 2025, 15 percent of vehicles sold must produce zero emissions. To help get to this goal, the eight states have four steps to spur sales of zero emission vehicles Amend building codes so it becomes easier to build charging stations Buy more zero emission…
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Unbearable lightness? To make cars frugal, they will have to become lighter—and more expensive From The Economist. WHEN it comes to motor vehicles there is widespread belief—at least in America—that bigger is not only better, but safer too. The assumption is that nothing beats having lots of steel around you in a crash. And it is true, to some extent. All things being equal, the driver of a large SUV (sports-utility vehicle) is less likely to be killed than the driver of a small car in a head-on collision between the two. The downside is that SUV drivers are far more likely than car drivers to die in solitary roll-over accidents induced by the vehicle’s own weight, its…
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James B. Treece Automotive News November 3, 2008 - 1:59 pm ET Dear Mr. President: Please raise the gasoline tax. The country needs to keep moving toward using less imported oil, which means less use of oil -- period. The federal government has mandated higher fuel economy standards. That's a first step. But we tried that before in an era of cheap gasoline, and it failed. You can take fuel-efficient cars to the consumers, but you can't make shoppers open their wallets. They need a reason to want those cars. For a while this year, we had that. With gasoline prices up around $4 a gallon (still a bargain by world standards), consumers wanted fuel-efficient …
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According to research issued by AAA, 40 percent of Americans expect driver assist systems with names like ProPilot, Co-Pilot 360, or Autopilot to give the vehicle the ability to drive itself. In a quote to Automotive News, Director of Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations at AAA says "Somewhere in there, you'd think a pilot is involved, but indeed no, human driving is still required." AAA examined 34 vehicle brands to identify the number of driver-assistance names used and found 40 different terms used to describe automated emergency braking, 20 terms for adaptive cruise control, and 19 different lane-keeping assist names. At CES this year, a coali…
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According to the latest poll from Yale University, George Mason University and Climate Nexus commissioned by the nonprofit Coltura, finds that 55% to 35% margin in requiring all new autos sold in their state to be electric starting in 2030. As per multiple scientific and university groups, carbon pollution biggest source is gasoline powered cars and world leaders coming off the heels of the COP26 climate gathering are trying to address this mounting climate crisis. Yes, not everyone will agree with these polls or the science behind climate change and as a multi-cultural society, we must work to at times agree to disagree and still find a way to move forward. Humanity…
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GM Eyed U.S. From Inception of ‘Whisper Diesel’ 1 2
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http://wardsauto.com/vehicles-technology/gm-eyed-us-inception-whisper-diesel DETROIT – When the second-generation Chevrolet Cruze turbodiesel comes to market in the U.S. in 2017, the engine nicknamed “whisper diesel” will have at least one distinct advantage over its predecessor: American input. “Our requirements here (in the U.S.) pushed it a lot,” says Mike Siegrist, assistant chief engineer, Chevy Cruze turbodiesel. “The fact that we are going to market this engine here in a Chevy Cruze helped to make it as quiet as it is.” General Motors’ all-new 1.6L turbodiesel earned plaudits from the European motoring press shortly after it began rolling out last year in Ope…
Last reply by surreal1272, -
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The State Fair of Texas began last week and truck manufacturers were out in force with new models to tempt consumers in the largest truck market in the U.S. Both Ford and Ram Trucks rolled out new luxury trims of their pickups - Ford with the Limited and Ram with the Longhorn Southfork. Both trims can easily reach $100,000 which to some is pushing it. But marketers at the truck manufacturers tell Automotive News they don't know where the ceiling is on how much consumers are willing to spend. "It's hard to guess how big the market is. I don't think trucks have found a ceiling yet. You get customers who want every bell and whistle," said Todd Eckert, Ford's truck group…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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It appears to be a tall wagon with a mix of Volt and Cruze styling cues. And, of course, that 200 mile battery range. Pretty neat stuff. More at the link: http://www.motortrend.com/news/spied-production-chevrolet-bolt-caught-completely-undisguised/
