Industry News
1,757 topics in this forum
-
- 0 replies
- 1.3k views
. How to Meet 2016 CAFE Standards? Go on a serious diet. As The Economist reports this week, powertrain improvements can only go so far to meet the aggressive mileage improvement goals. To make up the rest, cars will have to become much lighter. This will raise prices, but will it also make cars less safe? Is it worth it? Discuss in the forums! Unbearable Lightness
Last reply by CSpec, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 0 replies
- 761 views
HUMMER SHELVED! GM Confirms Hummer Sale Dead Discussion: Hummer sale dead, GM Confirms
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
- 0 replies
- 402 views
REPORT: Hummer's fate to be decided by Tuesday Tuesday, March 31, 2009 is the day of reckoning for the Hummer brand, as the Associated Press is reporting that GM will announce the fate of Hummer. Follow the jump to read the full story. http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?showtopic=29323
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 16 replies
- 2.2k views
I just found this link on yahoo, sadly the GM Hybrids are at the very bottom of the list in terms of value. See the chart/story here!
Last reply by siegen, -
-
- 4 replies
- 1.1k views
Is Hybrid Fever Cooling? Interest wanes as mileages come down by Bengt Halvorson | Link to Original Article @ TCC | (2007-07-24) Are some customers less willing to consider hybrid models once their optimistic high-mileage expectations become more realistic? A new study from J.D. Power and Associates suggests that the answer is yes. The firm's 2007 Alternative Powertrain Study found that among all new-car shoppers polled, 50 percent considered a vehicle with a hybrid powertrain. In 2006, 57 percent said that they considered a hybrid. J.D. Power found that hybrid-considering shoppers this year are willing to pay an extra $2396 for a vehicle with the technology, but t…
Last reply by regfootball, -
- 2 followers
- 11 replies
- 3.8k views
Hybrids Consume More Energy in Lifetime Than Chevrolet's Tahoe SUV BANDON, Ore., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- As Americans become increasingly interested in fuel economy and global warming, they are beginning to make choices about the vehicles they drive based on fuel economy and to a lesser degree emissions. But many of those choices aren't actually the best in terms of vehicle lifetime energy usage and the cost to society over the full lifetime of a car or truck. CNW Marketing Research Inc. spent two years collecting data on the energy necessary to plan, build, sell, drive and dispose of a vehicle from initial concept to scrappage. This includes such minutia as plant to …
Last reply by toyoguy, -
- 8 replies
- 2k views
http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/news,v...rtid=49585&pg=1 September 27, 2005 Hybrids won't save you any money by Alex Law , Auto123 Here's a hard truth about hybrid vehicles that everyone who's considering one needs to know -- getting a hybrid will not save you any money, it will almost certainly cost you more. A hybrid will use some smaller amount of fuel (though how much is open to question and depends greatly upon how and where you drive), and that helps the environment a little, but not too much. If you're willing to pay more money for that, good for you. But the only way hybrids would save you money is if the car companies weren't charging …
Last reply by capriceman, -
- 0 replies
- 639 views
Hydrogen tries again Has the lightest and most abundant stuff in the universe found a new role in energy? The Economist HAVING soared on the promise of carbon-free motoring, the idea of the “hydrogen economy” crashed and burned when it collided with reality. Hundreds of experimental hydrogen-powered cars—once hailed as the best solution for reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil for over half its consumption—are now gathering dust in manufacturers’ parking lots. Hydrogen’s main attraction is that when it is “burned” in a fuel-cell or an internal-combustion engine, the only emissions are heat and a wisp of water vapour. Using hydrogen as a fuel—actually, it is mo…
Last reply by CSpec, -
- 3 followers
- 4 replies
- 1.5k views
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…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
- 1 reply
- 1.1k views
I'm not one to post bad news but I hate when head honchos steal money for personal use. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6329173.stm BBC NEWS Hyundai head faces trial verdict The chairman of Hyundai Motor Company, Chung Mong-koo, is to face the verdict in his corruption trial on Monday. On trial since June 2006, Mr Chung is accused of raising 103.4bn won ($110m;£56m) illegally for personal use and for paying lobbyists. Earlier this year, South Korean prosecutors recommended that he spend six years in prison for embezzlement. Analysts say if Mr Chung goes to prison it could harm both the country's car sector, and the wider economy. Suspended sentence His im…
Last reply by balthazar, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 16 replies
- 3k views
Link
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
I Got VEE!
by Z-06- 0 replies
- 614 views
I Got VEE! Cadillac CTS Sportswagon to Get the V Treatment GM CEO Fritz Henderson just confirmed that, in addition to the CTS-V Coupe, there could also be a Cadillac CTS-V SportWagon. Discuss it here.GM CEO Fritz Henderson just confirmed that, in addition to yesterday's news on the CTS-V Coupe, there could also be a Cadillac CTS-V SportWagon. Let the heavens be praised. Cadillac CTS-V Sportswagon is a go.
