Maserati Expands Line-Up To Grow Sales

 
The Maserati GranCabrio MC (above), the all-new Maserati Quattroporte luxury sedan, the new Ghibli high-end E segment four-door sedan and the Levante luxury SUV developed from the Kubang concept (below) will give Maserati a completely new scope to produce 50,000 units per year by 2015. Currently, there isn't a Maserati model with a sticker price of less than $123,000 and all are powered by a 4.7 liter V8 that kicks out about 440 horsepower.

2013 MINI Paceman Joins MINI Line-Up Next March

MINI Paceman, the seventh model in the MINI line-up, is a two door, four-seater premium compact with a choice of a 121 horsepower 1.6-liter engine and a 181 horsepower twin-scroll turbocharged powerplant with direct injection mated to a six-speed automatic transmission as an option. The lowered sports suspension is standard and the MINI ALL4 all-wheel-drive system is available for the MINI Cooper S Paceman. The MINI Paceman arrives in March 2013.

Jaguar F-TYPE Coming Next Summer

 
The new Jaguar F-TYPE rear-wheel drive, two seat, convertible sports car will be offered in the base F-TYPE with a new 340 horsepower 3.0-liter V6 supercharged gas engine, the F-TYPE S with a 380 horsepower version of the new 3.0-liter V6 and F-TYPE V8 S powered by a 495 horsepower 5.0-liter V8 supercharged engine, all mated to an eight-speed 'Quickshift' transmission with both a centrally mounted SportShift selector and wheel-mounted paddles offering full manual sequential control. All engines feature stop/start technology.

Panamera Sport Turismo Hybrid Concept

The Panamera Sport Turismo concept car with the next generation hybrid drive was shown in Paris with its 416 horsepower of peak system power. It's designed to be driven in pure electric mode up to a speed of 80 mph and can cover distances of over 18.6 miles which doesn't seem too impressive. The new electric motor produces about 70 kW (95 hp), which is around twice as much as in today’s Porsche hybrid drive and coupled with a 333 horsepower 3.0 liter V6 supercharged engine together accelerating the concept car from zero to 62 mph in less than six seconds. As a plug-in hybrid, the fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery is not only charged while driving but also externally as fast as 2.5 hours (depending on the power supply) via a charging interface on the vehicle.

Chevrolet Trax Small SUV To Go On Sale Next Spring

The all-new Chevrolet Trax all-wheel drive small SUV, based on the Spark mini-car, made its debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and will go on sales next Spring with three power offerings: a 140 horsepower 1.4 liter turbocharged gas engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission, a 1.6 liter gas engine as well as a 130 horsepower 1.7 liter turbo-diesel engine. The AWD system is available on variants that come with the 1.4 liter turbo gas or the 1.7 liter diesel engines which come with with manual transmissions and Start/Stop functionality. There are a total of eight seating combinations and up-scale trims will come standard with Chevrolet MyLink, an infotainment system that aggregates content from smartphones onto a seven-inch, high resolution, full color touch-screen display. A dedicated navigation app which can be downloaded onto compatible smartphones will become available early next year enabling the route to be taken from the smartphone and projected onto the system's touch-screen.

2013 Honda Insight Hybrid On Sale Today At $19,290

The 2013 Honda Insight Hybrid, unchanged from 2012 in price and features with its base, LX and EX models, has a city/highway/combined EPA fuel economy rating of 41/44/42 mpg, starts at $19,290 (including the $790 destination charge) and went on sale today. A Honda Integrated Motor Assist™ system comprised of a 1.3-liter i‑VTEC® gasoline 4-cylinder engine and a 10-kilowatt electric motor combines to develop 98 horsepower. Honda, which gave the Insight a facelift for the 2012 model, has only sold 4,801 Insights through August a 63.4 percent decline from the 13,106 sold through the first eight months of 2011. A lot of car and great fuel economy for the price.

McLaren P1, A Pricey Ride Coming In The Next 12 Months

The McLaren P1 - you will see it Sept. 27th and be able to buy within 12 months. When P1 goes into production later next year, it will sit above the 12C and 12C Spider, in terms of both price and performance. Which means the P1 price tag will be more than $270,000. More info to come at the Paris Auto Show Sept. 27th.

All-electric 2012 Toyota RAV4 EV On Sale Sept. 24

 
The all-new, all-electric 2012 RAV4 EV will go on sale the week of September 24 through select California dealers, focusing on major metropolitan markets with an EPA rated range of 103 miles, 78 city miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe), 74 highway MPGe and 76 combined MPGe. With a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $49,800, RAV4 EV customers will have the option of a purchase or lease program. Special purchase financing of 1.9% APR is available for qualified customers, as well as a 36 month lease option at $599 per month with $3,499 drive off. Sales volume is planned for approximately 2,600 units through 2014.

The RAV4 EV is expected to qualify for a $2,500 rebate through the Clean Vehicle Rebate Program in California and also is eligible for a $7,500 Federal Tax Credit. The vehicle will qualify for the California High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane white sticker program.

