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Airbag manufacturer Takata is at the center of one the largest automotive recalls which affect an estimated 100 million vehicles from two dozen automakers around the world. The airbags in question have inflators that can rupture and send shrapnel flying in the event of a crash. They have been linked to at least 16 deaths and 180 injuries. Now, the next chapter begins as Takata filed for bankruptcy. Yesterday, TK Holdings (Takata's U.S. operations) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware on Sunday with liabilities totaling between $10 billion to $50 billion. The company would file for bankruptcy in Japan today. Takata also announced that it would be selling i…
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Takata, the Japanese company facing billions in liabilities stemming from its defective air bag inflators, is preparing to file for bankruptcy as early as next week as it works toward a deal for financial backing from U.S. auto parts maker Key Safety Systems, sources said on Thursday. https://www.google.com/amp/amp.timeinc.net/fortune/2017/06/16/takata-bankruptcy-air-bag/%3Fsource%3Ddam I'm really surprised it took this long. So what does this mean for all the people who have active recalls?
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GM Yields Sales Crown to FORD, or Did They? Motley Fool Report Interesting read, Ford won the month of May due to dumping a ton of auto's on the rental fleet market. GM had higher ATP than Ford, taking out rental sales, GM was the leader in North America. Some interesting takes on inventory on hand and how each company is dealing with the slow down. Read and sound off
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While car sales are down, the number of people opting for loan lengths from 73 to 84 months is going up. Karl Kruppa, senior automotive solutions consultant for Experian said at a conference last week that the share of 73 to 84 months car loans has been rising over the past eight years. Through February of this year, 33.8 percent of loans were for terms longer than 73 months. Other numbers to take into consideration, In the fourth quarter of 2010, three-fourths of new-car loans were between 73 to 75 months. Only 17.1 percent of loans were 84 months. Fast forward to the fourth quarter of 2016 and 28.7 percent of new car loans reached 84 months. …
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Towards the end of Obama presidency, the administration unveiled guidelines for testing and deployment of self-driving cars in the US. But there is a new presidency in the White House and that means things will be changing - although details are scarce as to how. U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said in Detroit yesterday the Department of Transportation would revisit and revise the guidelines put forth by the previous administration within the next few months. "The pressure is mounting for the federal government to do something" about autonomous vehicles, said Chao. "We don't want rules that impede future technological advances." Chao didn't g…
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And boy does this thing seem spicy- C&D MT Carfection via Jalopnik I have to say, I never disliked this thing in the first place, but I'm really starting to come around to it. It seems Ford really did make a racecar for the road, and I give them major props for that. In that light, I don't think the fact that it's a turbo V6 rather than a V8, V10, or V12 counts as much as a demerit. If you want a focused track weapon, this thing seems to offer more than even the big names across the pond has available. Bravo, Ford.
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Here is a paradox for you: Automakers have been increasing the number of safety features in their vehicles to help protect or avoid a crash. But this has also brought an unforeseen consquence; crash your vehicle and it is more likely that your insurance company will total it. That's according to a story from Automotive News who spoke with Bob Tschippert, senior vice president of Dallas-based underwriter Risk Theory. Tschippert explained that all of these new features has increased the costs of repairing a vehicle, thus causing the chance of an insurance company totaling vehicle to rise. "In the past, if you had a front-end collision, you had damage to the engine…
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April's auto sales are one most automakers would like to pretend never happen due to big declines. But if there is a silver lining to April sales, it has to go to small sports cars. Automotive News ran the numbers and found that sales of small sports cars rose 3.4 percent so far this year. Contrast this with 12 percent drop in overall demand for cars. The big winner in this group was the Mazda MX-5 Miata with sales up 35 percent so far this year. Sales in April declined slightly from March (1,319 vs. 1,345 units), but rose sharply when compared to January (929) and February (1,108). Other models saw noticeable increases: Fiat 124 Spider saw its sales ris…
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I can’t believe I’m saying this but, This thing actually seems usable and well done as far as capabilities go. It doesn’t have the highest towing ability but 5000 pounds isn’t too shabby. 2000 pound payload is better than most half tons available. On board power pretty much does away with range anxiety. I could see people actually wanting this if the price is reasonable. http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2017/05/2018-workhorse-w-15-review-first-look-and-drive.html
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Sales of new cars in the U.S. have been dropping in the past three months and analysts believe April's sales results will be much the same. But why are sales falling? It comes down to prices of new cars going up and up. According to data from ALG True Car, the average new-car price rose two percent when compared to last year. Kelly Blue Book reports that the average transaction price in March increased 1.7 percent to $34,342 when compared to the same time last year. There are a number of factors as to why consumers are balking at larger prices; credit not being as easy to attain, younger buyers being saddled with debt, and inflation. “It’s not just the price of …
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Chinese automakers see the U.S. as a land opportunity and have been making promises to start selling vehicles in the near future. None so far have made it. Now one Chinese brand is reconsidering their plans. SAIC Motor Corp., China's largest automaker and partner with GM, has put their U.S. ambitions on hold. Michael Yang, executive director of SAIC Motor’s international department said at a briefing that they have uncertainties about the trade policy between China and the U.S. due to the election of Donald Trump. Yang went on to say that the company would implement their U.S. strategy once it has gotten clarity. For the time being, SAIC has moved up plans to start s…