Last reply by oldshurst442, -
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In a move that was expected to happen soon, the EPA announced that it plans to revise the fuel-efficiency regulations that were approved during the President Obama administration. “The Obama EPA’s determination was wrong. Obama’s EPA cut the midterm evaluation process short with politically charged expediency, made assumptions about the standards that didn’t comport with reality and set the standards too high,” said EPA chief Scott Pruitt in a statement today. The statement goes on to say that the agency will begin working on new standards for cars for 2022-2025 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The regulations that were finalized d…
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 21, 2012 The EPA gave its ratings for the Tesla Model S are they are very good. The EPA rates the new Model S at 88 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) in the City, 90 MPGe on the Highway, and 89 MPGe combined. Range is estimated to be 265 Miles, a 12% decrease from Tesla’s original estimate. (Note, these EPA ratings are for the the top of the line Model S. We’ll learn what the ratings for the other Model Ss in time.) So where does the Model S fall into the EV MPGe ratings? Well it's behind the Honda Fit EV (118 MPGe), Mitsubishi i (112 MPGe), Ford Focus EV (105 MPGe), and Nissan Leaf (99 MPGe). But well ahead of …
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AutoExtremist: Auto Mags Are DEAD 1 2
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I've been saying this for three years! The traditional monthly car magazines are dead - they just don't know it yet. Detroit. If you were to look at the balance sheets of the leading car magazines right now, you would be absolutely stunned at the staggering amounts of revenue they generate every year. Legendary money machines, these magazines make hundreds of millions of dollars annually for the corporate behemoths that lord over them with an iron fist. And if you look at the Big Picture only from those companies' perspective, then the good times seemingly will go on forever. But there are deep and growing cracks in the facade of these money machines - and these fissur…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
Surprise! GM putting aluminum in next-gen pickups 1 2
by Guest Wings4Life(BANNED)-
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Last month, General Motors launched a series of ads touting the benefits of steel over aluminum – specifically, with regard to the Chevy Silverado versus the Ford F-150. (Kind of. We're not sure what a grizzly bear has to do with anything.) We took issue with the ads, with editor in chief Mike Austin saying they "reek of insecurity, and distract from the Silverado's strengths that could be used for positive advertising." But what bothers us more, is that yet another report surfaced claiming anti-aluminum GM will indeed use the weight-saving material in its next-generation fullsize trucks. On Tuesday, GM announced a $877-million investment for its truck plant in Fli…
Last reply by El Kabong, -
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http://m.motortrend.com/wot/1509_cadillac_escalade_v_on_the_way_with_ctsv_power.html So basically, it's entirely possible that the Bentley SUV will only be the world's fastest SUV for a cup of coffee. Yowza
Last reply by ccap41, -
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4-Cylinders Becoming The Dominant Choice William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com July 26, 2011 US consumers are buying up more 4-Cylinders than before. According to research by IHS Automotive, 43% of vehicles sold in the first half of 2011 were equipped with a 4-Cylinder engines. In 2005, only 26% of vehicles were equipped with a 4-Cylinder, while 6-Cylinders took 43% during the same year. And what about 8-Cylinders? Well, they have been falling as well. In 2005, one of every three new cars was powered by a 8-Cylinder. Fast forward to 2011 and only one out of six new vehicles is powered by 8-Cylinder. While fuel economy is becoming a top pri…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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DETROIT - Asked recently how the U.S. minivan market has been faring, Nissan's Dominique Thormann had a concise answer. "It collapsed," said Thormann, a senior vice president of Nissan North America. While the rapid decline in pickup and sport utility sales has been grabbing the headlines, minivan sales have also taken a tumble, falling 20 percent in the first five months of this year. And unlike trucks, which could rebound once the construction industry picks up, it's unclear if minivans have a future in the U.S. market or if they're being killed off by crossovers and the stodgy taint of the soccer mom image. "The future of the segment is up in the air," said