Interested customers can visit http://www.toyota.com/rav4ev/ to sign up for additional information and be connected with an authorized dealer.

2013 Honda Accord Sedan Starts At $22,470 MSRP

The all-new 2013 Honda Accord Sedan will debut at U.S. dealers nationwide on September 19, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) ranging from $22,470 (including destination and handling charge) for the well-equipped Accord  LX to $34,220 for the Accord Touring model (including destination and handling charge of $790 per vehicle). The Accord Coupe will go on sale October 15 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) starting at $24,140 (including destination and handling charge) for the sporty LX-S model.

All-New Fourth Generation Land Rover Range Rover

Breaking News: The all new 2013 Land Rover Range Rover SUV will have a MSRP starting price of $83,500 including destination charges and will go up to $130,950 for the Autobiography when they arrive in North American showrooms this winter.

The All-New Land Rover Range Rover, the fourth generation following the spirit of the original design from over 40 years ago, has been developed from the ground with a lightweight all-aluminium monocoque body structure which is 39 per cent lighter than the steel body in the outgoing model thus producing a 22 per cent reduction in fuel consumption achieving of 37.7mpg, according to the news release. The weight saving helps the 510PS LR-V8 Supercharged model to accelerate from 0 - 60mph in just 5.1 seconds, a reduction of 0.8 seconds over the outgoing model while at the same time cutting fuel consumption by 9 per cent.

Announced in London for the UK, customers have a choice of a 510PS LR-V8 Supercharged gas-powered engine and two diesel engines - a 3.0-litre 258PS TDV6 and a 4.4-litre 339PS SDV8, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Land Rover announced plans for a hybrid Range Rover, a diesel hybrid model, which is planned for production late in 2013. Order books for the All-New Range Rover are now officially open with prices in the UK starting at £71,295 ($114,183) for a Vogue TdV6, rising to £98,395 ($157,585) for a the Supercharged Autobiography model. The All-New Range Rover is designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK and will be exported to over 170 global markets. Over £370million ($592M) has been invested in the Solihull manufacturing plant.

New Features

• Two-channel Dynamic Response active lean control, and Adaptive Dynamics with  continuously variable damping
• Electric Power Assisted Steering, which enables Park Assist - to help drivers parallel park their car in tight urban parking spots
• Adaptive Cruise Control - with new Queue Assist feature which allows the system to continue functioning at low speeds and down to a complete stop
• Intelligent Emergency Braking (including Advanced Emergency Brake Assist) to help drivers avoid a collision if the traffic ahead slows quickly or another vehicle suddenly moves into their lane
• Blind Spot Monitoring with new Closing Vehicle Sensing feature to detect vehicles which are closing quickly from a further distance behind
• Reverse Traffic Detection to warn drivers of potential collisions during reversing manoeuvres
• Surround Camera System with T Junction view, Trailer reverse park guidance, and Trailer hitch guidance.

2013 Honda Accord Sedan On Sale Sept.19, Coupe Oct. 15

The all-new 2013 Honda Accord Sedan goes on sale September 19th with the Coupe to follow on October 15th. Completely redesigned for 2013, the Honda Accord will have a new 185-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with Honda's first use of direct injection in North America coupled to a choice of a new continuously variable transmission (CVT), or a 6-speed manual transmission on selected models and a 278-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic or, in the V-6 Coupe, a 6-speed manual transmission with revised VTEC + VCM functions. The 4-cylinder models earn up to an EPA 36 mpg highway rating and the V-6 models up to an EPA 34 mpg highway rating.

The 2013 Honda Accord Sedan will be available in six model choices: an all-new top-spec Touring trim, LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, EX-L V6, and Touring. The Accord Coupe will be available in four model choices: LX-S, EX, EX-L and EX-L V6.  New features include:

• MacPherson-strut front suspension to improve ride and handling
• lighter aluminum and steel front subframe
• Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®
• USB/iPod® integration 
• Rearview camera
• Standard Econ button with Eco Assist™. 
• Accord EX, EX-L and Touring Sedan models and EX-L Coupe, Honda have LaneWatch™ Blind Spot Display providing an expanded rear view of the passenger side roadway through the intelligent Multi-Information Display 
• All-new Smart Entry & Push Button Start included on Accord EX, EX-L and Touring models.  
• Forward Collision Warning on the EX-L and Touring Sedan and EX-L Coupe models alert the driver when a potential collision with another vehicle ahead is detected. 
• Lane Departure Warning on the Accord EX-L and Touring models alerts the driver when lane drift is detected without a turn signal in use. 
• New SmartVent™ side airbags mitigate the risk of excessive airbag deployment force. 
• LED projector headlights on the Accord Touring Sedan offers improved visibility with LED daytime running lights on V-6 powered models with LED brake lights on all EX-L and Touring models. 
• Adaptive Cruise Control, exclusive to the Touring Sedan, allows the driver to set a desired speed and a distance interval behind the vehicle ahead. 
• HondaLink™ connected-car system is available allowing owners to put their smartphones away and still stay connected to their favorite digital content. 
• Audio with touchscreen display and the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition and FM Traffic is also available. 