Last reply by Z-06, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 11 replies
- 1.7k views
Link to TheCarConnection Thirty different cars, trucks, and crossovers, representing more than a dozen different U.S., European and Asian nameplates will vie for honors when the International Car of the Year awards are announced, next month. Sponsors of the event revealed their list of finalists, Tuesday, an assortment of automobiles chosen by a panel of journalists. The three finalists for the grand prize, recognizing the International Car of the Year, was dominated, for the first time, by American products, the next-generation Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac CTS sedans going up against Honda's newly redesigned Honda Accord. Detroit dominated the list of truck fina…
Last reply by balthazar, -
-
- 5 replies
- 1.2k views
Given the reputation of the manufacturers and the relative ages of the SUVs, not really a surprise here... apart from maybe the CR-V. Volkswagen Tiguan - Good Subaru Forester - Good Honda Element - Good Jeep Patriot - Good Suzuki Grand Vitara - Acceptable Chevrolet Equinox/Torrent - Acceptable Toyota RAV4 - Acceptable Nissan Rogue - Acceptable Mitsubishi Outlander - Acceptable Honda CR-V - Marginal Ford Escape/Mariner/Tribute - Marginal Kia Sportage/Hyundai Tucson - Poor http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr032409.html Quite a difference... a one-year old German car: And a four-year old Korean car:
Last reply by pow, -
- 1 reply
- 838 views
More here: http://blog.caranddriver.com/iihs-adds-new-frontal-crash-test-most-cars-expected-to-perform-poorly/
Last reply by SAmadei, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 913 views
"The 2015 Ford F-150 crew cab earned 'Good' ratings in all tests conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, but there's a big caveat. IIHS says that Ford 'shortchanges' some buyers by equipping certain F-150s with protective front-end structural elements and not others. Extended cab models, which don't include the protective steel bars, scored just 'Marginal' in the small overlap test... "'I think automakers are trying to design the vehicles to offer the best protection for their customers,' he said. 'But occasionally, we do see evidence that maybe they are trying to get a good rating in a test, maybe without looking for a completely holistic solution.'” Re…
Last reply by El Kabong, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 reply
- 1.1k views
I thought the Tundra's crash test performance was nothing to write home about. The article makes it seem like the only full size pick-up that performs well... IIHS Top Picks
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
IIHS Top Safety Picks for 2018, Surprise Prius and Ioniq lost out to Kia Niro http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List Amazing but for 2018, the Kia Niro bested the Prius and Ioniq as IIHS top Safety pick plus rating. Interesting observation is that this auto beats everyone else out as long as you have all the options checked as the Base Niro is good just not as good as the Niro that was used for testing.
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
- 1 reply
- 2.4k views
http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/pdf/r1098.pdf It's one of those "no duh" things, but they finally correlated roof strengths of various SUVs with their corresponding rollover death and injury rates. After both vehicles were subjected to 10,000 lbs of crushing force... the 2000 Xterra's roof was crushed about 2 inches; the 2000 Explorer's was crushed about 10 inches. It certainly brings back memories of the whole Firestone/Explorer fiasco.. Here's a chart of the NHTSA results: The strongest roof tested is the XC90's, while the strongest relative to vehicle weight is the Jetta's.
Last reply by PurdueGuy, -
- 5 followers
- 11 replies
- 1.5k views
RE direct sales being in violation of vehicle sales laws. >>"A lawsuit has been filed against electric vehicle startups Rivian Automotive and Lucid Motors in Illinois for selling vehicles directly to consumers in the state. What Happened: The lawsuit was filed by the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, and other plaintiffs including individual franchised auto dealers in the state. The plaintiffs allege that Amazon.com-backed electric truck startup Rivian, California-based EV startup Lucid Motors and the state of Illinois are violating state laws that require new vehicles to be sold through franchised dealers. …
Last reply by balthazar, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 2 replies
- 1.4k views
Link Suprisingly...
Last reply by pow, -
-
- 3 replies
- 1.1k views
Last reply by FUTURE_OF_GM, -
- 1 reply
- 1.1k views
The Daily Auto Insider Tuesday, February 7, 2006 February 2006 The average automotive manufacturer incentive in the U.S. was $2,423 per vehicle sold in January 2006, down $109, or four percent, from December 2005, and up $15, or 0.6 percent, from January 2005, according to Edmunds.com, an online resource for automotive information. The industry's aggregate incentives spending is estimated to have totaled $2.6 billion in January, down from $3.7 billion in December, according to an Edmunds.com news release. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors spent an aggregate of $1.84 billion, or 71 percent of the total; Japanese manufacturers spent $489 million, or 19 percent; Europe…
Last reply by Flybrian, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 reply
- 798 views
article
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 30 replies
- 3.4k views
Detroit's outlook falls along with home prices Link to Chicago Tribune DETROIT — It may be tough to get financing for a new car these days, but in Detroit you can buy a house with a credit card. The median price of a home sold in Detroit in December was $7,500, according to Realcomp, a listing service. Not $75,000. Remove a zero—it's seven thousand five hundred dollars, substantially less than the lowest-price car on the new-car market. ...... On a positive note, Detroit's homicide rate dropped 14 percent last year. That prompted mayoral candidate Stanley Christmas to tell the Detroit News recently, "I don't mean to be sarcastic, but there just isn't anyone left …
Last reply by FAPTurbo, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 1.1k views
The talk about whether any of the major auto shows still matter has been going on for few years as a number of automakers pulling out has been increasing. But what you haven't heard is a major head of automaker questioning them, until now. “Motor shows are dead,” said Herbert Diess, chairman of the Volkswagen Group. “They are a product of the 1960s and they are not as relevant anymore. They’re not delivering what we want and they’re not delivering what car buyers want.” The Detroit Auto show is a poster child of this as automakers in the past few years have been pulling out. Reasons are numerous: Automakers are holding their own events as they can control t…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 5 followers
- 9 replies
- 2k views
Yamaha Motor Co. announced April 12, 2021 their new Hyper-EV motor allowing them to reach the highest output density for the EV class. In the past, Yamaha has been selling their first generation EV motor that had a range of 35 - 200 kW for auto's and mobility applications. Today's new generation of Hyper-EV motors now boasts output up to 350kW (469 hp) @ 800 volts per motor or a total of 1.4MW or 1,877 hp in a four motor AWD configuration. Yamaha is taking EV motor development to a new industry leading level by leaving behind the module components mechanical and electrical separate units. This newly developed electric motor is a compact unit that combines mecha…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 4 replies