Tom…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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"Yep, 55 grand. Why lead this review with a price breakdown? Because it underscores the point we’ve made about the MKZ all along, which is that it doesn’t offer a whole lot more than the Ford Fusion with which it shared its mechanicals—all but one of the powertrains and even the infotainment setups are identical—yet it is far more expensive. Indeed, this particular MKZ is nearly as expensive as possible, which makes its shortcomings stand out even more." "Particularly egregious is something endemic to all MKZ hybrids, regardless of price: the sound of the Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder/CVT combo, which drones miserably under acceleration... we averaged a ho-hum-…
Last reply by ccap41, -
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The COVID-19 pandemic has basically brought most of the world to halt. Orders to stay at home, businesses either having workers to their work from home or closing down, and unemployment skyrocketing is causing the economy to crater. There are efforts to try and jump-start the economy such as $1,200 stimulus checks. But an executive at Ford wants to see a return of a "cash for clunkers" like program. “We think some level of stimulus somewhere on the other side of this would help not only the auto industry and our dealers, which are a huge part of our overall economy, but will help the customers as well,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford’s vice president of U.S. marketing, sales…
Last reply by frogger, -
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...global auto industry. Why is it, despite the use of high-strength steel, aluminum, exotic composite materials, and plastic, that cars are still so porky? How is it that modern compact cars built around a unibody structure manage to outweigh larger, much older, cars built out of thicker steel and on a full frame? Modern gadgets? But aren't they getting lighter and smaller all the time? And what about safety regulations? Are they to blame? Tell me, exactly, where all this excess weight comes from. And why, exactly, we haven't been able to conquer the issue.
Last reply by pow, -
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It is already tough for a number of people to afford a new vehicle as the average transaction price keeps rising. According to Kelly Blue Book, the average transaction price for November rose 2.1 percent to $36,978. This isn't being helped by American automakers deciding to stop producing cars due to changing consumer tastes. This was brought to light last week when General Motors announced that it would be cutting a number of cars including the Chevrolet Cruze. Most automakers and dealers believe consumers will move towards utility vehicles, but some dealers believe that consumers may defect from American automakers because they don't offer the vehicle they are looking f…
Last reply by balthazar, -
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http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...G/70306036/1139 Senators ponder need to limit vehicle power Harry Stoffer | Automotive News / March 6, 2007 - 2:59 pm WASHINGTON -- Senators of both parties said today that the government may have to cool the American passion for high-powered cars and trucks -- in the name of saving fuel. The lawmakers, members of a key Senate committee, also said they don't trust the Bush administration to be tough enough in raising fuel economy standards. "I sense a lot of reluctance and foot-dragging," said Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, during a hearing on fuel economy. Lawmakers should raise standards by passing a law rather than wait…
Last reply by CARBIZ, -
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The European car market as a whole has been in decline for six consecutive months as of March 2019 with 19 out of 27 markets posting declines. March numbers were down 3.6 percent over the same month in 2018. Looking at the first quarter of 2019 paints an even bleaker picture with only 6 countries recording growth. While overall demand is down, the demand for electric vehicles grows. The sales of EVs exceeded 100,000 units for the first time ever with a total of 125,400 EV and PHEVs sold. That is an increase of 31%, mostly in Germany, Norway, Spain, and the Netherlands. Much of that growth is attributed to the Tesla Model 3 entering the market and becoming Europe'…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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The Lucid Group of Newark California announces today, the 16th of September 2021 a new standard in the advanced luxury EVs. The Lucid Air Dream Edition has received an official EPA rating of 520 miles of range, the longest-range rated electric vehicle ever rated by the EPA delivering over 100+ miles of range over the closest competitor. The Lucid Air Dream Edition achieves 520 miles of range while delivering 933 horsepower and will sit along side the Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance model at 1,111 horsepower and the Grand Touring version at 800 horsepower. To quote Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO of the Lucid Group: “I’m delighted tha…