Early next year in the sedan only, the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid will debut Honda's new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder two-motor plug-in hybrid system operating continuously through three modes, all-electric, gasoline-electric and direct-drive, to maximize fuel efficiency.

2013 Audi R8

The 2013 Audi R8 with a new double clutch transmission on a 463 pound ASF (Aluminum Audi Space Frame) goes from 0 - 62 mph in 3.6 seconds.

August 2012 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors reported August sales of 240,520 vehicles in the United States, up 10 percent compared with a year ago.  GM increased its sales to retail customers by 11 percent, making August its best retail month of the year.  Sales to fleet customers were up 6 percent compared with a year ago. General Motors year-to-date sales of 1,757,470 through August is a 3.7 percent rise over last year.

Ford Motor Company had August sales of 197,249, up 12.6 percent over 2011 and 19 percent for retail sales. Year-to-date sales of 1,514,838 is a 6 percent gain over 2011.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported August 2012 sales results of 188,520, an increase of 45.6 percent from the year-ago month. The Toyota Division posted total August sales of 164,283, an increase of 47.5 percent from the year-ago month. The Lexus Division reported total sales of 24,237 in August, up 33.9 percent compared to the same period last year. Year-to-date sales are 1,399,514, a 30.4 percent improvement over 2011.

Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 148,472, a 14 percent increase compared with sales in August 2011, and the group’s best August sales since 2007. Year-to-date Chrysler sales of 1,108,629 is a 26 percent gain over the same eight months of 2011.

American Honda reported August 2012 U.S. sales of 131,321, an increase of 59.5 percent compared with August 2011. The Honda Division posted August 2012 sales of 115,675, an increase of 57.9 percent compared with August 2011. Acura's U.S. August sales of 15,646 increased 72.8 percent compared with August 2011. Year-to-date sales for both brands are 949,247, a 23.2 percent gain over 2011.

Nissan North America reported August U.S. sales of 98,515, up 7.6 percent.  Nissan Division sales increased 5.9 percent for the month at 87,360. Sales of 11,155 Infiniti vehicles is up 23.6 percent over the prior year. Year-to-date sales of 774,577, is a 13.7 percent increase over 2011.

Hyundai Motor America announced an all-time August sales record of 61,099, a 4 percent increase compared with the same period a year ago and the best August sales level in company history, topping the Cash for Clunkers mark set in 2009. Year-to-date sales are 479,789, an 8.8 percent gain over 2011.

Kia Motors America recorded it's 24th consecutive monthly record with sales of 50,028, up 21.5 percent over 2011. Year-to-date Kia sales of 386,809 is a 16.6 percent gain over the first eight months of 2011.

Subaru of America reported sales of 28,293 vehicles for the month of August, a 35.8 percent increase over 2011.  Year-to-date sales of 217,780 is a 24.7 percent increase over prior year.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported August sales of 22,553 vehicles, a decrease of 5.7 percent from the 23,924 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group is up 7.6 percent on sales of 208,268 in the first eight months of 2012 compared to 193,565 in the same period in 2011.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported August sales of 20,557, up 11.3 percent from August of last year for its Mercedes-Benz models, delivering a record year-to-date total of 168,462 new vehicles, up 13.5 percent over 2011.

Volkswagen of America reported sales of 41,011 in August, a 62.5 percent increase over prior year sales for the best August since 1973.  Year-to-date sales of 286,750 is a 37.6 percent increase over 2011. Separately, Audi reported record-setting August sales of 11,527 new vehicles representing a 13 percent increase above the previous record set in August of last year. Year-to-date Audi has sold 88,392 vehicles, a 17.5 percent increase over the first 8 months of 2011.

Mazda North American Operations reported August U.S. sales of 22,234 vehicles, a decrease of 1.8 percent versus last year. Year-to-date sales of 185,349 through August is up 11.8 percent versus last year.

Porsche Cars North America announced August 2012 sales of 3,026 vehicles, an increase of 39 percent. For the year, Porsche has sold 22,279 cars in the U.S., a 9 percent increase over last year.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported August 2012 sales of 4,249, down 46.8 percent compared to August 2011. 

American Suzuki reported August 2012 sales of 1,968.

Sales will be updated as manufacturers report.

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Starts at $91,030 In Early 2013

The new Porsche 911 Carrera 4, the seventh-generation of the 911 Carrera with the latest active all-wheel-drive system PTM (Porsche Traction Management), is being launched in four versions – the 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4S (above), each as Coupe and Cabriolet. The new 911 Carrera 4 is up to 143 lbs. lighter compared to the previous generation 911 Carrera C4 with as much as 16 per cent in fuel savings. The Coupe and Cabriolet of the 911 Carrera 4 S each have a 400 horsepower 3.8-liter rear-mounted boxer engine with acceleration to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.1 seconds) and a top-track speed of 185 mph (Cabriolet: 183 mph) with a suitable equipment configuration. Fuel consumption values with PDK are EPA estimated at 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway for both the Coupe and the Cabriolet.