- 1.5k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 26, 2012 The calm before the storm that is the auto show season. The beginning point is the Paris Motor Show which begins tomorrow. However, some automaker have made the decision to reveal some of their products and concepts a day earlier. The automakers include Jaguar, Bentley, and Porsche. Lets dive in Next: Jaguar Jaguar's showing for Paris was the new F-Type. Rumored for many years, Jaguar has finally brought a small, two-seat roadster to the market. Design draws a lot of inspiration from the C-X16 concept shown last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The front end features a bulging hood with vents, …
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
- 0 replies
- 664 views
G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - CheersandGears.com Year 2013 is half way over and before even I could start sifting through the reports to see what or who was on top for best selling auto's MSN Auto's beat me to it with the top 20 selling auto's based on the first and second quarter sales reports. 1. Ford F-Series Sales through June: 367,486 Percentage change: +22 2. Chevrolet Silverado Sales through June: 242,586 vehicles Percentage change: +24.7 percent 3. Toyota Camry Sales through June: 207,626 vehicles Percentage change: -2.9 percent 4. Honda Accord Sales through June: 186,860 vehicles Percentage change: +20.4 percent 5. Ram 1500 Sales thr…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
- 3 replies
- 1.2k views
G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - CheersandGears.com & Black-Knight It seems that just yesterday Japanese automakers and their vehicles were seemingly and unanimously praised for their quality and reliability. However, today a new series of recalls out of the land of the rising sun herald a stark reminder that not every automaker is perfect. Today, might finally be a major wake up call for some that these companies are not bullet proof. Today Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mazda announced recalls totaling 3.4 million auto's world wide, with over 1 million in the US alone. The recall is over defective airbags. These are airbags supplied to these companie…
Last reply by Blake Noble, -
- 2 followers
- 16 replies
- 1.5k views
President Biden was joined by the auto industry Executives of FORD, GM and Stellantis in the executive order targeting 50% of new auto sales by 2030. While largely symbolic, this nonbinding order sets federal expectations for automakers to rapidly transition from ICE to BEV cars and trucks. Transportation is the largest share of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. While not in attendance, BMW, HONDA, VOLKSWAGEN and VOLVO have all signed off on this executive order backing to target 50% of their new auto sales to be BEV by 2030 mirroring these companies pledges to hit this as they sided with California and their CARB mandates a few years back. …
Last reply by balthazar, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 6 replies
- 1.4k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 3, 2013 Ever wonder why more automakers are jumbling letters and numbers together to name vehicles? Its because there are less names that automakers can legally use around the world. "It's tough. In 1985 there were about 75,000 names trademarked in the automotive space. Today there are 800,000," said Russ Clark, director of marketing for Chevrolet. "The truth of the matter is, across the world, there is hardly a name or a letter that hasn't already been claimed by one car manufacturer or another. You can go through the alphabet - A, B, C and so forth - and you will quickly see that almost all available letters a…
Last reply by SAmadei, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 35 replies
- 3.6k views
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…
Last reply by SAmadei, -
-
- 2 replies
- 1k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 6, 2012 A month a after American Suzuki Corporation filled for bankruptcy and announced the closure of its automotive branch, 98% of its dealers (213 dealers) have agreed to a settlement offered by the company. The settlement would compensate dealers 50% within ten days of the agreement, with the rest following after the bankruptcy proceeding. The settlements also allow former dealers to operate as a service centers to provide warranty and repair services for Suzuki vehicles. "We greatly value our relationship with our customers, and it is very important to us that they continue to receive the necessary support…
Last reply by regfootball, -
- 7 followers
- 25 replies
- 3.2k views
Ever since PSA Group announced that it would be making a return the U.S. as part of a 10-year plan, there has been a large amount of speculation as to which brand would be sold. Would it be Citroen, DS, Peugeot, or the recently acquired Opel/Vauxhall? “We’ve chosen a brand, but it’s too early to talk about it,” said Larry Dominique, president and CEO of PSA North America to Car and Driver. PSA Group is still in the first phase of its plan with the Free2Move mobility aggregation platform (shows various ways of getting around such as bikes and electric vehicles) in Seattle. Somewhat worrying is that the company has only “activated its marketing” in Seattle recentl…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 16 replies
- 1.7k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 14, 2012 A new study conducted by Maritz Research finds that 11.4% of new car buyers are skipping the test drive. The implication for skipping the test drive are due to more consumers doing their research on the internet (8 out of 10 consumers the study found) and the universal dislike of the car sales practice. "I just find it quite fascinating and a little baffling. As cliché as perhaps it sounds, there's that new-car smell that needs to be experienced firsthand and cannot be experienced over the Internet," said Chris Travell, vice president of strategic consulting for Maritz Research. Dealers aren't happy wit…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 22 replies
- 2.4k views
While Americans are keeping their cars longer (Experian Automotive says the average ownership length is now 7.75 years), there are some models that owners can't wait to get rid off within a year of buying. iSeeCars.com recently compared new car sales against used-car purchases in 2014 to figure out which vehicles were traded-in the fastest. Their analysis showed that on average, around 2.7 percent of all new vehicles are traded in after only a year’s ownership. More surprising was the vehicles that had the highest amount of trade-ins. The expectation would be that the vehicles with the highest amount of trade-ins would be cheap. Not so fast. iSeeCars.com in their analysi…
Last reply by regfootball, -
-
- 3 replies
- 1k views
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 …
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
- 2 followers
- 4 replies
- 1.2k views
The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) has been giving automakers in Europe various headaches. As we reported last week, Volkswagen has pushed back the U.S. launch of the Arteon to help boost inventory in Europe due to a delay in WLTP testing. Other automakers aren't so lucky. According to Automotive News Europe, a number German automakers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche have halted sales of some plug-in hybrids due to WLTP. In the new procedure, the way that PHEVs are tested reduces the effect of the fully-charged battery. "The vehicles are tested with a full battery, then the test is repeated until the battery is empty, when the…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 8 replies
- 1.4k views
Lithium ion battery maker A123 Systems today said it has sold its automotive business to Johnson Controls and is filing for bankruptcy protection. The moves are a change in strategy for the ailing Waltham, MA-based company, which in August said it will sell an 80 percent share to the auto parts division of Chinese conglomerate Wanxiang for $450 million. Johnson Controls will acquire a significant set of assets for its $125 million investment, some of which were paid with federal aid. A123 Systems’ auto business includes its technology, two battery factories in Michigan, a cathode powder manufacturing facility in China, and A123’s stake in two auto parts suppliers in Chi…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