Last reply by 2QuickZ's, -
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Truck owner loyalty is legendary. Buyers typically pick one brand and stick with that brand for as long as they buy trucks. Indeed my own father has owned only one brand of pickup, the Ford F-series, since before I arrived on earth. In 2018, Ford moved more than 900,000 copies of its F-series pickups out of a total segment of 2,944,395. But have rising prices started to crack that loyalty? CarGurus did a survey and found that 70% of truck owners would switch brands if their truck raised prices by $10,000, that is up from 64% last year. While $10,000 seems like a big jump, even an increase of $5,000 would cause 42% of owners to ditch their current brand. Of …
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne outlined an update to the company's five-year business plan Wednesday, and among the changes, the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 sedans will soon be phased out. The company's presentation to investors states that the "market shift from cars to trucks and UVs [utility vehicles is] now seen as permanent shift in demand," and FCA wants to respond as quickly as possible. Killing the 200 and Dart will allow FCA to build more Jeep and Ram models at the Sterling Heights, MI, and Belvidere, IL, plants where the sedans were produced. We already knew FCA was planning to shift 200 and Dart production to Mexico, to free up the Sterling Heights fac…
Last reply by Suaviloquent, -
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Saudis
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4183291.html I was listening to a talk show the other day, with a scientist. More and more the conventional wisdom of oil being decaying animal and plant matter over millions of years is being questioned. He contends that the earth produces oil from within and constantly....so there could be a possiblity that oil will never run out. That would be so hard on all the Chicken Littles out there.
Last reply by razoredge, -
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http://wot.motortrend.com/1505_cadillac_ats_v_to_feature_ls7_power.html In a shocking development, GM is not only developing an ATS-V+ model, but they're shoehorning the LS7 V8 under the hood with your choice of an 8-speed automatic or 7-speed manual. Both are firsts for LS7 application. This announcement pleases me greatly. <--Vast understatement. I peed a little.
Last reply by Suaviloquent, -
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Most new cars and trucks sitting on dealer lots have fuel economy estimates on their window sticker. The only group of vehicles that don't are heavy-duty trucks. This is due to the EPA not requiring automakers to publish estimates on trucks with gross weight ratings that exceed 8,500 pounds. This makes it difficult for folks to compare the heavy-duty trucks with one another or comparing the diesel variants with the light-duty gas versions. Consumer Reports doesn't believe it should be this way and is working on an effort to change this. Consumer Reports recently tested a Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, Ford F-250 Super Duty, and Ram 2500 equipped with their optional dies…
Last reply by ccap41, -
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Instead of cancelling all of these zeta cars, what if GM petitioned for a special CAFE exemption in exchange for building them all as E-100 Ethanol only? The cars could be optimised with high compression engines and sold at a healthy premium. Not only would they be clean and powerful, and running on domestic fuel, but they could be ambassadors for the expansion of Ethanol's popularity. The demand and buzz would help to drive the infrastructure for E-85 and ethanol in general forward at an increased pace. The cars would then be able to be offered in E-85 form as soon as certain levels of E-85 availability are reached. The other OEMs could do the same. These cars could be…
Last reply by Camino LS6, -
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http://www.autoextremist.com/ All I can say is A-freakin-men! November 12, 2008 Tick, tick, tick... By Peter M. De Lorenzo Detroit. So it has come down to this for General Motors: 100 years of living, breathing American industrial and social history is on the precipice of total disaster, with the once-glittering corporate icon facing certain collapse if some sort of government financial aid package is not put together in the next 60 days. Think about that for a moment. The company that basically powered this nation through a century of progress and helped this country muster the strength to fight world wars - while contributing immeasurably to the fabric …
Last reply by CARBIZ, -