The 911 Carrera 4 Coupe (below) has a 350 horsepower 3.4-liter, flat-six engine can sprint from zero to 60 mph in as little as 4.3 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.5 s) and reach a top-track speed of up to 177 mph (Cabriolet: 175 mph), depending on equipment features. Fuel consumption with PDK is EPA estimated at 20 mpg city / 28 mpg highway for the Coupe and EPA rated 20 mpg city / 27 mpg highway for the Cabriolet. All new models have a seven-speed manual gearbox as standard, and the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) seven-speed gearbox is available as an option.

The new Porsche 911 Carrera with all-wheel-drive will make its first public appearance at the Paris International Motor Show on September 29, 2012. The new 911 models will launch in the US early in 2013. The 2013 911 Carrera 4 will have a base MSRP of $91,030, and the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet base MSRP will be $102,930. The 911 Carrera 4S will have a base MSRP of $105,630 and the Cabriolet will have a base MSRP of $117,530.

2014 Mazda6 On Sale In U.S. In Early 2013

The all-new 2014 Mazda6 with the full suite of SKYACTIV® technologies will launch in Europe this year and go on sale in the U.S. and Canada in early 2013 with an added slew of all-new safety features and fuel efficiency-improving technologies. Under the hood of the Russian-specification Mazda6 is a 134 horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine that can be paired with either the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission or SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission. A 189 horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine also will be available in the Russian market.

Similar to TAKERI concept, the Mazda6 features a new front fascia with a five-point "signature wing"  on a 111-inch long wheelbase, allowing for a roomier interior and ample storage space. Compared to the previous generation, the front wheels have been pushed forward nearly four inches in relation to the A-pillar, resulting in reduced overhang while the rear deck has been shortened, further enhancing the vehicle's lower, leaner and longer stance. Final specifications for other global markets, including the U.S. and Canada, will be disclosed at a later date.

2013 Nissan Sentra Coming This Fall

 
The all-new 2013 Nissan Sentra, built on a new platform, is 150 pounds lighter than the outgoing model, on a 0.6-inch longer wheelbase (106.3 inches) and a 2.3-inch longer overall length (182.1 inches) offering more interior room. The new Sentra has a more fuel-efficient 130 horsepower DOHC 4-cylinder 1.8-liter engine that's matched with a new-generation Xtronic CVT® that helps deliver a 13 percent improvement in EPA combined fuel economy of 34 mpg combined (City and Highway).

The 2013 Nissan Sentra is offered in a selection of well-equipped S, FE+ S, SV, FE+ SV, SR and SL trim levels.  All models come with standard Xtronic CVT®, except the base Sentra S that is available with a choice of 6-speed manual or CVT. The all-new 2013 Nissan Sentra goes on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide this Fall.

Volkswagen of America Chief Product & Marketing Officer Tim Mahoney

Tim Mahoney executive vice president and chief product and marketing officer for Volkswagen of America discusses Volkswagen's U.S. goal of selling 800,000 per year by 2018 along with diesel, hybrids and commercials. VW is launching a TV commercial Labor Day weekend where a dog swallows a key fob so must be in proximity of the vehicle for his owner to operate it and to drive him to the vet - very creative and funny - good job Tim & agency Deutsche, Inc.

Mahoney reports directly to Jonathan Browning, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America and president of the Volkswagen brand. Mahoney is responsible for the strategic alignment of the brand’s product planning and marketing efforts in the U.S. He assumed this role in May 2011.

Prior to joining Volkswagen, Mahoney was senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Subaru of America for five years. Prior to that he spent seven years with Porsche Cars North America where he held the positions of general manager of marketing and, later, vice president of marketing. Mahoney joined Subaru of America in 1984 as a marketing research analyst, and was promoted through the organization holding a number of management roles until going to Porsche in 1999.

BMW Zagato Roadster Debuts At Pebble Beach

The BMW Zagato Roadster debuts three months after the premiere of the BMW Zagato Coupé, a collaboration between BMW and Italian coach builder Zagato, founded in 1919 by Ugo Zagato who learned his trade in aviation, where aerodynamics and lightweight construction play a central role. Zagato became a body construction partner to Alfa Romeo and today, Andrea Zagato and Marella Rivolta-Zagato are the third generation running the company which describes itself as a design studio combining the emotion and hand-craftsmanship of body construction with the precision of state-of-the-art technology. Because this is a piece of art, there were no performance specs to be found but being a BMW one can only expect that this could be the ultimate of ultimate driving machines.