- 5 replies
- 1k views
Infotainment systems are one the banes of the automotive world. From confusing interfaces and controls, to issues with crashing and features not working. Add distracting drivers to this list. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety worked together with researchers at the University of Utah to measure the time it took to complete the task, and the visual and mental demand on the driver. 120 drivers were asked to perform various tasks such as operating the stereo and putting in information for navigation system using all input methods - touchscreen, physical controls, and voice commands. They would do this in 30 different vehicles on a two-mile stretch of road going 25 mp…
Last reply by Scout, -
'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 …
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
- 2 replies
- 1k views
There are more expenses to owning a new car aside from making a monthly payment. You have gas, maintenance, repairs, and depreciation to worry about. The total cost according to a new study from AAA will depend on the type of vehicle you're driving. AAA's Your Driving Costs study reports that average cost to own and operate a new vehicle in 2017 is $8,469 per year - $706 per month. The study looked at 45 new vehicles from the 2017 model year and evaluated the various costs such as gas and maintenance, but not insurance and monthly payment. When broken down into individual segments, small sedans are the cheapest ($6,354 annually) and trucks are the most expensive ($10,…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 31, 2013 The Advance Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program could be making a comeback. First introduced back in 2008 by then President George Bush, the ATVM program set aside $25 billion to fund advancements in green vehicle technology. However the program was suspended three years after due to two companies who took loans weren't able to pay them back. When the program was suspended, the Energy Department only gave out about 40 percent of the funds. “With no sunset date and more than $15 billion in remaining authority, the program plans to conduct an active outreach campaign to educate industry as…
Last reply by William Maley, -
Industry News: Alabama’s Controversial Immigration Law Hits Close to Home for Mercedes
by Drew Dowdell-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 6 replies
- 1.3k views
Update: The case against the Mercedes Benz Executive has been dropped. One of the latest possible “illegals” has been arrested in Alabama for not carrying his driver’s license under the new anti-illegal immigration law. The problem? The suspect is also an executive manager for Mercedes Benz. From the AP: Prior to the new law, a person driving without a license would not be arrested, but instead received a ticket and a court summons. Mercedes Benz’s first U.S. assembly plant, built in 1993, is located near Tuscaloosa where the arrest took place. Alabama’s immigration law is thought to be the toughest in the country and is currently facing several legal challen…
Last reply by SAmadei, -
-
- 1 reply
- 1.2k views
Alpha Motors Corporation or AMC has shown up here at Cheers and Gears earlier this year when they unveiled multiple electric auto's from trucks to cars all in model form. Now we get an update on the actual concept truck they have built as August 24th, 2021 AMC will unveal to the public at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California the Debute of the WOLF. The pure electric truck with a soul according to their press release. The public has expressed large interest in a cleaner life style auto and AMC believes they are delivering this with their first pivotal achievement of taking from art concept and models to actual building a working prototype. …
Last reply by daves87rs, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 1.2k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 31, 2012 Back in August, we reported on the rumor that AM General would be offering a kit kit of the C-Series HMMWV, or Humvee. This week, AM General has come out and announced they will be selling a C-Series HMMWV kit. The C-Series HMMWV kit includes a frame, painted body (your choice of either khaki, dark military green, or sand), cooling package, wiring harnesses, fuel tanks, seating, front and rear Torsen differentials, and top. The only thing you'll need to provide is a powertrain and transmission. This allows AM General to avoid anti-pollution laws and fees. This also allows the kit to be offered at a lower…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
Alpha Motor Corporation or AMC released for reservation the WOLF pickup truck March 11th 2021. The WOLF has the following projected specifications: MSRP $36,000 to $46,000 depending on configuration (does not include $7,500 federal EV tax credit) Battery range of 250 to 275 plus miles with rapid charging, battery heating/cooling for optimum performance Single motor FWD or Dual motor AWD 0 to 60 mph of 6.2 seconds acceleration 1360kg or 3000lbs towing capacity Length - 4765mm or 188 inches Width - 1930mm or 66 inches Truck bed - 1652mm or 65 inches (5ft 4 inches) length, 1490mm or 59 inches wide, 397mm or 16 inch…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 2 followers
- 15 replies
- 1.9k views
Prices of new vehicles are climbing to record highs and causing buyers to look at leases for lower monthly payments. According to CNBC, a new report from Experian Automotive found that 31.46 percent of vehicles sold in the first quarter were leased. This is up from the 24.05 percent who chose to lease five years ago. The report also reveals that that the average monthly payment for a new vehicle loan was $488, up $14. But, the average lease payment was down $7 to $405. "The difference between a monthly payment for those leasing a new vehicle versus those who buy new is almost $100," said Melinda Zabritski, senior director of Experian Automotive. "Leasing has b…
Last reply by knightfan26917, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 2 replies
- 1.6k views
Jaguar Land Rover has announced a temporary halt in production in November as the threat of disruption from a No-Deal Brexit looms. BMW and Toyota have already announced plans for temporary work stoppages at their UK factories. All four of JLR's UK factories are affected. Although No-Deal Brexit is still not a certainty. Manufacturers like JLR have to plan for the worst. JLR uses 20 million parts a day and needs to have those parts available at just the right time. Toyota will be stopping production of the Corolla Hatchback and Avensis on November 1st. BMW is planning on stopping Mini production in early November, but Rolls-Royce and BMW engine plants are ex…
Last reply by riviera74, -
-
Industry News: Amidst Falling Sales, Republicans Turn Chevrolet Volt Into Political Scapegoat
by Blake Noble-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 27 replies
- 3.7k views
G.Noble Editor/Reporter CheersandGears.com March 10, 2012 Life hasn’t exactly been easy for the Chevrolet Volt. Although it was just recently named 2012 European Car of the Year in Opel Ampera guise, GM announced previous to the awarding they were suspending production for little over a month because of slow sales and dealers rejecting further allotments. On top of that, the Volt has had some image issues stemming from the NHTSA’s disclosure late last year about how an example they t-boned caught fire some three weeks after it was tested in May 2011. It’s only insult to injury then Republican politicians have turned to bashing the Volt in debates and interviews, asso…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
- 4 followers
- 11 replies
- 2.4k views
Analysts believed that August was going to be the month the auto industry would post its first year-over-year increase for 2017. But then Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, leaving a path of destruction and extensive flooding. Sales for the month would drop 1.9 percent to 1.48 million vehicles when compared to the same month a year ago. "Harvey will also depress one of the most critical selling periods of the year, spanning the August sales month close and Labor Day weekend. In 2016, these 11 days alone accounted for 4.1% of retail sales, or 580,000 units, nationally,” LMC Automotive said in a report. But analysts believe sales - new and used - will bounce back in Sept…