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In 2009, the U.S. saw its lowest number of pedestrian deaths. But since then, that number has increased by 46 percent as pedestrian crashes have become more frequent and deadlier. Why is that? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a study today investigating the possible reasons. One key indicator is the number of crashes involving SUVs. According to IIHS data, between 2009 and 2016, fatal single-vehicle crashes involving SUVs rose 81 percent - the largest increase of any vehicle segment. Aside from the growing popularity of SUVs and crossovers, the tall body height and larger footprint mean in a pedestrian crash, the vehicle is hitting a person's chest…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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The shortcomings of rookies building cars, laid bare: "Tesla, like most Silicon Valley companies, uses most of its revenue to finance research and development for new products. Rolling out new products with minimal required development is crucial to this strategy, and the Model X began its development as a taller version of the Model S. The shared platform would allow Tesla to conquer new markets without having to develop a complicated, new vehicle. "Then, because Elon Musk doesn't know how to just phone it in, he turned the Model X into a complicated, new vehicle. "Now Tesla is saddled with a very expensive project that wasn't exactly, um, planned. Development took t…
Last reply by Suaviloquent, -
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Luxury automakers have been taking full advantage of the high-demand for SUVs and crossovers and raking in the dough. But as Neuton's third law of physics tells us, "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." In the case of luxury automakers, they have a number of sedans and coupes from lease turn-ins that they cannot sell. “It’s not necessarily the overwhelming amount of vehicles, it’s the mix of those flood of vehicles. You’re throwing all these cars into the marketplace a couple years after it has evaporated and jumped into SUVs,” said Scott Keogh, president of Audi of America to Bloomberg. This puts a lot of strain on luxury automakers as th…
Last reply by frogger, -
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September 23, 2009 by Alborz Fallah As part of a trial for an interesting new system, South Australian police have begun using patrol cars fitted with a camera system capable of instantly reading and analysing number plates of cars driving past. The Automated Number Plate Recognition camera system will automatically run the number plate of cars through its system and tell the police whether a car is unroadworthy, unregistered, uninsured, or stolen The idea is to take the element of random checking out and have all cars passing by checked allowing police to better catch law offenders. Additionally the technology can be used to catch criminals by linking known offende…
Last reply by Camino LS6, -
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http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/27/seattle...-roads-by-desi/ Not long ago, Washington state's Department of Ecology was making noises about not letting people wash their cars at home because "what goes on the street goes into the creek." Now the state is on the opposing side of Seattle's efforts not to let harmful chemicals wash into the freshwater streams feeding into Puget Sound. Seattle is not using salt to clear the roads because it doesn't want the salt flowing into waterways. As well, the city's snow plows have rubber-edge blades that can clear snow, but can't get the ice off the road. Seattle's DOT cheif says the city is trying to "create a hard-packed surface"…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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It seemed that it would never happen, a domestic brand cracking into the top three of Consumer Reports' annual Auto Reliability Survey. But in the 2016 survey, Buick became the first domestic brand in three decades to be in the top three of reliable brands - behind Lexus and Toyota. “Buick’s achievement is commendable and sure to be a wake-up call to other manufacturers. One reason why the brand has been able to leapfrog others in the General Motors’ stable has been its limited vehicle lineup--with none of the pickups and truck-based SUVs that have negatively impacted Cadillac and Chevrolet,” said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ director of automotive testing in…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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Hatchbacks have never sold well in the U.S., but that could be changing thanks to new entrants and hotted-up models. According to a forecast done by IHS Markit, sales of hatchbacks are projected climb 19 percent this year. By 2020, the firm projects sales of 567,000 hatchbacks. What has changed? Some of this comes down to hatchbacks finding a niche market. Michelle Malcho, spokeswoman