2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Coming In the Next Few Weeks

The new 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek compact crossover, on the Impreza platform, has the standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive powered by a 148-horsepower 2.0-liter BOXER engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission or available second-generation Lineartronic® Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with fuel economy figures of 25 mpg city / 33 mpg highway / 28 mpg combined. The new 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek, introduced at the New York Auto Show in April, will have two versions, the Premium  and the Limited model with additional luxury and technology.

The Subaru XV Crosstrek uses standard 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/55 R17 all-season tires,a  four-wheel disc brake system featuring large front rotors, a 15.9-gallon fuel tank on a 103.7-inch wheelbase with rear seat legroom of 35.4 inches. With the standard 60/40 split rear seatbacks folded into a completely flat load floor, there's up to 51.9 cubic feet of carrying space. The new 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek hits showrooms in the next few weeks so we expect pricing any day. Stay tuned.

Infiniti Emerg-e Concept Shown At Pebble Beach

The Infiniti Emerg-e Concept is the 402-horsepower mid-engined, twin electric motor-powered Infiniti capable of accelerating from 0 – 60 miles per hour in just 4.0 seconds and from zero to 130 miles per hour in a 30-second burst which operates as a zero-emission urban transport over a 30-mile range.

2013 Fiat 500 Turbo and 2013 STR Viper Introduced

The new 2013 Fiat 500 Turbo with sport-tuned suspension and exhaust and a 135-horsepower 1.4-liter MultiAir® Turbo engine arrives at FIAT Studios nationwide this Fall with an MSRP of $20,200 including the $700 destination charge. The front fascia was pushed 2.7 inches forward to accommodate the new 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine and a liftgate-mounted spoiler extends the roofline to improve aerodynamic behavior.  Inside, the new Fiat 500 Turbo features sport-styled seating, sport-designed leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel accented with Argento (silver) stitching, and a Grigio/Nero (gray/black) seating and also with available heated leather seating.



The 2013 SRT Viper and SRT Viper GTS with all-new carbon-fiber and aluminum skin will house an all-aluminum, mid-front, 640 horsepower 8.4-liter V-10 engine when they return to the market in fourth quarter of this year. Standard safety features include electronic multistage stability control, traction control and new 4-channel anti-lock brake system (ABS).

So we are getting affordable (FIAT) and high end (Dodge Viper) performance vehicles from the Chrysler family.

2013 Jaguar XJ and XF Offer All Wheel Drive

Jaguar announced that its 2013 model year XJ and XF sedans will now have Instinctive All Wheel Drive™ powered by a new supercharged 340 horsepower DOHC 3-liter V6 engine with an active torque-management system that uses a performance-oriented rear-drive bias which can shift power to the front wheels to either pre-empt or counter wheel slip. In addition to the Instinctive All Wheel Drive™ and supercharged 340horsepower V6 engines for the XF and XJ, Jaguar introduces a turbocharged 240 horsepower four cylinder engine available in the XF,  eight Speed ZF® Automatic Transmissions on all XF and XJ models and Auto Engine Start/Stop on select XF and XJ models.

Jaguar made the entry level all wheel drive 2.5 and 3.0 X-type sedan with all wheel drive from 2001 to 2009. With Audi's quattro® success and all wheel drive sedans from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Infiniti and Acura, it was only time before Jag brought AWD back.

2013 Buick Verano Turbo At $29,990 This Fall

The 2013 Buick Verano Turbo luxury sedan will be priced at $29,990, including a destination charge of $885 with a turbocharged  250 horsepower Ecotec 2.0L four-cylinder engine with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing and 0-60 mph acceleration of an estimated 6.2 seconds. The EPA-estimated 20/31 mpg ratings is with a six-speed manual transmission available as a no-cost option while fuel economy ratings for the standard six-speed automatic will be announced closer to production.

Buick will offer three different models with turbocharged engines and optional six-speed manual transmissions, including the Regal Turbo and Regal GS luxury sport sedans. The 2013 Buick Encore luxury crossover, on sale early next year, will feature a standard turbocharged engine. Verano sales began in late November, 2011 with a 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission and standard voice-activated IntelliLink. For 2013, a rearview camera is standard across all Verano models. The Verano Turbo arrives at dealerships this Fall.

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Campaign Launches With U.S. Open Tennis

The all-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class seven passenger SUV will be launched in a new ad, entitled "Many Rogers" with Roger Federer  as a  "World Class Athlete," "International Celebrity" and "Dad"- is accompanied by his favorite car. The campaign is being served up in concert with the 2012 US Open, taking place August 27-September 9th in Flushing, New York. The current GL-Class starts at $61,570.

The all-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class has three rows and three engine choices. In the GL350 BlueTEC, a turbocharged clean diesel V-6 delivers 240 horsepower with 455 lb-ft of torque. Powering the GL450 is a twin-turbo Direct-Injection V-8 with 362 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque and in the GL550 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission.

The 2013 GL63 AMG, courtesy of a hand-built, 5.5-liter biturbo AMG engine, delivers 550 horsepower, 560 lb-ft of torque and a top speed electronically capped at 155 mph mated to the AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7-speed automatic transmission, equipped with three selectable driving modes and an automatic double-declutching function for smooth downshifts and also features the fuel-saving ECO Start/Stop function, which switches off the engine at red lights and any other time the GL63 is at standstill. Look for the all-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class in dealerships this Fall.