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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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" Dearborn — Ford Motor Co. will invest $1.2 billion in three Michigan facilities to prepare for production of the all-new Ford Ranger and Bronco, and to support the company’s expansion into mobility. The company said Tuesday it will invest $850 million to retool its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne for truck and SUV production; $150 million in its Romeo Engine Plant to expand capacity for several vehicles; and $200 million to build a data center at the company’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant. Ford announced in January the Flat Rock facility also would see a $700 million investment and 700 new jobs to support the production of electrified and autonomous vehicles. The…
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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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" The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from General Motors to stop hundreds of lawsuits related to faulty ignition switches, reports The Detroit News. Now, the automaker faces up to $10 billion in damages from the additional claims. The court upheld a previous ruling that said the automaker couldn’t use its previous bankruptcy as a way to avoid ignition switch claims involving death, injury, and economic loss from the depreciation of affected vehicles. Last year, a federal appeals court argued GM must face these pre-bankruptcy claims because it knew about a problem with its ignition switches for more than a decade and decided to keep the matter a secret. " …
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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Everyone needs to check this out. http://centurylink.net/news/read/category/news/article/the_associated_press-venezuelas_opposition_seeks_to_keep_pressure_on_ma-ap
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Last October, Chinese automaker Geely unveiled a new global brand called Lynk & Co. This brand stood out in a few ways, Vehicles will be sold online Owners will be able to share their Lynk & Co vehicles to make some money An open application programming interface to develop in-car applications Recently announcing all of their vehicles would come with lifetime warranties The plan was for the brand to launch in China this year, with Europe and U.S. following in late 2018. But a new report from Automotive News says the launch for Europe and U.S. has been pushed back to 2019. “We think we will start in Europe between the first quarte…
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Good vehicle interiors can be hard to find, especially if you are on a budget. If you are in the market for a decent one, the Subaru Impreza is the most affordable at $29,260 (as tested) — and that’s the cheapest one you’ll find on Ward’s annual best interior list. The auto news site also named the Bentley Bentayga, which can set you back at least $278,730, one of this year’s winners, with Honda (CR-V), Lexus (LC 500), and Mazda (CX-9) being the only brands to return as 10 Best Interiors award recipients. Aside from the aforementioned models, this year’s list included the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Buick LaCrosse, Lincoln Continental, Maserati Levante, and Mini Countrym…
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According to Channel 3 KCRA news as reported on msn.com, California has pushed through their first gas tax raise in 23 years to address their $130 Billion plus backlog of road repairs / upgrades. This will be covered by the following increases: Gas tax $.12 per gallon Diesel $.20 per gallon Auto Registration $25 - $175 per auto. They say this will add about $10 per month to the average driver's monthly cost. While many people say it is more expensive and will be tougher, they also say the roads are needed to be repaired. Interesting is while this got pushed through by the Governor, republicans in the state which are a minority in both houses say this i…
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G. David Felt - Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.cheersandgears.com Hyundai and Kia possibly replacing 1.2 Million engines! According to a breaking story on King 5 News, Hyundai and Kia are recalling 1.2 million auto's for possible engine failure. 2013 - 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport & Sonata 2011 - 2014 Kia Sportage & Sorento Company has stated that debri from manufacturing was possibly left in the engine that will restrict oil flow to connecting rod bearings that will increase temperatures and cause premature wear and failure on the bearings. Dealerships will inspect engines and if wear is detected, will repl…
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PSA Group is slowing making end roads into U.S. as part of their 10-year plan. We have already reported on their carsharing service, TravelCar that will be launching in select markets this month. Now, the French automaker has taken the next step by announcing former Nissan and TrueCar executive Larry Dominique as a Senior Vice President of PSA North America. Automotive News reports Dominique's role will first deal with the car-sharing aspects before starting to make progress on one or all of the brands in the U.S. “This is a market that, as a full-line automaker, you need to be part of. But this is a 10-year project. It’s not about jumping in and creating market…
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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.…
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G. David Felt - Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.cheersandgears.com Tesla Officially in Trouble, Business Insider Says! To quote Business Insider final comments on Tesla and the Chevy Bolt: "Clearly, Tesla would be in less trouble if the Chevy Bolt were a bad car. But it isn't. Teslas have always blown me away. The Bolt blew me away for different reasons. I just hope Tesla is prepared to take this into account." Matthew is a Business Insider senior correspondent who covers transportation and as a fan of Tesla was excited to check out a Chevy BOLT as comparison to the Tesla. On a recent trip to california he took time to vis…
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1) Ford F-250 SD XL 4x2 2) FCA Ram 2500 Tradesman 4x2 3) GM's Chevy Silverado 2500 WT 4) Nissan XD S 4x4 The Nissan Endurance and Ford Boss, both DOHC, hit peak torque at a lower RPM than the OHV engines... GM Vortec 6.0 - 385 @ 4400 Ford Boss 6.2 - 430 @ 3800 Hemi 6.4 - 429 @ 4400 Endurance 5.4 - 401 @ 4000 Read More
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G. David Felt - Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.cheersandgears.com Eggshells and Tomato skins, Could this be your next Tire? The Ohio State University took up a big challenge, how to replace a core component in tire manufacturing, Carbon Black! This important component of tire manufacturing was in surplus up till 10 years ago when the Chinese market for auto's took off. A reason tire prices have increased is due to a dwindling supply of carbon black. The Ohio State University took on this challenge to find a replacement that would accomplish 3 things: sustainability, reduced foreign oil and reduction of waste from landfills. Their…