for Chevy cars and crossovers tells The Detroit News that active, urban buyers who are wanting a bit more functionality with their vehicle are turning to hatchbacks. “I think the U.S. likes the functional thought. The hatch for some people offers that without stepping up to that ne…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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Cars With the Oldest Buyers October 2, 2014 6:37 am EDT As the U.S. economy continues to recover, domestic car sales for 2014 are projected to come close to an all-time high. But while the auto sales have picked up, especially for luxury brands, older customers are driving much of the growth. Last year, the average American car buyer was almost 52 years old. Some car brands are especially dependent on older buyers. While Land Rover’s average customer was just under 48 years old last year — the youngest average age among car brands reviewed — buyers of luxury brand Lincoln were the oldest in the nation, with an average age of 61 years. Based on a recent report fro…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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It's an 'open quantity' 10-yr contract with an initial advance of $462 million, for a guaranteed volume between 50K and 165K vehicles. The current fleet of Grumman LLV mail trucks were built between '87 & '94, designed for a 24-yr lifespan (which they've all exceeded). Those use the GM 'Iron Duke' 4-cylinder/THM 3-spd trans. The next generation Oshkosh trucks will be powered by a mix of battery-electric and low-emission internal combustion powertrains. They're also getting A/C, automatic braking, collision avoidance & 360-degree cameras. No word yet from D.C. regarding their announced forward policy of 'replacing all government fleet vehicles with …
Last reply by balthazar, -
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As expected, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have unveiled a proposal that will suspend increases in fuel economy put forth by the Obama administration, and take away California's ability regulate vehicle emissions. The new proposal is called the "Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule." Under the new proposal, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) would be capped at the 2020 level of 37 mpg through 2025. Under the rules that were created during the Obama administration, automakers would need to have a fleet average of 54 mpg in 2026. The proposal would also remove Calfornia'…
Last reply by balthazar, -
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Americans Want Econoboxes? SUVs Back Over 50 Percent of Vehicle Sales National Review For the first time in more than two years, SUV sales account for more than half of the U.S. auto market. This will come as no surprise to readers of this blog, as we have charted the growing rebound of light truck sales as the U.S. economy has (albeit slowly) rebounded and gas prices remain under $3 a gallon. The trend comes even as Washington issued a new edict that vehicles average an absurd 62 mpg by 2025. The current absurd standard — 35 mpg by 2015 — has forced manufacturers to invest billions in new small-car development. Today, manufacturers are in defiance of their own custom…
Last reply by Camino LS6, -
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun testing vehicles that have cameras in place of real mirrors. The request to test such devices goes back to March of 2014 when the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers along with Tesla filed a petition with the NHTSA to get approval to install based rear or side vision cameras and screens in their vehicles. Daimler filed a similar petition in 2015 for their heavy duty trucks. Japan and Europe have already approved the technology. The first car with cameras replacing the side mirrors was the Lexus ES sold in Japan, followed by the Audi e-tron in Europe back in December. Both vehicles are sold in the U.S.…
Last reply by balthazar, -
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Motor Trend - Base SS 6-speed Manual 0-60: 4.0 sec 1/4 mi: 12.4 @ 114.6 mph Lat grip: 1.00g Bass SS curb weight: 3670 lbs http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/2016-chevrolet-camaro-ss-first-test-review/ C&D - Loaded SS 8-speed auto 0-60: 3.9 sec 1/4 mi: 12.3 @ 116 mph Lat grip: .98g Loaded curb weight: 3760 lbs http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-chevrolet-camaro-ss-automatic-test-review Autoblog - Loaded V6 + V6 delivers good sound (!!) and unexpected performance + Crazy low weight 3450 lbs + Interior ergonomics - Some poor interior fitment (pre-production?) http://www.autoblog.com/2015/10/16/2016-chevrolet-camar…
Last reply by El Kabong, -