2013 Land Rover Range Rover Coming in December

The new 2013 Land Rover Range Rover is the fourth generation of the Range Rover developed from the ground up with an all-aluminum unibody structure that is 39 percent lighter than the steel body in the outgoing model making the US specification vehicle with the naturally-aspirated 5-liter V8 will be approximately 700 lbs lighter than the outgoing equivalent. The Range Rover have a choice of V8 engines in the North American market, enhanced by new eight-speed ZF automatic transmissions.

There's over 4.7 inches more legroom than the outgoing model so the rear occupants benefit from increased space and comfort.  The standard sound system is by British audio specialists Meridian™  and among the innovations featured in the new Range Rover is the next-generation of Land Rover's Terrain Response® system, which analyses the current driving conditions and road surfaces through on-board sensors, and automatically selects the most suitable vehicle settings program for the terrain. The all-new Range Rover will be available in over 160 markets worldwide, with North American customer deliveries scheduled to start in December 2012. More information is coming next month.

Ford's "Plugged In" Yahoo Webisodes Come To Finale

Yahoo! and Ford, after a two-and-a-half month collaboration on “Plugged In,” a weekly online reality competition show, put up the finale of its ten webisodes this week announcing the winners of the all-new 2012 Focus Electric (or is it a 2013 Focus Electric? The ad branding has both). The webisodes, which covered San Francisco, Washington, DC, Austin, Boston, Chicago, New York, Raleigh, Atlanta, Seattle and Los Angeles, featured two-person teams competing against each other in a series of challenges along with celebrities giving tours of their towns and favorite places - in a Ford Focus Electric, of course.

Ford Focus Electric is a five-passenger car that offers the equivalent of 110 miles per gallon (MPGe) city, 99 MPGe highway, and operates entirely on battery-generated power. Focus Electric also has been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to offer 105 MPGe combined. By year-end, Focus Electric becomes available in 19 markets across the United States.

The question is, will the silliness of these low intellect giggly games played in these webisodes actually help sell cars or even generate credible awareness. Yahoo claims that "with 61 million unique visitors per month who come to Yahoo! to watch video and 21 of the top original online video programs, Yahoo! sets the bar for best-in-class original video programming." Will it sell cars? Or, better yet boost the price of Yahoo stock which is down 5% today or get Ford shares back into double digits?

All-New 2013 Honda Accord Sedan & Coupe Go On Sale This Fall

The all-new 2013 Honda Accord Sedan (above) and Accord Coupe (below) are set to go on sale this Fall and the ninth-generation redesigned Accord is critical to Honda as sales so far this year through July are 183,817, trailing the Civic by less than 3,800 year-to-date. In fact, the current model Accord had July sales of 28,639, up 70.2 percent from July 2011 and was Honda's top seller last month. More info on the 2013 models coming soon.

The 2013 Accord will debut new available features, such as Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning and the Honda-exclusive LaneWatch™ blind spot display. The new Accord also introduces HondaLink™, a cloud-based system that connects you to Bluetooth® Streaming Audio, Pandora® internet radio SMS text message function and all your favorite digital content without hassling with your mobile phone. The available Aha™ feature on HondaLink gives you access to personalized restaurant searches, Facebook audio feeds, audiobooks and more via the audio system interface and voice recognition.

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid Officially EPA-certified At 47 MPG

The all-new 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid, with the combined energy of an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery and the 2.0L Atkinson-cycle I-4 gas engine, is now officially EPA-certified at 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined, the same fuel economy whether driving cross-country or across the city with a top speed of up to 62 mph in EV mode. The gas engine and the electric motor work together to deliver maximum horsepower with the engine kicking in extra power when needed, such as when passing or merging to provide the main source of power.

SmartGauge® with EcoGuide helps the driver get better fuel efficiency by providing growing green leaves in the gauge cluster as a reward for economical driving and ECO Cruise, assists in optimizing powertrain elements for economical highway travel. The Ford C-MAX Hybrid has a base price of $25,995, including destination and delivery and is currently available for order at select dealerships. Ford brags that the C-Max is rated at 7 mpg better than the Toyota Prius for $1,300 less.

The all-new C-MAX Energi Plug-in is hybrid plus combining a high-voltage lithium-ion battery and electric motor with a gasoline engine. The C-MAX Energi has a button that lets you switch between EV Now, Auto EV and EV Later so you can choose which mode to drive in electric only, gasoline only, or a combination of gas and electric. The plug-in capability allows you to fully charge easily in under three hours using a 240-volt charging station, or overnight using a standard 120-volt outlet.The Energi starts at $33,745 including $795 destination charge.

