Jan30
Ford Mustang customers are being treated to something new and special. It’s the 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. This is not your ordinary Shelby; It’s a Cobra version and is the most powerful Mustang for 2010. This 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the most powerful SVT tuned Mustang ever built, and the Ford didn’t just stop there. They totally redesigned the interior to giving it a more refined feel, the drive is also more responsive than ever. Shelby Automotive worked hard on this...
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The 2009 Pontiac G8 was introduced back in June of 2008, since then it has sold more units then its sister V6 model. General Motors second big move was to release the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP. Equipped with a 6.2 liter small-block V-8 the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP cranks out 402 horsepower and 402 pound-feet of torque. Designed it as the poor mans BMW General Motors attempt to make a sports sedan has finally arrived Sporting new front fascia with big fog lamps accompanied by 19 inch wheels and...
Jan29
2009 Acura TSX The smallest car in the lineup is the new 2009 Acura TSX. It have much of the same features as last years model with a slighter larger look and feel. It will be powered by the same 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine with a Honda 2.2 liter i-DTEC diesel version expected by years end.
2010 Alfa Romeo Giulia, Unconfirmed reports released yesterday state that the Fiat group will include the new 2010 Alfa Romeo Giulia in their plan with Chrysler LLC. Again, it is not confirmed but sources inside state that they are looking for the most marketable line of cars to bring to the US. This is Alfa Romeo successor to the 159 and Alfa Romeo’s last attempt to revive the Giulia nameplate. The powertran has not been reviled, but we are told that Alfa is working directly with...
Jan28
The best selling Acura TL also gets a total make over for 2009. The standard model Acura TL is equipped with a 3.5 liter V-6 front wheel drive while the Acura TL SH-AWD model boasts a improved 3.7 liter V-6 that produces over 300 horse power. It is also equipped with the all wheel drive and updated navigation system that offers real-time traffic and weather radar
The 2010 Cadillac SRX will offer two powertrains a 3.0-liter VVT E85 V6 with direct fuel injection, or a 2.8-liter Turbocharged V6. The 3.0 produces 260 horsepower at 6950 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 5600 rpm, while the smaller turbocharged produces over 300 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 295 pound-feet of torque at 1850 rpm. They both come equipped with a standard Hydra Matic 6T70 6-speed automatic. The 3-liter E85 model delivers 5 more horsepower than its predecessor, while...
Jan27
2009 Acura RL The 2009 Acura RL receives a total make over for 2009, with standard all wheel drive system accompanied by a larger engine, a 3.7 liter V-6 that produces over 300 horse power. The exterior gets a more aerodynamic face lift while the interior boosts a larger back seat passenger area. Priced at $46,280
Under the new alliance Chrysler LLC and Fiat S.p.A. will bring seven new vehicles to North America. three as Fiats or Alfa Romeos and four with Chrysler brands. According to sources who have seen the product-sharing agreement. The new vehicles will be built using current Chrysler plants in North America and sold through select Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealerships. Four Fiat platforms are included in the new plan, the microcar known as the A through the D mid-sized segment. Nothing...
Jan26
With early plans to discontinue the Ranger, Ford did a rethink. Rightfully so with the way the economy has taken the word by surprise. High fuel prices along with record job losses the ranger one again fits into the equation. Known as the U.S’s most fuel-efficient pickup Ford totally redesigned the Ranger from everything starting with the bumper with better aerodynamics to a Personal Safety System, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and SecuriLock now offered on all models
Chrysler and Fiat will bring seven new vehicles to North America under their new alliance, Automotive News said on Monday, citing sources who have seen the product-sharing agreement.
Of the seven vehicles—which will be built at Chrysler plants in North America and sold through select Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealerships—four will be sold under the Chrysler brand name and three as Fiats or Alfa Romeos, the magazine said.
CNBC.com
Italy's Fiat unveiled a deal last week to take a 35...