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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…
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Forbes List of 15 Auto's to Avoid Forbes have published their 2017 auto list to avoid. This is based on their reviews of Consumer reports rating and JD Powers ranking. Interesting you can click the link above to read all the details of what they state for each auto but the list shakes down as follows: BMW 7 Series Cadillac XTS Dodge Journey Fiat 500L Jeep Compass Jeep Patriot Jeep Wrangler Lincoln MKS Lincoln MKT Mitsubishi iMiEV Mitsubishi Mirage Nissan Armada Nissan Titan Scian iQ Smart ForTwo
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Feb 2017 Automotive Safety Recalls These start as of last month and go backwards, 198 current active recalls. Suprising is that Mazda has multiple recalls on every single product they make and some even on products no longer made. Crazy. Also latest Mercedes-benze sure seems to have a bunch of recalls too. Seems that Ford and GM has a bunch of airbag recalls now, same issue that has hit Honda and the rest of the asian OEMS. How is this still not resolved and still an issue even on 2016/2017 models? Auto NXT published the current list, nice job. http://autonxt.net/latest-automotive-safety-recalls/
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While the big story at PSA Group (parent company of Citroen and Peugeot) is about the possible sale of Opel, they are also getting ready to begin to take their first steps into re-entering the U.S. marketplace. In April, car-sharing service TravelCar will launch at airports in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The service has been operating at various airports and train stations in Europe since 2012. The expansion into the U.S. is thanks to a 15 million euro (about $18.5 million) investment by PSA Group and MAIF, a French insurance company. TravelCar is different from other car-sharing services such as ZipCar and GM's Maven as it rents out other people's cars. The se…
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Well, after all the hub but from Trump, it appears that Ford is going to do what it wants to do. Any insight on this @William Maley or @Drew Dowdell? https://www.yahoo.com/news/ford-not-scrapping-plans-build-mexico-factories-company-021839351.html
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This story is posted by MSN in their auto forum from a U.S. News and World Report story on "Why Are Manual Transmission Disappearing?" Thought it was an interesting piece. I agree with some of what is said but also feel there is a lack of effort on why some might still want a manual or how they can keep the value by being an informed sales person. I will agree that the best anti-theft device is a manual transmission now. Seems the news has more and more stories about the craziness of people breaking in to steal an auto and when it is a manual they end up having to leave. http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/ownership/why-are-manual-transmissions-disappearing/ar-…
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“Most dangerous car in America.” It’s the title no automaker wants to have, but was given to the Dodge Ram by 24/7 Wall St., a financial publication that put together a list of the worst cars on the road based on testing scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Consumer Reports, the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration and consumer analyst JD Power. The Ram 1500, a long-standing high-selling pickup truck in the US, has a safety track record that "has long been unimpressive," said 24/7 Wall St., noting poor crash testing results. It also scored a poor 2/5 from JD Power's Initial Quality Study. In second place was the Chevr…
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Since President Donald Trump was elected, automakers have been pushing for him to relax the stricter fuel economy and emission regulations coming into effect by 2025. Now there is another group calling for this. At the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) annual conference, dealers voiced support for the new president ease the upcoming regulations. "You inflate the price of the vehicle and a car that was maybe within reach of being affordable now may not be," said NADA's new chairman, Mark Scarpelli to Reuters. Scarpelli argues that the tech needed to improve fuel economy adds $1,500 to $3,000 to the price of a vehicle. He also says that a "diffe…
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Flogging these pickup trucks off-road wasn't our only consideration when picking the 2017 Monster Factory Off-Road Challenge winner. Each truck racked up points through rigorous evaluations in a number of subjective categories that included judges' scores in interior quality, versatility, value and more. Points also were awarded for measured testing of acceleration and braking and various truck-centric capabilities, including payload and gross vehicle weight ratings. The winner was perhaps a bit lopsided in off-road chops and leaned so far in that direction that its shortcomings in other areas weren't serious enough to keep it off the top of the podium. Here's how th…
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The CEOs of Detroit's three automakers met with President Donald Trump this morning to talk about investments. Specifically, investments into U.S. manufacturing. "We have a very big push on to have auto plants and other plants -- many other plants," Trump told reporters at the meeting. “We’re going to make the process much more simple for the oil companies and everybody else that wants to do business in the United States.” During the meeting, Trump told the CEOs that he plans on cutting corporate tax rates to 15-20 percent, and reduce regulations by 75 percent. “We think we can cut regulations by 75 percent. Maybe more. When you want to expand your plant, …
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com Michelin X Tweel Tires, Future Tire Today! Michelin for the last 10 plus years has been playing with an airless tire. The goal has been a tire that has no air valves, no more need for air compressors at gas stations or any auto dealership or repair place, no more repair kits and no more flats, ever! We have seen many presentations by Michelin at auto shows over the years presenting various proto types but for the most part the story has been the same. With this we went through stories about the Military exploring this as a better way to deal with unknowns in the war zon…
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New York Daily News Published UPDATED list of Takata Airbag Recall Auto's Pretty cool that here is the updated list of all affected auto's talk about a crazy long list. Interesting that the Toyota HighLander is not on the list. http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/news/takata-airbag-recall-list-cars-article-1.2602999 Seems GM products are limited to the full size trucks and SUVs only unlike Dodge and MB have everything listed.