2013 Nissan Pathfinder Goes On Sale This Fall

Nissan showed off the production version of the all-new 2013 Pathfinder SUV which is 500 pounds lighter than the outgoing model with a 260 horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine that delivers up to 26 miles per gallon on the highway and features a towing capacity of 5000 pounds and an Around View™ Monitor.

The all-new Pathfinder has the EZ Flex Seating System™ with LATCH AND GLIDE™ with a 2nd row tip-up seat for use with a child safety seat, which also provides easy access to the 3rd row while keeping the child seat securely fastened. The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder will be offered in 4x4 and 4x2 drive configurations and in four models – S, SV, SL and Platinum (above) and goes on sale nationwide this fall.

July 2012 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors reported July U.S. sales of 201,237 vehicles, down 6 percent compared with a year ago.  Sales to retail customers declined 3 percent.  Sales to rental fleet customers declined 41 percent, in line with the company’s previous guidance. Year-to-date sales of 1,516,950, is a 2.7 gain over 2011.

Ford Motor Company's July U.S. sales totaled 173,966, a 3.8 percent decline due to lower fleet sales while July retail sales grew 2 percent compared with last year. Year-to-date, Ford sales are 1,317,589, a 5.1 percent gain over 2011.   

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported July sales of 164,898, up 26.1 percent on an unadjusted raw volume basis. Year-to-date, Toyota sales are 1,210,994, a 28.3 percent gain over the first 7 months of 2011.

Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 126,089, a 13 percent increase compared with sales in July 2011 and the group's best July sales since 2007. Year-to-date sales of 960,157 is a 28 percent increase over 2011.

American Honda reported July 2012 U.S. sales of 116,944, an increase of 45.3 percent compared with July 2011. The Honda Division posted July 2012 sales of 104,119, an increase of 46.4 percent compared with July 2011. Acura’s U.S. July sales of 12,825 increased 36.4 percent compared with July 2011. Year-to-date sales are 817,926, an 18.9 percent increase over last year.
   
Nissan North America reported July U.S. sales of 98,341, up 16.2 percent.  Nissan Division sales increased 12.3 percent for the month at 86,722 while sales of Infiniti vehicles were up 56.8 percent over the prior year, to 11,619. Year-to-date sales of 676,062 is a 14.7 percent increase of 2011.

Hyundai Motor America announced an all-time July sales record of 62,021 units, up four percent over last year's all-time July record and up 9.5 percent, year-to-date with sales of 418,690.

Kia Motors America had its best-ever July sales of 48,074, a 5.6-percent increase over the same period last year.  KMA's year-to-date sales are 336,781, up 15.9 percent over 2011.

Volkswagen of America reported July sales of 37,014, a 27.3 percent increase over prior year sales for the best July since 1973. Year-to-date VW sales are 245,739, a 34.1 percent increase. Separately, Audi established a new July record, with sales of 11,707, a 28 percent increase above the old mark set in July 2011. Audi sales of 76,865, up 18.2 percent for the first seven months of 2012 set a year-to-date record, as well.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported July sales of 27,152 vehicles, an increase of 4 percent from the 26,120 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group is up 9.5 percent on sales of 185,715 in the first seven months of 2012 compared to 169,641 in the same period in 2011.

Subaru of America reported record sales for the month of July of 25,183 vehicles, a 16 percent increase over July 2011 with year-to-date sales of 189,487, a 23 percent increase over prior year.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported July sales of 19,311 for its Mercedes-Benz models, delivering a record year-to-date total of 147,905 new vehicles to customers, up 13.8%. Combined sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles, smart and Sprinter of the month totaled 22,294, up 5.8% bringing an MBUSA year-to-date total of 164,912, up 18.6%

Mazda North American Operations reported July U.S. sales of 19,318 vehicles, decrease of 7 percent versus last year. Year-to-date sales through July are 163,115, up 13.9 percent.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported July 2012 sales of 4,194 units, down 47.4 percent compared to July 2011.  

Porsche Cars North America announced July 2012 sales of 2,803 vehicles, an increase of one percent. For the year, Porsche has sold 19,253 cars in the U.S., a five percent increase over last year.

Sales will be updated as manufacturers report.

2013 Lexus LS Sedans Have World Debut In San Francisco

The new 2013 Lexus LS line-up which includes the Lexus LS 460, LS 460L, LS 600hL hybrid, and the first-ever LS 460 F SPORT had their world debut at the "Lexus Laws of Attraction" exhibit in San Francisco. The LS 460 and LS 460L is available in RWD and AWD and the LS Hybrid is available with a full-time AWD system. The standard navigation system is displayed on a 12.3-inch, split-screen, high-resolution multi-media display which is large enough to support simultaneous viewing of a large map display and other vehicle functions. A next-generation Remote Touch, with one-push confirmation which is standard on all models allows the user to operate the climate, audio, phone controls, navigation system and more. The screen menus are selected with a controller located within reach on the center console. A number of buttons on the steering wheel and instrument panel enable the direct control of frequently used functions (e.g. temperature setting, fan speed, preset audio stations, etc.)