On Friday we broke the news with the first photos of the NEW 2010 Mercedes Benz E550 Coupe, PhotosSince the Mercedes Benz CLS Class is being discontinued, Mercedes Benz had to update the E calls to fill in the the void for sedan coupes.Expected In June of 2010 Mercedes Benz will offer a Convertible version of the E-class, in Europe as the Mercedes Benz E500 Convertible & E350 Convertible. The U.S. will release the Mercedes Benz E550 Convertible , E350 Convertible. hoping to grab...
LLC is not actively pushing its dealer consolidation program and is instead focusing on maintaining whatever retail sales volume it can as the industry struggles with crippling sales declines, a top company executive said Saturday.
On the eve of last year's National Automobile Dealers Association annual convention, Chrysler officially announced Project Genesis, a plan to encourage greater dealer consolidation among the company's Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep stores and renew emphasis on...
Jan23
We have already given you updates on the 2010 Mercedes E500 Sedan, now we just received the photos of the 2010 Mercedes E550 Coupe. also know as the 2010 W212 Coupe,
The E Class is here and the CLS is being discontinued.
Designed to take over the Mercedes Benz CLS line that is being discontinued this year the E class offers more style and performance for your dollar. the E Class offers considerably larger room.
When comparing between a gas engine and Diesel you have to keep in mind that Diesel fuel cost more then gas by as much as $0.60 per gallon! · The 335d uses less fuel than the 335i. Yet diesel fuel also costs more than gasoline. · The 335d costs more than the 335i. Yet it also emits less CO2. · The 335d can easily exceed 500 miles on one tank of fuel. but the 335i is quicker, lighter and handles better.
Jan22
WASHINGTON — U.S. Treasury secretary nominee Timothy Geithner said President Obama will send Congress a sweeping plan in the next few weeks to shore up banks and unlock credit markets, warning it will require action on a scale "not seen in generations" to address the worsening economic crisis.
Geithner and former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, now an Obama adviser, told the Senate Finance Committee that Washington must take bold steps to shore up credit markets, in addition...
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration will require substantial changes from the U.S. auto industry and assemble a team of people to oversee the government's rescue package, the nominee for U.S. Treasury secretary told a Senate committee Wednesday.
The question was spurred by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., who asked how Fiat SpA could arrange for a large stake in Chrysler LLC without providing any cash. Under the outlines of the agreement announced Monday, Fiat will get 35% of Chrysler...
Jan21
The target date for General Motors to get its second installment of government loans passed last week, but a top company executive says he expects the money to arrive in the next several days.
Fritz Henderson, GM's president and chief operating officer, said without the second installment of $5.4 billion, the company would run out of cash long before March 31. In December, the Treasury Department authorized $13.4 billion in loans for GM and another $4 billion for Chrysler to keep...
General Motors and Chrysler LLC have four weeks to win deep concessions from unions and creditors to prove they are viable, or they risk losing the $17.4 billion in government loans that are keeping them from bankruptcy.
But there are serious questions as to how great that risk is and what exactly GM and Chrysler have to show the government.
The term sheet also says that GM (GM, Fortune 500) and Chrysler have to reduce unsecured debt by two-thirds, but it is not specified how many...
The target date for General Motors Corp. to get its second installment of government loans passed last week, but a top company executive says he expects the money to arrive in the next several days.
Fritz Henderson, GM's president and chief operating officer, said without the second installment of $5.4 billion, the company would run out of cash long before March 31.
In December, the Treasury Department authorized $13.4 billion in loans for GM and another $4 billion for Chrysler LLC...
Jan20
Industrywide U.S. auto sales have weakened a bit after being relatively strong in the first half of January, Ford Motor's marketing and sales chief said Tuesday.
Farley said that of Tuesday, Ford had enough liquidity to fund its product plans.
He said he believes the new Obama administration will put in place some type of program to spur consumer demand, whether with a direct stimulus package or some other strategy. Asked about the alliance between Chrysler and Fiat announced...
Chrysler LLC, rescued last month with $4 billion in federal loans, is trading a 35 percent stake to Italy’s Fiat SpA as the two companies work to create viable carmaking operations.
Cerberus Capital Management LP’s Chrysler, the third- largest U.S. automaker, would get access to Fiat’s small-car lineup and global sales network to wean itself from dependence on trucks and the North American market, while Fiat would expand a U.S. foothold now limited to its luxury brands.