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com Samsung, The Next LG Battery Competitor? Samsung has decided to be the next major Li cell supplier to the auto industry and has decided to one up LG in their quest to be the top supplier of super high density Li cells. Back in September 2016 Green Car Report stated that in an interview with Samsung, that they wanted to be equal to if not replace LG as one of the largest Li cell suppliers to the auto industry. They currently supply the cells for the BMW i line of EV auto's. In this story Samsung announced a $400 million investment in a new battery plant in Hungary which would allow the…
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com UK Law Firm files Lawsuit against VW UK VW Owners Lawsuit A downtown law firm has filed a group class action lawsuit against VW on behalf of a potential 1.2 million TDI owners. To date according the Euro Autonews web site 10,000 have signed on to be represented. VW has taken a very different approach to Europe and with that, more and more countries are demanding compensation equal to what VW is doing in the US. Last year according to the story, a Spanish court found in favor of the owners that the local dealer was also responsible and judged in favor of the TDI owners that t…
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Technology is moving at a rapid rate and it seems every aspect of our lives are affected by it. Take for example cars, many believe in the future that cars will be fully self-driving and be powered by some sort of alternative powertrain. One person believes that kids born now will not even need a driver's license because of this technology. Henrik Christensen, head of UC San Diego’s Contextual Robotics Institute said in an interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune said in about 10 to 15 years, autonomous vehicles will be a regular part of our lives. “My own prediction is that kids born today will never get to drive a car. Autonomous, driverless cars are 10, 15…
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The Takata Airbag recall now stands as the largest vehicle recall ever due to how many vehicles around the world use them. In the U.S. alone, 19 auto manufacturers have recalled 49 million vehicles with the airbags that can shoot out shrapnel in the event of an accident. 11 deaths and 184 injuries in the U.S. have been linked to these airbags. Due to this, Takata has been facing numerous lawsuits and investigations. A new report says that Takata is close to closing one of those investigations. The Wall Street Journal has learned from sources that Takata is in negotiations with the U.S. Justice Department about a possible settlement. The deal would see the Japanese su…
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Ford Motor Co. says it is dropping its plan to build a $1.6-billion US plant in Mexico, a plan criticized by Donald Trump during last year's presidential primary campaign. Ford also announced it plans to invest about $700 million in a Michigan factory that will build high-tech autonomous and electric vehicles. The company said it will add 700 direct new jobs at its Flat Rock (Michigan) Assembly Plant, which will build a small sport utility vehicle with extended battery range, a fully autonomous vehicle for ride-hailing or ride-sharing, and the Ford Mustang and Lincoln Continental.\ Link
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More and more police departments are going towards crossovers and SUVs for their fleets. According to Automotive News Canada, police departments are going with these vehicles over their sedan counterparts as they are able to fit all of their equipment needed on a daily basis. Officers like them as crossovers and SUVs are easier to get in and out. “We’re all dealing with the same issue, and that is the vehicles are getting smaller, yet there’s still demand for more gadgets and equipment put into those cars. It’s always a bit of a tradeoff and a challenge to make it all fit,” Julie Furlotte, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's national mobile assets manager. The R…
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Only a couple of months after electric vehicle start-up Lucid Motors came out of the dark and unveiled an unnamed prototype vehicle, they have unveiled their first model named the Air. The model is taking direct aim at Tesla and their Model S sedan. The Air is powered by two electric motors - one on each axle - and can be paired with either a 100 kWh or 130 kWh battery pack. Total output stands at 1,000 horsepower. In terms of range, the 100 kWh battery pack is estimated to provide over 300 miles and 130 kWh battery pack is estimated to provide around 400 miles. Outside, the Lucid Air looks like something out of Minority Report. The front is short and fea…
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The past few years have seen a number of start-ups tackling an issue that has been a thorn in the side of consumers, buying a used car. Companies such as Beepi, Carvana, Shift, and Vroom have their own take on selling used vehicles, but the goal is the same - make it less of a hassle to buy a car by selling directly to a consumer through the internet at a lower price. But one of these companies has folded most of their operations. Beepi, one of the first companies to launch back in 2014 folded most of its operations last week and announced yesterday that it would be merging Fair.com, a soon to launch online vehicle retail platform. As a result, 180 people lost their …
Last reply by riviera74, -
There is a right way and a wrong way when it comes to testing autonomous vehicles on public roads. Uber has demonstrated the wrong way. Yesterday, the company launched eleven driverless Volvo XC90s in San Fransisco as part of a pilot program. But by late morning, two of the eleven vehicles were running amok. The San Fransisco Examiner got their hands on a dash cam video showing one of the XC90s running a red light at 10:37 A.M. Later that morning, a freelance producer and writer tweeted “Just passed a ‘self-driving’ Uber that lurched into the intersection on Van Ness [Avenue], on a red, nearly hitting my Lyft.” “It was close enough that both myself and the drive…
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Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed into law today a full suite regulations regarding the testing, use and eventual sale of autonomous vehicles in the state. “By establishing guidelines and standards for self-driving vehicles, we’re continuing that tradition of excellence in a way that protects the public’s safety while at the same time allows the mobility industry to grow without overly burdensome regulations,” said Synder in a statement. The new law will allow vehicles without steering wheels or brake pedals to travel on public roads, companies to operate autonomous ride-hailing services, and sell autonomous vehicles of the public once they have been certifi…
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Stumbled across this story on the BBC that shows that 4 major cities will have a ban on all diesel auto's and Trucks by 2025. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38170794 Paris Mexico City Madrid Athens These four cities are implementing complete bans on Diesel to improve air quality. Campaigners are pushing to have London Diesel free also by 2025. Very interesting read, plus I see they are converting more roads into bicycle lanes only. Bummer but the future is an ICE free future for many cities