Last reply by G34red, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 reply
- 1.3k views
If you're the owner of an Android phone and an Android Auto enabled vehicle, this summer there will be a big upgrade coming to the interface of both. The new design will allow you to do more with fewer taps, while also showing more information on the screen at a time. As soon as you start your car, Android Auto will pick up where you left off with your media and automatically show your navigation app of choice. Navigation will show a suggested list of places or the user can say "Hey Google" to navigate to a new place. At the bottom will be a navigation bar that will allow users to control apps and see turn-by-turn navigation instructions even while on a Media …
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
- 3 replies
- 893 views
By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com April 22, 2013 AAA recently released their annual ‘Your Driving Costs’ study and finds that average American driver is now paying $9,122 per year to keep their vehicle on the road, an increase of 1.92% when compared to 2012. Assuming a person is driving around 15,000 miles a year, that breaks down 60.8 cents per mile. The study looks at the costs of keeping a vehicle on road such as gas, maintenance, and insurance to name a few. “Many factors go into the cost calculation of owning and operating a vehicle. This year, changes in maintenance, fuel and insurance costs resulted in the increase to just over 60 cents a mile…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 6 replies
- 1.1k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 16, 2012 When we last checked in on the Fisker Atlantic, the mid-size sedan that would take on the 5-Series, A6, CTS, and others, was delayed from next year to sometime in 2014. A new report from Reuters says Fisker has pushed back production of the Atlantic to late 2014 or 2015, a full two years behind the original production date. "The Atlantic is really the volume car that begins to build growth. It creates a business model that is one where we can really generate cash in the future," Chief Executive Tony Posawatz said during a conference call with investors and analysts. The conference call also revealed th…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1.4k views
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 11, 2012 Apple's 2012 Worldwide Developer's Conference keynote is coming to a close as you're reading this, and among the announcements of iOS6 and new laptops, Apple is making their way into the vehicle once again via a button. Called Eyes Free, its a button on the steering wheel that will activate Siri on your iPhone or iPad in the vehicle. Most likely paired with Bluetooth, Eyes Free will let you talk to Siri through the car, giving you access to information without taking your hands or eyes off the road. Nine automakers; BMW, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Jaguar, Audi, Toyota, Chrysler, and Hond…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 9 replies
- 1.7k views
Apple has formally shown its CarPlay integration system before the start the Geneva Motor Show today. The system, formally known as 'iOS in the Car' allows owners of a iPhone 5s, 5c, or 5 to control certain aspects of the phone through the car's infotainment system. According to Apple, owners will be able to plug in their iPhones to their vehicles via the USB port and control a number of functions such as making and answering phone calls, text messaging, navigation via Apple Maps, and playing music from your phone. CarPlay also allows certain third-party apps such as Spotify and iHeartRadio to be controlled as well. Now if your vehicle doesn't include a touchscreen, CarP…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 1.3k views
Continental AG's CEO says the diesel scandal that Volkswagen finds itself embroiled in could kill the marketplace for diesel vehicles in China, Japan, and United States. Elmar Degenhart tells German publication Boersen-Zeitung, "The diesel passenger car could sooner or later disappear from these markets." Degenhart also revealed that diesel had a market share of only 1 to 3 percent in these countries. This pales in comparison to Europe where diesels make up 53 percent of the market. Interestingly, the diesel scandal hasn't affected sales of diesel vehicles in Europe or the U.S. according to Continental's finance chief last month. Source: Boersen-Zeitung vi…
Last reply by 67impss, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 1k views
While much of the focus of the investigations into Volkswagen diesel emission scandal has been focused on the German automaker, attention is now turning to one of their key suppliers. Reuters has learned from sources that the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into what involvement did German auto supplier Bosch GmbH have in the scandal. Bosch built a number of key components that Volkswagen and its subsidiary brands would use on diesel engines. Now the sources are quick to point out that Bosch isn't charged with anything at the moment. A key part Bosch provided Volkswagen and a number of other German automakers is the engine control module (kn…
Last reply by El Kabong, -
-
If there is anything the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal has shown us, it has shown the various regulations used around the world are tricky to enforce and that automakers will take advantage of loopholes. General Motors' powertrain chief wants to change that by unifying emission standards around the world. Dan Nicholson, GM's powertrain chief tells Automotive News that he plans to use his upcoming presidency of the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies (Fisita) to push for the unification of emission standards around the world. “We want all our engineering resources focused on improving air quality and reducing CO2. With different sets o…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 1.2k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 10, 2013 Aston Martin's most questionable vehicle, the Cygnet city car has been canned after being on sale for three years. A source tells Reuters that the decision was made after the company only sold 150 Cygnets. The Cygnet was a Toyota iQ city car dressed up in Aston Martin clothing. The brand hoped to move 4,000 units per year to "environmentally conscious city dwellers". The Cygnet was also a move to help Aston Martin reduce their CO2 emissions to meet the more stringent EU rules. Source: Reuters William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] o…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 9 replies
- 1.3k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 19, 2012 With the advent of ever-tightening fuel economy and emission standards, no automaker is safe, not even boutique luxury automakers like Aston Martin. Consider this, besides the Aston Martin Cygnet which is a Scion iQ in drag, the rest of the Aston Martin lineup comes with either a V8 or V12 engines. Aston Martin has reduced the emissions of its engines by 25% over the past six years, but that might not be enough. Aston Martin head Ulrich Bez recently revealed to Autocar the company is open to downsizing their engines. “The job is not complete. Four or even three cylinders are possible. If the spirit of the…
Last reply by ZL-1, -
-
- 1 reply
- 812 views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 7, 2012 Today, Aston Martin announced that Italian private equity firm Investindustrial has purchased a 37.5% stake in the company for $241 million. Kuwaiti firm Investment Dar still holds a majority stake in the company. Aston Martin said the deal would allow them to pour $1 billion into new product, funding development through 2018. Investindustrial beat out Indian truck and tractor producer Mahindra and Mahindra. Andrea Bonomi, Investindustrial's senior principal said that the group hopes to transform Aston Martin in a similar way to its revamp of Italian motorcycle company Ducati by expanding Aston's model…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 5 replies