An alliance...
The Brand New Power House from Audi was reviled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Powered by a ultra modified version 5.2L V-10 found in the Audi S6 and Audi S8 it produces over 525 horse power at 8000 RPM with just under 392 lb-ft of torque at 6500 RPM, with the engine weighing just 68 lbs more the V8 model. Like its sister, the V-8-powered R8, the V-10 FSI Quattro comes with a traditional six speed manual or R tronic six speed sequential manual transmission giving it considerable...
These Taurus’s sedans are very unlike the ones we saw at the Detroit Auto Show this passed week. They are decked out with everything from dual exhaust to 20” wheels, new bumpers and aerodynamic spoilers. Nothing is know about the powertran but we assume that it will incorporate a Super High Output version of the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 which produces over 355 horsepower and torque of around 350 Foot Pounds.
Jan19
Mid-Michigan auto dealers say it's a little tougher than it was to find financing for new vehicles, but many customers' worries that they can't get loans at all are overblown.
Mid-Michigan banks and credit unions say they continue to have money available to loan to creditworthy customers. In October, several local bankers said their institutions hadn't changed their credit requirements and were weathering the financial storm that affected larger, more aggressive institutions.
The...
We reported on the 2010 Fisker Karma Coupe last week , not imaging the amount of responses we would receive.Fisker's Karma plug-in hybrid sedan is one of the most sought after designs to take electricity to four wheels since the inception of the light bulb.
Early last week Fisker revealed the new Karma S convertible concept to be released late 2010.
So as the Detroit auto show highlights a new world of hybrids and high-tech battery-powered cars, the major concern for most consumers continues to be last year's pitiful model for auto financing. Can they get a car loan? And if so, how many hoops will they have to jump through to get it?
Credit, while still an issue, appears to loosening up from the extremely tight standards that hit in late '08. Thanks to federal bailout money, GMAC LLC in late December lifted some strict...
The government expanded its bailout of the nation's troubled auto industry yesterday, announcing a new $1.5 billion loan for Chrysler Financial while Ford Credit said it was in talks to obtain federal aid.
The money for Chrysler Financial will come from the government's $700 billion financial rescue program. Senior officials from the Treasury and Federal Reserve are hoping the assistance, combined with earlier support for General Motors' chief lender GMAC, will keep auto loans...
Chrysler Fiat Partnership, TURIN, ITALY -- Chrysler LLC is currently in negotiations with Fiat Group to form a strategic partnership that would include a Fiat equity stake in Chrysler. This accord would strengthen Chrysler and speed up its re-launch plan for 2010. Under this alliance Chrysler will be able to quickly build a complete new range of front wheel drive, low emission vehicles using all of Fiats engine platforms.
Less than a month from today, GM and Chrysler will have to give the federal government an update on how they are doing in restructuring their companies.
The clock is definitely ticking.
The question is whether GM [GM 3.93 0.01 (+0.26%) ] and Chrysler will be ready to answer the bell when it rings in the middle of February? Both companies say yes, they will (what else would you expect them to say?) be ready.
Both claim that they are moving fast to change their companies. And...
Jan16
The Karma is an extended range electric luxury sedan designed by Fisker Automotive. With their Q DRIVE brand Plug-in hybrid technology that offer Regenerative brakes featured to recapture braking energy and low center of gravity the Karma can achieve up to 100 miles per gallon. Powered by a pair of 201-horsepower electric motors, and equipped with
If you thought the auto industry and economy might be close to bottoming out and getting some traction, think again.
The world's two largest auto makers are sending fresh signs that things will remain as bad, if not worse in 2009.
Get ready for a rocky first quarter of the year.
So what does all of this mean?
Taken as a whole, it tells us the economy and consumer confidence remains weak. And don't expect that to change anytime soon. Sure, congress is passing bills to spark the...
Jan15
General Motors said on Thursday it expected U.S. auto sales this year to drop to the lowest level in 27 years, cutting a key planning forecast as it works to cut its debt and labor costs.