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Today’s full-size, light-duty pickup trucks not only can perform an impressive amount of work, they can do so with surprising ease and comfort. Indeed, these do-it-all workhorses are indispensable to individuals and businesses alike for their myriad abilities on and off the pavement. Yet one rises above the others due to refinement and innovations that push the art of the full-size pickup farther than its competition: the Ford F-150. The F-150 is simply the most fully realized full-size pickup truck on the market, and it’s this broad bandwidth—from base-level work truck to luxury four-by-four to factory-warrantied desert racer—that raises the Ford above its peers and …
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The Environmental Protection Agency has today proposed to keep its vehicle emission targets through 2025, shocking a lot of people and possibly setting up a major fight between regulators and the automotive industry. According to Automotive News, the proposal will now enter a 30-day comment period. After this period, the EPA administrator could finalize this proposal and begin enforcing these standards a bit quicker. By 2025, automakers will need to increase their to 54.5 miles per gallon corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) numbers to 54.5 miles per gallon. Why move the proposal up now? A proposal was expected next year with a final decision in 2018. The EPA…
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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…
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This was a cool read on MT, their BIG Test of Luxury SUVs. http://www.motortrend.com/cars/cadillac/escalade/2015/the-big-test-large-luxury-suvs/ The end results were as follows: 6TH PLACE: INFINITI QX80 When you factor in worst in test fuel economy, a cramped third row, and those awkward looks, you have a big SUV that only one of us loved. 5TH PLACE: LINCOLN NAVIGATOR Although it’s cheaper than the others, it’s not nearly as luxurious. We love the powertrain and the ‘Gator’s utility. 4TH PLACE: LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER HSE Gorgeous truck, Gerry McGovern be praised. But the suspect build quality and pricey everything else leaves us…
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The 2017 Ford F-150 – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever – introduces an updated powertrain lineup with the debut of its all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost® and Ford-built 10-speed automatic. The powertrain provides 50 lb.-ft. more peak torque, and features improvements across all three EPA fuel economy ratings – city, highway and combined – of 1 mpg over the 2016 model. Also new for the 2017 F-150 is the return of the STX Appearance Package bundling numerous exterior and interior features that aren’t normally available to give F-150 customers a great value truck. For comfort and convenience, BLIS® with cross-traffic alert now includes trailer coverage, while SY…
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" Chrysler is now the first United States-based carmaker to be sued for allegedly skewing emissions results. In a move that sounds eerily similar to the troubles of European manufacturers, Chrysler is claimed to have hid diesel engine characteristics causing emissions as much as 14 times higher than permitted by regulations. " Read More
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You're a Volkswagen 2.0L TDI owner who decided to take the buy-back offer. You have a sizeable check in your pocket and decide to go looking for a new car. The folks at Hyundai and Volvo are hoping you buy one of their vehicles and are offering special deals to try and rope you in. CarsDirect has learned about the offers the two automakers are putting forward to former Volkswagen owners. Hyundai's offer is the Hyundai Circle V-Plan - think Ford's X plan pricing for friends and family. This plan takes 3 percent off the MSRP, plus $1,250 V-Plan cash and current incentives. You'll need to break out the calculator to figure how much you'll save, but it appears to be sign…
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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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Fisker is beginning to drop information on their new vehicle called EMotion along with some clear images of the model. The design is.. well... out there. The side profile looks be a Karma that has been squished. There are tall wheel wells and deep cuts in the doors. The front end is something - we're going with the policy if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything. The vehicle is built out of aluminum and carbon fiber. Fisker is already making some claims about the EMotion such as the vehicle having "superb rear legroom." "Fisker has taken advantage of the newly developed electric powertrain layout by pushing the vehicle’s entire interior compartme…
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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…
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com China's Solution to Mass Transit, Drive Over the Cars! China has decided that due to the population they have and the mass transportation that a different way of thinking is needed. They came up with the idea that if the buses drove over the auto's they could use the same road for both personal and mass transit. These buses would hold 1000 people at a time. As such, they had this video and mock model of what it would look like posted here on the BBC web site: BBC Video on proposed buses This seem to go over well and as such, a large circle route was done with a fully functio…
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com Bosch Selling WaterBoost Injection for Turbo Engines Seems since BMW M4 using a Bosch water injection system that works, Bosch has decided this is what the future is for all turbo engines and has come out with a solution kit to sell to all OEMs of Turbo Engines called WaterBoost. Essentially this is added to the intake side with a water vapor injection to cool the piston, increasing density and driving longer life and more power from the engine. This technology is not new and has been around since WWII when it was used in supercharged planes to assist during hard maneuvers …
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Chevy Offers $11,000 Discount To Move Silverado
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The past month or so has been the best time in eight years to buy a pickup — and, as predicted, it looks as if the time is getting even better. General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) is currently offering a total incentive package of up to $11,115 on its 2016 Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LT All Star. That’s almost double the company’s September average incentive of $5,647 on a pickup. GM was not the only automaker offering big incentive packages on pickups. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (NYSE: FCAU) offered an average incentive of $7,082 on Ram pickups last month. Ford Motor Co.’s (NYSE: F) offer on the F-150 was the lowest of the three at $5,173. As far as FCA is concer…
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In 2016, nine brands sold 20 diesel models in the U.S. But in light of the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal, a number from Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche have been sidelined. But there are diesel models from GM, FCA, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and Land Rover still being offered. But the only 2017 models you can buy at the moment are from Jaguar and Land Rover. Where are the rest? In limbo thanks to a new battery of tests being doing by the EPA. Automotive News reports that since last October, the EPA has been subjecting diesel models to new tests to determine if other automakers are pulling any sneaky cheats. The EPA hasn't said anything publicly about the tests as…