- 1.3k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 16, 2013 Back at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin rolled out a very polarizing crossover concept with a name that hadn't been since the late eighties; Lagonda. Quick history lesson: Lagonda was brand that got its start back in 1906 building luxury vehicles. In 1947, Lagonda was paired up with Aston Martin and would continue building vehicles till the late fifties. Since that time, Aston Martin has used Lagonda as a model name for a certain number of vehicles, most notably the Aston Martin Lagonda sedan from the eighties. Now the Lagonda concept shown at Geneva wasn't well received for its awkward styling…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 1.4k views
A consortium of German automakers which include Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have agreed to buy Nokia's HERE mapping business for around $3.1 billion dollars. The deal is currently pending approval of antitrust authorities. If the deal is given the go-ahead, the three automakers will own a stake by early 2016. HERE is one of the most advanced and largest digital mapping and location systems. It was originally started back in 1986 with Navteq before being acquired by Nokia in 2007. The service maintains digital maps for nearly 200 countries, and updates continuously by gathering data from users. Now why are three automakers interested in a mapping service? The end …
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 15 replies
- 1.9k views
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…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
-
- 6 followers
- 17 replies
- 2.2k views
It is no secret that buyers are gobbling up SUVs and crossovers, nor is it that automakers are introducing new and redesigned models. Take a look at the New York Auto Show this week where a number a new models (Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester) and concepts (Lincoln Aviator) made their debut. According to automotive consultancy firm LMC Automotive, there are currently 63 mainstream crossover and SUV models, and 53 luxury models. By 2023, LMC is projecting 90 models for both mainstream and luxury. But this prompts a question - how much is too much? “I think everyone has read the same tea leaves - right now there seems to be insatiable demand,” said Cadillac presid…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 5 followers
- 14 replies
- 2k views
Automakers have been edge for a few months with talk of a trade war and possibly putting up to a 25 percent tariff on imported new vehicles. They only would be pushed further to the edge as President Donald Trump tweeted last week a 20 percent import tariff on all cars assembled in the European Union. Now, automakers are rebuking the President over this. Reuters reports today that two trade groups, representing nearly every major global automotive brands have issued comments saying the president shouldn't go forward with tariff. The two groups in question are the Association of Global Automakers (represents Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, and others) and…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 1.3k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 17, 2013 Analysts are predicting that new car sales could reach pre-crash levels possibly next year. Sales in 2014 are projected to rise to 16.1 million vehicles, just shy of the 16.15 million cars sold in 2007. Part of this increase is coming from automakers building better products. Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors are real contenders in the compact and midsize marketplace. Also, Korean automakers are giving everyone in the industry a run for their money. “It would be one thing if the domestics were going to get better in cars and pull back on trucks, but they aren’t. You see a rising level of competitiven…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 19 replies
- 2.2k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 6, 2013 New data from R.L. Polk released today shows that the average age of a vehicle in the U.S. stands at a record high of 11.4 years. That's 0.2 years higher from last year and and nearly two full years higher than in 2007. Passenger cars currently are the oldest vehicles on the road with an average of 11.4 years. Light trucks are not that far behind with an average age of 11.3 years. Interestingly, the volume of vehicles between 6 and 11 years old actually decreased somewhat, but the volume of light vehicles 12 years and older jumped by 20 percent. “Cars are just lasting longer,” said Mark Seng, a Polk vice…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 14 replies
- 1.8k views
A new report from IHS Automotive says the average age of a vehicle on the road stands at 11.4 years, the same age as last year. This is change from the past few years where the age was climbing steadily. "In our history of tracking, we have seen a gradual increase in the average age of vehicles on the road. This year, we're seeing somewhat of a plateau in the market, and expect it to remain over the next few years, without a major change in either direction. We attribute this to a number of factors, including the economy and the increasing quality of today's automobiles," said Mark Seng, director, aftermarket solutions and global aftermarket practice leader at IHS Autom…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
- 11 followers
- 27 replies
- 11.4k views
IHS Markit recently published their analysis on how long Americans are holding onto their vehicles. The average according to the firm stands at 11.9 years, the highest amount since they have been tracking this. Also, about one in four vehicles is over sixteen years old. We should note that this data came before COVID-19 started to wreak havoc on the U.S. IHS notes that new cars only made up 6.1 percent of vehicles in operation in 2019, down 0.8 percent when compared to high of 2016. This highlights falling new car sales. But the question lingering over automakers and analysts is will the pandemic cause sales to fall even further as more people hang on to their vehicl…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
- 1 follower
- 20 replies
- 3.2k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 28, 2012 The average age of a vehicle in the U.S. has hit a record high. According to Experian Automotive, the average age of the 245 million vehicles registered in the U.S. during the first quarter of 2012 was 11 years. That's an increase of just over 2 months when compared to last year. Experian Automotive goes onto say that more than 52 million cars and trucks in the U.S. are 16 years or older. Experian Automotive's analysis also found that Ford has the most models on the road compared to any other automaker. That really shouldn't come as a surprise since the Ford F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in the U…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 2 followers
- 5 replies
- 1.2k views
The EPA released their annual report on the trends of emissions and fuel economy for light vehicles and the results are a bit mixed. The average fuel economy of new cars and trucks came to 24.3 mpg for 2014. This was the same fuel economy average for 2013, when the average increased by 0.6 mpg. 2014 was the first year since 2011 where fleet-wide fuel economy didn't increase. Why no increase? The EPA says growing demand for crossovers, SUVs, and trucks along with lower gas prices offset the fleet-wide efficiency gains. Christopher Grundler, director of the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality tells Automotive News that he's not worried about the slowdown …
Last reply by ccap41, -
-
- 1 follower
- 21 replies
- 2.1k views