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Harry Stoffer Automotive News April 21, 2008 - 4:25 pm ET WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration apparently will try to spruce up its battered environmental image with an Earth Day announcement of higher fuel economy standards. Although there was no confirmation as of this afternoon, administration officials on Tuesday, April 22, are expected to reveal proposed fuel economy standards for cars and trucks in the 2011-15 model years. The Department of Transportation said Secretary Mary Peters will make an announcement on " protecting the environment." Federal law dictates that standards must rise to a combined 35 mpg by 2020, about 40 percent higher than today.…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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I stumbled onto this today. These guys seem to question the validity of vehicle reliablity scores from Consumer Reports, JD Power, Strategic Vision, etc. Seemed like a slightly different approach anyway. I also didn't see ANY GM cars listed on their comparison page... http://www.truedelta.com True Delta site
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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Interesting that both reviewers raved about the interior, given C/D's recent complaints about same. The remark about being both lighter and more substantial-feeling than the Benz E-Class was also pretty telling. Read all about it at the link: http://www.autoextremist.com/on-the-table1/
Last reply by El Kabong, -
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For those of us who work in real estate, when we hear that question it feels like we're wearing night vision goggles and standing on the prow of the Titanic while the Captain shouts down "Do you see anything ahead?". We're shouting back, but he can't hear us. Since December 2006, 170 mortgage lenders have shut down. The job loss involved in that is simply staggering. Many of these companies have anywhere between 100-500 employees, some are much larger. Assuming 300 as an average, that would mean at least 51,000 people have lost their jobs since December 2006. If GM or Ford fired 51,000 people it would be front page of the New York Times, but because the losses are sprea…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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2006 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study Not too long ago, J.D. Power announced that they would be overhauling the way they evaluate car quality. The results of the revamped study are now in and can be seen above and at the following link. Read "Redesigned Initial Quality Study..." @ J.D. Power and Associates
Last reply by Snate, -
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 6, 2012 Do you want a billion dollars? Well, all you need to do is build 60,000 cars that get 100 MPG and the U.S. government will send a check your way if a new bill is passed. Representative Dan Lungren ® of California's 3rd Congressional District has introduced a bill into Congress called the Excellence in Energy Efficiency Act of 2012. If the bill is passed, the legislation would have the Secretary of Energy "establish a program to award a prize in the amount of $1,000,000,000 to the first automobile manufacturer incorporated in the United States to manufacture and sell in the United States 60,000 mid-siz…
Last reply by loki, -
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 16, 2012 Fisker is looking to raise another $150 million to help keep the company afloat. "We need money on our balance sheet" to fund operating expenses. "And we need money to fund the development of the next car," said Ray Lane, a Fisker director and a managing partner at venture firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers to Reuters."We're raising some of that money now, and some later." The reason for the extra $150 million? Earlier this year, Fisker's request for $264.5 million in government was denied by U.S. Department of Energy. Couple that with development costs of the new Atlantic and production costs of…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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What about Amtrak? Monday May 12th 2008 Link to Source AMTRAK, America's oft-maligned national passenger rail service, has had a rough life. Deferred maintenance, low levels of federal funding, immense debt and competition with airlines have all taken their toll since the quasi-governmental entity was organised in 1971. But by the numbers, at least, Amtrak seems to be doing better. Ridership was nearly 26m in fiscal 2007, a new record. Ridership for 2008 is up 12% so far, according to AFP. Even Amtrak's "built-too-wide" Acela Express service is doing well. The increased security in airports following the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001 have made flying a…
Last reply by traumadog, -
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Jim Henry has written an article, "Which Auto Brands Should Go?," for Business Week. He admits that it's hard to choose. To read the piece, click here. I'm happy that he says, referring to Buick-Pontiac-GMC (B-P-G), that Buick is in the strongest position globally.