GM logo, General Motors logo
GM said it would plan on U.S. auto sales dropping to near 10.5 million units in 2009.
That would be the lowest level of auto sales in the world's largest vehicle market since 1982. It also marks a sharp downward revision from GM's earlier assumption of sales of 12...
2010 Honda Insight, With all the electric powered cars on display this year at the Detroit Auto Show, one would propose that the era of the electric powered car is here! The new 2010 Honda Insight will be advertised as the most affordable hybrid car in the world. Honda claims! The 2010 Honda Insight will be the only five-passenger car offered as a hybrid-only unlike the Honda Civic Hybrid or Toyota Camry Hybrid, there will be no non-hybrid version of this car.
The 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid was revealed on Monday, 11 years after its first Prius hit the market in the United States. This is Toyota’s third generation Prius. This model Prius will offer a combined fuel economy to 50 miles per gallon from its pervious 46 miles per gallon. It will boast a 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine and retain about 10 percent of the current Prius hybrid drive line. The added fuel economy can be
Hyundai Motor has put its only U.S. manufacturing plant on a three-day work week schedule for the month of January in response to lower consumer demand, people with direct knowledge of the situation said on Wednesday.
The production cut comes at a time when major automakers are scrambling to reduce a glut of unsold cars and trucks in the face of a plunge in global auto demand.
Hyundai declined to comment on the specific changes to production schedules at its plant near Montgomery...
Jan14
CES 2009 UPDATE - Automotive and More... As the 2009 International CES show ends, we wanted to gather some of the new car related items that will be offered in 2009. Eclipse AVN 4430 video receiver integrated GPS The dash mounted Eclipse AVN 4430 is a double DIN audio video receiver featuring an integrated TomTom portable navigation device. that will fit seemlessley into you car dash board
Rod Lache, the Deutsche Bank automotive analyst who set the target price for GM shares at zero, told the Society of Automotive Analysts that GM might have to consider bankruptcy given complications that arose with the rescue of GM's minority-owned financial arm, GMAC.
Lache's remarks were made at the Society of Automotive Analysts' annual Automotive Outlook Conference, which is usually held during the Detroit auto show. This year's event was held at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance...
Jan13
DETROIT — The auto industry is warming up to the idea of higher taxes on gasoline to force buyers to keep considering fuel-efficient and small cars.
Automakers have shifted dramatically to production of small cars and expensive fuel-saving technologies partly to meet looming stricter government fuel-economy regulations.
The carmakers acknowledge that raising the gas tax is an unpopular idea, but they also saw how fast consumer preference shifted toward small cars when gasoline...
The brand new 2009 Volkswagen CC has been designed and engineered to blend sports car dynamics and dimensions with sedan comfort in a sophisticated package.
The 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport and Luxury models are equipped with Volkswagen's 2.0T inline four cylinder engine equipped with a turbocharger with intercooler and double overhead camshafts.
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said in an interview the state is looking to offer big incentives to car-battery companies and other suppliers to that industry to locate in her state. Ms. Granholm said that as much as $2 billion in aid to the battery industry could be included in a stimulus package from the Obama administration.
Mr. Wagoner said GM has committed more than $1 billion to the Volt. He sought to tamp down uncertainty over the product's future that emerged in mid...
Jan12
The 2010 Lotus Evora made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this past year making it the first all new lotus since the iconic Elise in 1995. With its dramatic visual impact, thrilling all-round performance, ground-breaking chassis technology and high levels of luxury, the Evora heralds an exciting new era for Lotus. The Evora enters the sports car market as currently the world’s only mid-engined 2+2 powered by a Lotus-tuned 3.5 litre V6 engine.