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Chinese automaker Geely has introduced a new global brand, Lynk & Co., and their first model, an SUV developed alongside with Volvo in Berlin tonight. Geely's hopes for this new brand is to "disrupt the automobile industry and redesign the process of buying, owning and using a car". The SUV called the 01 looks like a Porsche Cayenne up front and possibly Volvo along the side. Power will come from a hybrid system comprised of a 1.5L three-cylinder engine and electric motor. Other engines options will be announced at a later time. Transmissions include a manual and dual-clutch automatic. The 01 uses Volvo's CMA (Compact Modular Architecture) platform - something we…
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The current trend in powertrains is to downsize engine displacement to meet emission standards. Paired with a set of turbochargers, three-cylinder and even two-cylinder engines can produce enough power to move large vehicles. But this trend is coming to an end in Europe. Reuters reports that a number of European automakers are beginning to scrap their small displacement engines for larger displacement ones. With a number of real-world tests showing these engines produce higher CO2 and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than in the lab, and stricter tests coming in the next few years, automakers are making a costly reversal. "They might be doing OK in the current Eur…
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America. The land of opportunity. Various automakers around the world want to get in on this very lucrative marketplace. But as Automotive News notes, trying to break into the U.S. marketplace is close to mission impossible. Automakers who don't compete in the U.S. see numbers like "16-million-plus sales volume of new cars and trucks" and "average transaction price of $30,665, according to J.D. Power" and want a piece of this. But the U.S. is an unforgiving place. "People around the world look at the sales volumes going on here, and they look at the fortunes being made here, and they look at what the outlook is in other parts of the world -- and they want to be …
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J.D. Power has announced the results of their inaugural Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study. The study focused on the experience of owners with a vehicle's technology features such as infotainment and safety during the first 90 days. The good news is the average satisfaction score was 730 out of a possible 1,000 points. But owners aren't impressed with their vehicle's navigation system. It earned the lowest average score of 687 in the study. More than half of the owners surveyed said they never even used the system, using the navigation function on their phones. Nearly a third who said they used the navigation system only used it for two weeks before resorting to their …
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Members of Germany's government have passed a resolution that could mean the end of gas and diesel vehicles. German newspaper Der Spiegel reports that the Germany's legislative body, the Bundesrat (represents all sixteen states in the country) passed a resolution to ban the sale of gas and diesel engines in 2030. After that, only zero-emission vehicles will be allowed to be built. The resolution also calls on the European Union to follow in their footsteps. But the Bundesrat doesn't have any direct authority over the EU. However, Forbes points out that Germany has the largest government and most powerful economy in the EU. This means any legislation that goes throug…
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One group that has been fighting tooth and nail against Tesla and their direct sales model is the National Automobile Dealers Association. With Tesla filing a federal lawsuit against the state of Michigan over a law banning direct sales, NADA Chairman Jeff Carlson has made some comments as to why Tesla's direct sales model is bad. The Detroit Free Press reports that Carlson said the direct sales model is bad for consumers because it would lead to higher prices. Competition between dealers is a good thing for consumers. In a study commissioned by NADA and done by Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal and Economic Public Policy Studies, competition between dealers lead to …
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Much has been written about the current Mustang (not least by Ford itself) concerning its conception as a "global car." In particular, much emphasis has been placed on the S550's ability to be sold in RHD markets. However, there has been a bit of ambiguity about the car's power output, particularly in V8 form. Top Gear's review of the 5.0 placed output at 412hp, without explanation. Now, we know why. R&T is reporting that some folks have discovered the exhaust on RHD cars is severely compromised in order to clear the RHD steering hardware: "Our friends in England and other right-hand drive nations make a very particular sacrifice: thanks to different steering p…
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Henrik Fisker has resurrected his namesake company. Speaking with Bloomberg, Fisker said his new company Fisker Inc. will reveal a "premium, all-electric vehicle in the second half of 2017." Various about this new vehicle and the underlying electric technologies are currently under lock and key. But Bloomberg was able to glean some information about it. The battery technologies developed by Fisker Nanotech - their battery division - promises over 400 miles of range and feature industry-leading battery life that could "match the life of the vehicle." “The technology emanates from several professors from UCLA who have been working on energy storage. We have alread…
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https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/dieselgate-1st-anniversary-all-diesel-car-brands-europe-are-even-more-polluting-volkswagen Everyone else was far worse in what they put into the air in Europe than VW. Everyone....
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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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2016 MOTOR TREND BEST DRIVER’S CAR
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12 Top Contenders, Only 1 Winner Our 2016 Best Driver’s Car competition is the most competitive in the award’s nine-year history. This year, 12 automakers sent their best sports cars, supercars, and ponycars our way for a week of incredibly vigorous testing. In fact, if you’ll allow us to brag for a moment, we had so many contenders that we had to institute a one-car-per-manufacturer rule for this competition—more on that in a sec. This year, we had 6,484 horsepower worth of cars competing to earn our Best Driver’s Car title. This $1.8 million field of carbon fiber, aluminum, and steel is particularly special because it represents almost every major auto-…
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com 2016 J.D. Powers VDS SUVs JD powers has their 2016 vehicle dependability study out. VDS Study You can review it for all other segments, but being a dedicated SUV / CUV buyer, I was curious to know after 3 years who was top dog. Small SUV - Buick Encore Compact SUV - Chevrolet Equinox Compact Premium SUV - Mercedes-Benz GLK Midsize SUV - Nissan Murano Midsize Premium SUV - Lexus GX Large SUV - GMC Yukon I have to say that having 3 of the 6 segments covered by a GM product is pretty damn impressive!
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https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/19/many-car-brands-emit-more-pollution-than-volkswagen-report-finds Europe seems to allow a certain amount of cheating, but this may well get ugly across the pond.