Last reply by gm4life, -
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Great Britain is planning to ban the sale of conventional gas and diesel vehicles from 2040 to help reduce air pollution. The government announced this in a paper published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). "There should be no new diesel or petrol vehicles by 2040," said environment minister Michael Gove to BBC Radio. This is part of the government's £2.7bn blueprint for tackling air pollution. This includes investments going towards building out a charging infrastructure, more efficient public transport, and promoting walking and bicycling. It needs to be noted that the ban will not affect models with hybrid and plug-in hybrid d…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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Cars are polluting, the take up a lot of space, they damage the roads, they kill / injure a lot of people every year and they damage our health by reducing the amound of exercise we get and they're also fairly expensive to buy and operate. Bicyclists however have a really hard time riding through cities because there's not much infrastructure available for them. Should cities turn a lot of the infrastructure destined for car trafic into infrastructure for bicycle traffic? I mean if there's a road with two lanes on each direction they would turn one lane on each sides into a bicycle path. Or if the road only has one lane per direction they'd turn one lane into a bicy…
Last reply by frogger, -
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The threat of a 20 percent tariff on vehicles exported from the European Union has a number of automakers panicking. But that tariff could be taken off the table if the EU removes their tariff on vehicles exported from the U.S. German paper Handelsblatt learned from sources that a meeting was held between the US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell and number of CEOs from German automakers. Grenell presented an offer directly from President Donald Trump - "elimination of all tariffs on automobile imports on both sides and removal of non-tariff barriers, such as regulations on the size of rear mirrors." Currently, the U.S. levies a 2.5 percent tariff on vehicle…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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As I write this light sweet crude oil has topped $75 a barrel. Hear me out. As I've said before Global Peak Oil Production is going to hit the industrialized world like a ton of bricks in the face. It's already begun. The smallest rumors in petroleum or gasoline disruption magnify themselves many times in price increases. Gasoline will be over $5 a gallon nationwide soon. Meanwhile, GM is making investments in large SUVs, crossovers, V-8 powered RWD sedans and mending its "performance" and "luxury" nameplates because that's where the profit is. For now. Soon, these vehicles will be languishing on the lots with HEAVY incentives despite their goodness. GM would d…
Last reply by longtooth, -
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The gist of it appears to be that the only way to neuter the righteous 5.0 Cummins is to overwhelm it with flab, which at 7200-plus pounds is precisely what Nissan did. Anyhoo, here's the link: http://m.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-nissan-titan-xd-test-review
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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Ford has gained a big advantage in one of the most competitive segments in the auto industry. The company's F-150 SuperCab was the only one of nine pickup trucks tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to earn a "good" rating on an influential new crash test. The vehicle joins its SuperCrew sibling as the only large pickups to earn the organization's "Top Safety Pick" award when equipped with a collision warning system. "Ford is leading the way among large pickup manufacturers when it comes to protecting people in a range of crashes and offering technology to warn drivers of imminent frontal crashes," said Raul Arbelaez, vice president of the IIHS Veh…
Last reply by ccap41, -
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now we base laws on something not definatively backed by scientific proof? OAKLAND, Calif. -- California is making it mandatory for cars to be labeled with global warming scores, figures that take into account emissions from vehicle use and fuel production. The law requiring the labels goes into effect at the start of next year for all 2009 model cars, though its expected the labels will be popping up on cars in the coming months. The labeling law forces cars for sale to display a global warming score, on a scale of one to 10, which is based on how vehicles in the same model year compare to one another. The higher the score, the cleaner a car is. The score takes i…
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 17, 2012 If you’re one of people who wants an electric car, but have the fear of not having enough power to make it through your daily drive, you might want to hear this story. A new study released by Columbia University says that 95% of daily trips could be made with an electric vehicles. The study done by two doctoral students used data from the Department of Transport’s 2009 National Household Travel Survey. The data showed 95% of the 748,918 recorded single-trip journeys by car were under 30 miles. More surprisingly, 98% of single-trip journeys were under 50 miles in length. Only 1% of single-trip journey…
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Backseat Driver The Small Car Conundrum Jerry Flint, 12.13.05, 12:12 AM Small cars make sense for obvious reasons, but they have never caught on big in the U.S. While such vehicles may gain ground in this market, I don't see them becoming a dominant force here--unless gasoline climbs past $5 a gallon. Detroit first flirted with small cars a half-century ago. As World War II ended, the big U.S. automakers believed there would be a tremendous demand for a new generation of small, light cars to put car-hungry Americans back on wheels. In 1944, then-young Henry Ford II said his company would build "a lower-priced car than had been offered the public since…
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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,462284,00.html
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