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 18, 2012 New analysis from TrueCar, an online research firm, shows the average transaction price of new cars are on the rise. TrueCar looked at sales data from last month and found that the average price was 30,748, a rise 6.9% over the previous year. So why the increase in average price? The answer lies in the options list. Consumers are ticking more boxes on the list like never before, with the average new car being very close to “fully loaded.” For example, Ford’s president of the Americas, Mark Fields recently told investors that the Focus is selling for an average of $3,100 more per car than the previous …
Last reply by riviera74, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 4 replies
- 1.4k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 11, 2013 Pickup Trucks continue to be the lifeblood for the American automaker's financials. A very good thing since truck sales seems to be in very good health - in fact Automotive News says that truck sales are arguably healthier than they were pre-recession, despite the volume is still below pre-recession levels. How? The per-unit profit has increased massively, outpacing the industry average by more than double since 2005. Edmunds says the average transaction price of pickup truck stands at $39,915 – a 8 percent increase (after inflation) when compared to 2005's average transaction price of $31,059. How import…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 27 replies
- 2.8k views
January 2, 2013 By Drew Dowdell Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com Avis Budget Group and Zipcar, Inc. have announced an agreement where Avis Budget will aquire Zipcar for $12.25 a share or about $500 million total. Zipcar has about 760,000 members (including yours truly) across 20 metro markets in the U.S., Canada and Europe with locations at over 300 university campuses. Car sharing is now a $400 million per year business in the U.S. market alone. Avis Budget expects to gain $50 million to $70 million in savings by combining the two companies. Zipcar gains access to Avis Budget's fleet to supplement their own in times of high demand while Avis Budget gains an incre…
Last reply by regfootball, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 7 replies
- 1.4k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 24, 2013 The federal mandate for new vehicles to come equipped with backup cameras has been delayed, once again. According to Automotive News, the mandate has been pushed back to 2015 due to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration examining the cost of implementing this mandate. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, said in a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., that more analysis on how much this rule will cost automakers is necessary. Previously, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the cost of implementing the rule would be around $2.7 billion. …
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 8 replies
- 1.3k views
Last Thursday, Beijing Automotive (BAIC) made an interesting announcement. Reuters reports the company is looking into buying a "mid to high-end brand" in Europe or the United States. If you're wondering, they have a number of companies in mind, but don't give out any names. President Dong Haiyang told reporters at a briefing in Beijing that this would allow them to break into the global marketplace much quicker. The company already some ties in the automotive world mostly in Europe. First, the company bought the bulk of the technology that underpins the last-generation Saab 9-3 and 9-5 sedans from GM back in 2009. Then last week, the company signed a joint-investment a…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 1.2k views
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, -
- 3 replies
- 935 views
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com December 28, 2011 For the past decade, the best selling luxury brand has been Lexus. However, 2011 has been a fall of grace for Lexus and caused them to relinquish their top selling crowd. Now, Mercedes-Benz and BMW are fighting to see who becomes the top seller. At last tally, BMW holds a slight edge of Mercedes, selling 1,582 more vehicles than Mercedes in November. Now, entering the final month of 2012, both are going all out on incentives. TrueCar.com says BMW and Mercedes-Benz are offering approximately $4,800 USD in discounts by way of subsidizing interest rates (as low as 0.9 percent), waiving lease payments f…
Last reply by smk4565, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 9 replies
- 1.4k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 29, 2012 Today, BMW and Toyota unveiled more of their plans from their partnership announced last December. The plans include development of a hydrogen fuel-cell system, collaboration on electric powertrains, work on lightweight technologies, and development of a new sports car. "Toyota and the BMW Group share the same strategic vision of sustainable individual future mobility. Together we have a great opportunity to continue leading our industry through this transformation," said Norbert Reithofer, BMW's Chairman of the Board. "Toyota is strong in environment-friendly hybrids and fuel cells. On the other hand, I b…
Last reply by Z-06, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 4 followers
- 14 replies
- 2.5k views
BMW Group and Daimler AG are combining forces to take on rideshare and mobility services like Uber and Lyft. They will invest a combined 1 billion euro to build a new company with a multiprong approach. The new company will offer five services in a single portfolio. Eventually, they will offer an all-electric, self-driving fleet of vehicles that charge, park, and drive autonomously and interconnect with other forms of transport. The five apps include: Reach Now: Offers a range of options for users to get where they're going including a combination of public transport, car-sharing, ride-sharing, and bike rentals. Charge Now: A locator and payment app for pub…
Last reply by balthazar, -
-
- 5 followers
- 29 replies
- 4.3k views
For the past few years, luxury automakers have been trying to fill every single niche they could think of. It's why we have such models as the BMW 5-Series GT and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Coupe for example. But now, BMW and Mercedes-Benz admit they have too many models and are planning to cut some. “The checkerboard of body styles and segments is rather full, although there are still a few to be finished. We’ve got an X2 and an X7 coming, and there are a few others, but I also know—because we’ve taken decisions—that some body styles will be removed in the future,” said Ian Robertson, BMW’s head of sales and marketing, to Car and Driver. “There’s definitely more of a mo…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
The Geneva Motor Show saw Mercedes introduce their new AMG GT 4-Door and BMW revealing their M8 Gran Coupe concept. We still find ourselves scratching our heads as to why these vehicles exist in the first place, but a new Bloomberg report explains an interesting reason as to why automakers are building them. These high-performance models with high price-tags will help generate the cash needed to develop electric vehicles. BMW for example is in the midst of its largest rollout of new models and variants. Most of them will be higher-margin to help get more cash into their coffers. "The market for high-end, high-performance four-door coupes will get significantly m…
Last reply by smk4565, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 7 followers
- 109 replies
- 7.5k views
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…
Last reply by Frisky Dingo, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 6 followers
- 60 replies
- 6.6k views
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…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 26 replies
- 3.1k views