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Sales of new cars have been reaching all-time highs and part of the reason comes down leases. The Detroit News reports that nearly one in three vehicles built for the U.S. is leased. Data from Edmunds shows 2.2 million vehicles were leased in the first half of 2016. Not only is this up 13 percent from the same time year, it is double the volume from 2011. Steven Szakaly, chief economist for the National Automobile Dealers Association tells the Detroit News there is plenty of space for more leases. “I think this could easily be 40 percent of the market,” said Sazkaly. Why have leases become popular? It comes down to the monthly payment. Compared with payments for…
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Since the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal came to light, more scrutiny has been put on automakers and emissions standards. Recent real-world tests of European market diesel vehicles have revealed a number were 10 times over the legal limit for emissions. With stricter regulations coming into effect next year, automakers are reconsidering their investment in diesel. Case in point is Renault. Reuters has learned from sources at the company that it believes diesel engines will disappear from their lineup due to stricter regulations. This comes from an internal meeting before a summer break where Renault went over the costs of meeting these stricter regulations. Accor…
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A number of German automakers are recalling a number of diesel vehicles to tweak the engine management software to produce less nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Reuters reports that Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Porsche, and Volkswagen have agreed to recall 630,000 diesel vehicles to tweak engine management software. The software in question can turn off emission treatment systems to improve engine performance and increase the services interval. Is it legal? Yes, thanks to a legal loophole that allows automakers to throttle back emission treatment systems in certain situations to protect engines. This was discovered in various European emission tests. In light of the …
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The Ford Mustang performed slightly better than rival muscle cars Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger in a series of crash tests conducted recently by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. While none of the three earned the institute's Top Safety Pick, which requires good or better ratings in five crashworthiness tests, the Mustang came closest. The Camaro fell short in one category and lacks an available front crash prevention system, also known as forward collision avoidance warning. Tests found Challenger to be "most in need of improvement." "Given that sports cars have high crash rates, it's especially important that they offer the best occupant pr…
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'Autonomous Emergency Braking' (AEB) and the various names this system goes under have the same goal; to bring the vehicle to a stop if the driver doesn't fails to engage the brakes. But a new study done by AAA reveals not all systems are equal and a very worrying trend concerning a consumer's belief in the system. There are two types of emergency braking systems, ones that are designed to bring the vehicle to stop to avoid a crash and ones that reduce speed to limit the severity of a crash. Unsurprisingly, AAA's tests showed that systems designed to avoid a crash did a better job than systems designed to limit the crash damage. At speeds under 30 mph, systems …
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"Ford Motor Co (F.N) reported weaker-than-expected profit in the second quarter, and said its full-year earnings forecast was at risk with U.S. auto sales expected to fall in the second half, sending shares tumbling in premarket trading. "Auto sales in the United States and China were lower than anticipated in the quarter, and Ford reported its first quarterly loss in the Asia Pacific in three years. "Ford shares shed 7 percent to $12.87 in premarket trading." More at the link: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ford-motor-profit-falls-u-111836898.html
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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…
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The EPA, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and California Air Resources Board have released their draft Technical Assessment Report on the 'Midterm Evaluation of Light-duty Vehicle GHG Emissions Standards for Model Years 2022-2025'. Despite the long name, this report is important as the results will help determine if the 54.5 mpg corporate average fuel economy target for 2025 needs to be adjusted or not. Let's begin with the good news. The report says the industry is “adopting fuel economy technologies at unprecedented rates.” Automakers and suppliers have been hard at work on developing new technologies to improve overall fuel economy and emission…
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Very good news for them here and abroad although there is still much that needs to be done in Europe. This is also a direct result of reducing their dependency on rental sales while increasing their retail sales. http://www.motortrend.com/news/gm-posts-strong-q2-results-net-income-157-percent/
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Visit any auto show and you're bound to see a futuristic concept with out any sideview or rearview mirrors. Instead, you'll find cameras that do the same function. This technology will soon be appearing on production vehicles in Japan. Japan's transport ministry has approved the use of cameras and video screens to take the place of mirrors on production vehicles. This comes after a decision made in November by the United Nations World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations allowing automakers to replace rear and sideview mirrors with cameras. Proponents of camera systems say it provides a wider field of vision and makes a vehicle more aerodynamic. But swit…
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Yesterday, Hertz has announced that it reached partnership deals with both Uber and Lyft to provide vehicles to drivers. The deal will see Hertz proving drivers of the ride-sharing startups of vehicles that have been rotated out of their fleet. Drivers will get special rates on these vehicles. Hertz spokesman Bill Masterson says the rate for midsize vehicles will be $180 per week, including mileage and insurance. Why is Hertz making deals with Lyft and Uber? You only need to go back earlier this year when the company said ride-sharing services was limiting growth. Hertz thinks that if you work with and not against, you might have a shot of succeeding. “We consider…
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com Self Driving Machines is a battle for your soul and that of Detroit! Wall Street Journal had the following story, Detroit Battles for the Soul of Self-Driving Machines. In reading this I felt it was more about Self Driving Machines and the battle for Detroit and your soul as a driver. The story goes on to follow an engineer who left Caterpillar and went to Ford only to end up at a startup that is doing far more inline with High Tech software companies than auto companies. It made me wonder if the new Detroit is not the west coast now. The amount of technology that is being aimed at the auto…