Jan09
Coming this Spring to the United States , the all-new Lexus IS convertible features a three panel roof that opens in under 21 seconds. The new Lexus IS 250C and Lexus IS 350C provide the spirited sophistication of a convertible and the sporty styling of a coupe. Both are powered by the same engine as the current sedan; The Lexus IS 250C features a 2.5-liter, 204-hp V6 mated to a six speed manual or six-speed
The 2010 Kia Soul as designed with a purposefully bold and edgy look, and will be aggressively priced for the teenaged consumer. Kia Soul will be offering a choice of two engines, a 1.6-liter 120 horsepower with a 5-speed manual transmission and, 2.0-liter 140 horsepower available with 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. The Kia Soul will be equipped with typical Kia safety
The 2009 Honda Insight hybrid made its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show late last year. The original Insight was introduced as America's first gas-electric hybrid car back in December 1999, and the first vehicle to break the 70-mpg fuel economy barrier. The new larger, 5-passenger, 5-door Insight shares the styling cues with the Honda FCX
The Brand New 2009 Ferrari California made its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this past year. The new Ferrari California was inspired by one of the great Ferraris of the past, the 1957 250 California.
It is available exclusively as a convertible with retractable folding hard top in either a two-seater version with a traditional rear bench or in the 2+2 version which sees
The all new redesigned BMW 7 Series made it's North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show This makes it the 5th generation of the BMW 7-Series. Due to go on sale in the Spring, the 7-Series will be available as 750i and extended-wheelbase 750Li models. Under the hood is an all-new, 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged v-8 engine producing
The fully redesign 2009 Nissan 370Z, is the first change since its reintroduction as a 2003 model. Nearly every piece and component of the 370Z has been rethought or redesigned, including a shorter wheelbase, greater use of lightweight body materials, larger engine with 26 more horsepower, a new 7 speed automatic transmission and the world’s first synchronized downshift rev matching system for the 6-speed manual transmission.
Jan08
It’s that time of year again, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas Nevada, and we cant wait to see what is going on in the world of electronics.
Sling Media, Incour first stop at the 2009 CES show was the Sling Media table where they previewed their sling box that allow customers to stream TV, movies and more from your computer connection of their table top box.
Auto executives across the globe are increasingly pessimistic about their industry, and only a small number expect their companies' profits to rise in the next five years, according to an annual survey.
The survey of 200 senior executives worldwide painted a bleak picture for the industry, with most predicting continued restructuring and too much factory capacity across the globe, according to the survey conducted by the accounting and advisory firm KPMG LLP.
Many expected Detroit...
Democrats and environmental groups had mixed reactions, on the one hand criticizing the Bush administration for dragging its feet while on the other welcoming the chance for the new administration to set its own guidelines.
The guidelines must be issued no later than April 1 so auto companies have time to engineer 2011 models. "Now more than ever automakers need certainty, and this decision only further delays their ability to finalize future product plans," said Charles Territo, a...
Jan07
Detroit automakers are no longer in the driver's seat when it comes to their own recovery. The U.S. economy is.
No matter what further concessions the United Auto Workers union makes, what debt relief the automakers win in talks with creditors and what kind of additional federal help is made available, U.S. consumers have to start buying cars again.
And a rebound in sales will be difficult, if not impossible, to come by for General Motors (GM, Fortune 500), Ford Motor (F, Fortune...
Miami Florida, LeaseTrader.com an online marketplace for car lease transfers announced yesterday that it had increased business 28 percent from last December.
It would seem that with all the problems people are facing today LeaseTrader.com has given the Car lease holder a choice to get out of their current lease contract.
The Auto Industry is currently suffering from one of the worst sales recessions since 1992 and with no liquidity in the market LeaseTrader.com may be the only...
The The BMW Group will be the world’s first automaker manufacturer to deploy a fleet of some 500 all electric MINI E vehicles for private use The MINI E made its first debut in the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show, the MINI E will be power-driven by a 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor and a high performance rechargeable lithium ion batteries, transferring power to the front wheels via a.
The historic collapse of the new-car market dragged on in December, raising questions of whether the auto industry will ever again have sales levels that it took for granted just a few years ago.
G.M. and Chrysler received emergency federal loans last week to stave off bankruptcy while they accelerated their reorganization efforts.
But unless consumers change course and return to vehicle showrooms, the entire industry will be forced to make sweeping adjustments to cope with...