By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 17, 2013 Former General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has been know to speak his mind. At the Detroit Auto Show this week, Lutz told Autocar that he thinks that the technology in the Chevrolet Volt should have been put into a larger vehicle first. “Frankly, unless that customer is philosophically, religiously or economically affiliated to buying an electric vehicle, then they can’t be convinced. The first two types of buyer will buy whatever’s built, but the latter is a harder case. The obvious answer is to electrify as big a vehicle as you can, because that’s where the fuel and running cost savings make the m…
Last reply by Camino LS6, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 5 followers
- 22 replies
- 2.9k views
The Volkswagen diesel emission scandal has given many a black eye. Robert Bosch GmbH, a supplier of diesel engine technology was one of those as it found itself under investigation by German authorities to see whether or not it aided and abetted in the scandal. The company also had to pay out $327.5 million as part of a settlement in the U.S. But the company isn't giving up on diesel just yet. This week at the Bosch’s annual press conference, CEO Dr. Volkmar Denner claimed they had found “decisive breakthrough in diesel technology.” The technology in question is said to reduce nitrogen (NOx) emission levels to just one-tenth of the European legal limits coming in 2020…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
- 4 followers
- 35 replies
- 3.9k views
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, -
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 29, 2013 Three computer scientists who were going to publish a paper on how to circumvent the security system that verifies the identity of an ignition key have been stopped by the UK High Court. Flavio Garcia, a computer science lecturer at the University of Birmingham and Baris Ege and Roel Verdult, two cryptography experts from Dutch university Stichting Katholieke were going to publish a paper at the Usenix Security Symposium in Washington DC next month. The paper was to outline how they were able to crack a system called Megamos Crypto, a system that allows a vehicle to check the identity of a ignition key. H…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 5 followers
- 16 replies
- 2k views
A near-production prototype Bugatti Chiron on special Michelin tires has broken the 300 mph barrier in Germany at the Ehra-Lessien proving ground. Though full specs were not announced, but it is suspected to have 1,578 horsepower, carbon fiber components, taller gearing, lowered suspension, and specialized Michelin tires. The test mule received a clip on rear tail with a more aggressive diffuser. If the car makes it into production, it will hold the record as the fastest production cars. The current holder is the Koenigsegg Agera RS that maxed out at 277 mph. Just after the record setting run, Bugatti's president Stephan Winkelmann has said that the brand is do…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1.5k views
BYD, the Chinese automaker who is backed by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., announced plans to launch in the U.S. by the end of 2015. The automaker which had an aborted U.S. launch in 2010 and a restructure that lasted three years believes that they are more prepared now. “Back then, we had passion, but we had no brand, no history, no capital and no competitive advantage. BYD has become more fashionable and we have improved our design and safety. We don’t want to compete on price anymore, but on quality and innovation,” said Stella LI, senior vice president of the BYD's U.S. operations to Bloomberg. The plan BYD has in place is to launch up to four vehicles f…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 1.3k views
California is one of most stringent states when it comes emissions in vehicles. Case in point is a law that says an estimated 15 percent of vehicles sold in the state must be a zero emission vehicle (ZEV). But this law has created a rift between regulators and automakers. Regulators want automakers to build ZEVs, but automakers worry that if customers aren't willing to buy them, they'll need to offer big incentives. Four automakers - Ford, General Motors, Honda, and Toyota have issued a complaint to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) asking them to rewrite the formula to allow more credit for plug-in hybrid models. They argue these models address range anxiety wit…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
- 0 replies
- 538 views
With more and more companies test autonomous technologies on public roads, there comes a question of safety of other motorists. A new proposal by the California Department of Motor Vehicles would put an outright ban “driverless” cars that travel with no humans onboard. Automotive News reports the proposal would require all autonomous vehicles to have a steering wheel and pedals when driving on California's public roads. Furthermore, a licensed driver with an “autonomous vehicle operator certificate” will need to be in front of the controls in case something goes wrong. California DMV Director Jean Shiomoto said in a statement the main concern for the department is…
Last reply by William Maley, -
- 3 replies
- 864 views
With more and more companies test autonomous technologies on public roads, there comes a question of safety of other motorists. A new proposal by the California Department of Motor Vehicles would put an outright ban “driverless” cars that travel with no humans onboard. Automotive News reports the proposal would require all autonomous vehicles to have a steering wheel and pedals when driving on California's public roads. Furthermore, a licensed driver with an “autonomous vehicle operator certificate” will need to be in front of the controls in case something goes wrong. California DMV Director Jean Shiomoto said in a statement the main concern for the department is…
Last reply by regfootball, -
- 2 followers
- 7 replies
- 1.3k views
On Friday, California regulators voted to require that automakers stick with the Obama-era emission regulations for vehicles sold in the state, no matter the efforts of the Trump administration to weaken the standards. This basically means vehicles built for through 2025 model year comply with the state’s standards and can legally be sold there. Beginning with the 2026 model year, vehicles have to meet the stricter standards if automakers want to sell vehicles in the state, along with the 12 other states and Washington D.C. that follow these regulations. This is the latest salvo in the fight between California and Trump administration over emission standards. Back in…
Last reply by balthazar, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 6 followers
- 80 replies
- 10.1k views
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…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 17 replies
- 1.9k views
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 30, 2012 Just as we got to the point of everyone agreeing that 54.5 MPG was an attainable goal for 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has decided to change things up. CARB has ruled to enforce the 54.5 MPG rule and to will also require at least 15.4% of all cars sold by any major automaker in the state to either be fully electric, plug-in hybrid, or hydrogen fuel cell by 2025. Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board said she viewed the 15.4% “a relatively modest goal, but that’s all that we’re mandating. Probably the most heartening aspect of this whole rulemaking was the level …
Last reply by Blake Noble, -
-
In the summer of 2019 the British Columbia province of Canada shocked the rest of Canada and many countries by stating that all new car and light truck ICE auto sales would be banned beginning January 1st 2040. They then stated that 10% of all new auto sales had to be electric by 2025 and had at the time a $57 million Canadian incentive program to encourage people to buy BEVs. The Canadian province of Quebec then in November 2020 joined the British Columbia province in banning all new ICE car and light truck sales starting January 1st 2035. Premier Francois Legault told reporters this was necessary to ensure they hit their target of a 37.5% reduction in greenho…
Last reply by smk4565, -