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May was a horrible month for automakers as many reported sales drops. Part of this can be attributed sales of cars (especially sedans) imploding. According to Automotive News, the 15 largest automakers all posted lower car sales. Overall car sales dropped 16 percent. "We don't get a lot of ups on cars right now, as far as people even wanting a price on them," said Gary Uftring, president of Uftring Auto Group in Peoria, Ill. "Styling has changed, and what people want to be seen in is a crossover or a sport utility." Case in point, light-truck sales rose 2.4 percent in May. Sedans were the hardest hit for May. Here's a rundown of the big losers, Toyota Ca…
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Small SUVs and crossovers are making huge gains in terms of sales. A key part of this success comes down to a single group of buyers, single women. Data from research company MaritzCX reveals that sales of small SUVs to women rose 34 percent between 2010 and 2015. In the same time, sales of these vehicles to single men only rose 22 percent. Sales of small luxury SUVs saw a large increase of 177 percent to women. Out of the total amount of women buyers, 40 percent are single. “There’s a group of single, professional females out there that need vehicles, and you need to be attentive to them,” said James Mulcrone, director of research services at MaritzCX to Bloomber…
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"Engineers at GM are on the verge of putting a couple parts for the Cadillac CT6 sedan into production that are notable because they require welding steel to aluminum. GM is only months away from assembling seat backs and hood reinforcements using spot welding to join the two metals. "It is potentially a game-changer for an industry seeking the fastest and cheapest way to make lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Others have expressed interest in GM’s technology. Ford’s strategy, so far, is not being emulated by others." Read more on GM's future approach to car making at the link: http://www.motortrend.com/news/war-ideas-gms-mixed-material-strategy-vs-fords-bet-alumi…
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The long-rumored joint roadster/sports car project that BMW and Toyota are working on has found a home for production. German newspaper Kleine Zeitung reports Magna Steyr - a unit of Magna International based in Canada and specializes in building low-volume models - has been contracted by BMW to build a new model at the Graz, Austria plant starting in 2018. The plan is to have an annual production run of 60,000 vehicles. BMW has confirmed that it will be contracting Magna Steyr to build a new model next year after deciding it would end production of the Countryman and Paceman at the factory - possibly the next 5-Series sedan. The Paceman will be axed while the Country…
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Imagine a car that’s the length of a Smart ForTwo, the width of a Honda Accord, and six inches taller than a Cadillac Escalade. Those are the exterior dimensions of the Mirrow Provocator, a Russian car company design. None are on the road yet, and all you can see on the Mirrow Cars website are graphic representations of many views and permutations of the vehicle. Mirrow’s slogan is “Cars like a mirror of tomorrow.” The company describes the Provocator as a “business car” and says it’s intended for service in the city. It’s designed to park perpendicularly to the curb, preferably backed in, which turns out to be very convenient, as the only full-size door is in the…
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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is able to build vehicles in China thanks to a partnership with Chinese automaker Guangzhou Auto. Guangzhou wants FCA to return the favor by helping them enter the U.S. "Chrysler's development in China required our support. Now for GAC Motor's development in the U.S. we also hope for Chrysler's support and help," said GAC Motor General Manager Wu Song to Reuters at the Beijing auto show. Guangzhou Auto's subsidiary GAC Motor announced its intentions last year to enter the U.S. by 2017. The company has already been talking with dealerships about selling their vehicles and doing tests on U.S. roads. Song told Reuters the company has also st…
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com Auto CEO Compensation CNBC with Reuters has posted CEO compensation for GM, FCA, and FORD for 2015 and clearly also points out GM CEO Barra's compensation jumps 72% to $28 Million for 2016. 2015 Compensation GM CEO Barra - $7.3 Million on $152.4 Billion in sales, $10.8 EBIT earnings. FCA CEO Marchionne - $73.6 million FORD CEO Field $18.6 million Course stock does make up a large percentage of the pay package, but it is interesting to see what they are paid. CNBC-Reuters story
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The most famous boulevard in Paris, the Champs-Élysées will not see any vehicles for one Sunday every month. The Agence France-Presse reports that the Paris city government will ban vehicles from the Champs-Élysées the first Sunday of every month. The ban will go into effect on May 8th, not the 1st. The reason it is a week later is May 1st is a national holiday and many workers who will be needed to run the scheme will have the day off. This is part of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo's plan to improve the overall environment in the city. Since she was elected back in 2014, Hidalgo has backed plans to create more pedestrian zones in the city and ban diesel cars by 2020. She a…
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com Jobs of the Future as Predicted by GM GM has posted a list with details of what this will entail of jobs in the auto industry by 2025. Quoting their media release: Electrical engineers – Battery, hybrid and plug-in vehicles are becoming mainstream. The internal combustion engine isn’t going anywhere soon, but the industry is developing alternative ways to make a car move. Electrified vehicles are more powerful and achieve greater range, and as more customers try these alternatives, demand can only be expected to grow. Over the next 10 years, more engineers will be needed to explore and deve…
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Seems Chris Doan, occasional visitor to C&G caught a Dodge Durango Hellcat exposed for the world to see. Seems the folks did not secure the tarp too good and HotRod is showing off the images of the beast with the new nose clip. Story Interesting seeing this nose on the Durango. Check out more picks at HotRod.com web site.
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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…
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com Apple Car Boom or Bust? So the question has to be asked of forum members, is this iCar a boom or bust for Apple and is this what the millennial crowd wants? Being that Apples biggest market is the millennial crowd I am wondering if this brick of a self driving electric auto is what they really want. Steve Jobs originally stated that Apple would work on an iCar and we ended up with this released drawing: Motor Trend had an exclusive first look at the iCar and this is what they ended up building: MT 13 Cool Features Story MT Industry Insiders Opine on Apple Car MT App…
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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!
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