Jan06
The 2010 Mazda 3 Sedan, made its world debut at this past year at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The 2010 MAZDA3, totally redesigned for the first time in five years. You will be able to chose between be two engine platforms: a 140 horsepower 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder available with a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed automatic and a 170 horsepower 2.5 liter engine shared with the all-new 2009 MAZDA6 that will be offered with either a 5-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual.
The Brand New 2010 Ford Fusion will offer consumers more fuel efficiency with a choice of power-train,
Ford will also use an enhanced 3.0 liter V6 that produces 19 more horsepower than its predecessor; and a 3.5 liter V6 that produces 263 horsepower on the Fusion Sport model.
The 2010 Ford Fusion will be equipped with a six speed transmission for up to a 10% fuel economy with other improvements making it the industry ...
2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible The all new Infiniti G37 Convertible made its world debut at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show making it the first-ever open-air version of the G.
Based on the Infiniti G37 Coupe, The G37convertible version keeps its coupe like roofline with its three piece automatic retracting hardtop.
The Infiniti G37 Convertible also boasts a unique
What American needs the most right now is a responsible Congress whose members put aside their own well being and those of their narrow constituencies for the collective good. But, hey, don't hold your breath, especially if you're Barack Obama and you have big plans to create three million new jobs and spend nearly a trillion dollars doing so.
The president-elect in whom so much hope is placed will find out quickly enough if he doesn't already know that even with his own party in...
FRANKFURT GERMANY, Porsche Automobile Holding Announced yesterday that it now holds 50.76 percent of Volkswagen which in turn generates a mandatory takeover of Scania Group . Porsche Automobile Holding purchased an additional 8.16 percent worth of Volkswagen stock, about $8.5 billion dollars worth bringing it from 42.6 percent to 50.76 percent. In earlier reports Porsche Automobile Holding stated it initially planned to raise its stake in VW to over 50 percent by year’s end 2008. New...
The U.S. auto industry had the worst year since 1992 No one could predict a year ago how bad the auto industry would hit; unfortunately we haven’t seen the worst yet. The total industry fell to over 35 percent from last years leaves despite the amount of incentives offered to consumers. According to Edmunds.com the average incentive rose 8 percent to just over $2,900 per vehicle in December.
After a year in which U.S. auto sales tumbled 18 percent and GM had its worst year in nearly a half-century amid slack demand fueled by a terrible economic outlook and growing job worries, automakers are reluctant to predict when a recovery might occur.
An even sharper sales decline in December alone means that record high rebates and low-interest financing deals will stick around until at least February. But those deals will likely disappear as the remaining 2008 models are sold...
Jan05
With no extra charge to the sticker price, the program pays the difference between the car's trade-in value at the time the owner files a claim and any remaining balance on the loan up to a maximum of $7,500.
Hyundai is offering the program because its own market research showed car shoppers weren't attracted by rebates and other more normal incentives, said Joel Ewanick, Hyundai America's vice president for marketing. People are simply too worried about making payments no matter how ...
The decline means Ford’s sales fell 20.7 percent, a difference of more than 500,000 vehicles, for all of 2008.
Other major automakers, including foreign and domestic brands, are expected to say that their sales fell at least 38 percent in December, according to projections by Edmunds.com. The most dismal reports will probably come from General Motors and Chrysler, which both received $4 billion in loans from the federal government at the end of December to help them remain solve...
Auto sales likely dropped a breathtaking 3 million vehicles in 2008, the largest decline since 1974, said Ford Motor's head of sales analysis Friday.
The last time sales fell that much, the country was embroiled in the 1973 to 1974 oil embargo crisis, with drivers lining up outside gas station waiting for fuel.
The 2008 forecast Friday from George Pipas, manager of sales analysis for Ford Motor (F), comes just days before the auto industry is set to release December sales figu...
Jan02
The U.S. Treasury threw the door open to taxpayer financing for more companies and industries by drafting broad guidelines on auto industry aid.
The guidelines, published Wednesday, would let officials provide funds to any company they deem important to making or financing cars. That leaves room to provide money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program beyond loans already committed to General Motors (GM), GMAC and Chrysler.