Available safety enhancements include the Pre-Collision Safety (A-PCS) system with Collision Avoidance Assist. designed to assist the driver in avoiding or mitigating collisions with vehicles and pedestrians under a wide range of city and highway speeds. At speeds lower than 24 miles per hour, this technology helps the LS to avoid accidents by automatically bringing the LS to a full stop. Available Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) constantly monitors the distance to vehicles ahead and is capable of operating at any speed. The system can bring the vehicle to a complete stop, and accelerate away once the road ahead is clear. An upgraded, optional Lane-Keep Assist system helps the driver stay in the intended lane. New to LS, the Blind Spot Monitor uses rear millimeter-wave radar to monitor the vehicle rear side blind spots at 10 miles per hour or more. This feature includes Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) which automatically operates when the vehicle is in reverse, alerting drivers to the approach of other vehicles when backing out of a parking place.

Joel Ewanick Resigns AS GM's Global Chief Marketing Officer

General Motors said that Global Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick has elected to resign effective immediately. Word is that it may have been related to his negotiation of a marketing deal with the Manchester United soccer team. GM announced that Chevrolet will be Manchester United's shirt sponsor beginning with the 2014/2015 season replacing Aon. The seven year deal makes Chevrolet, the current Official Car Partner of the Club, only the fifth shirt sponsor in the Club’s 134-year history.

Ewanick, 52, joined GM in May 2010 in charge of marketing for the company’s North America unit. He was named global chief marketing officer in December 2010. Prior to joining GM, Ewanick was vice president of marketing and chief marketing officer for Nissan North America. Before joining Nissan, he served as vice president of marketing for Hyundai Motor America. Alan Batey, vice president, U.S. Sales and Service, will assume the role of global chief marketing officer on an interim basis.  

2012 J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Study

The J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study which examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations of more than 80 vehicle attributes, has Porsche the highest-ranking nameplate for an eighth consecutive year. The study also finds that 27 percent of new-vehicle buyers who replaced a vehicle downsized, in other words, they purchased a new vehicle in a smaller segment than the vehicle they replaced while only 13 percent of buyers "upsized," and 60 percent purchased a new vehicle in the same size segment as their previous vehicle.

The vehicles currently being traded in for new ones are approximately six years old, on average, according to data from J.D. Power's Power Information Network®.  During that period of time, vehicle appeal overall has significantly increased, and today's smaller vehicles are, in many cases, more appealing than the larger vehicles being replaced. In 2012, the average APEAL Study score for vehicles in the compact/sub-compact segment is 765 points (on a 1,000-point scale), which is the same as the average for midsize vehicles in the study in 2008.  Similarly, in 2012, the average APEAL Study score for vehicles in the midsize premium segment is 844, the same as the average for large premium vehicles in 2008.

The downsizing trend also has an impact on owner satisfaction with the fuel economy of their new vehicle. While overall vehicle appeal continues to improve, increasing seven points year over year, the greatest improvement is in fuel economy. Forty-seven percent of owners say gas mileage was one of the most important factors in choosing their new vehicle, up from 40 percent in 2011.

Chevrolet receives the highest number of segment awards of all brands included in the study for the Avalanche, Sonic and Volt models. Seven brands each receive two model awards: Audi (for the A6 and A8); Dodge (Challenger and Charger); Ford (Expedition and Flex); Kia (Optima in a tie and Soul); MINI (Countryman and Coupe/Roadster); Nissan (Frontier and Quest); and Porsche (Cayenne and 911). The Audi A8 achieves the highest APEAL Study score of any model in the industry in 2012. Also receiving awards are the BMW 3 Series; Infiniti QX56, Range Rover Evoque; Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class; and Volkswagen Passat in a tie.

Courtesy JD Power and Associates

Romano Zoom Zooms Away from Mazda

With four years of losses due to a rising yen and slumping sales in markets outside the U.S., Mazda Motor Corp. has been cutting employees at a hefty rate. Reports are there have been more than a hundred hand shakes already at their Irvine, California, North American headquarters which did employ about 700 before the severances. One report has their reduction target at 550 for Mazda North American Operations. The cuts are also underway in Europe with no reductions expected in Japan, according to published reports.

One Mazda star exec, Don Romano, 51, President of Mazda Canada, who was given the role of U.S. Chief Marketing Officer in March of 2010 then had it stripped away recently, departed Mazda last week. Romano, a southern California native living in and liking Toronto, was president of Mazda of Canada from April of 2006 until "he elected to leave" last week. He had held various roles within the organization working on brand development, business planning and global integration since joining Mazda in 2000. Expect Romano to re-surface very soon in a new position.

Shusuke “Kory” Koreeda, a 32 year veteran of Mazda and most recently Executive Vice President of Mazda Canada, has been named interim President of Mazda Canada succeeding Romano. Koreeda has served in a variety of executive positions at MC in Japan and with Mazda North American Operations in the United States.

Mazda Motor Corp. has the biggest losses among Japan’s eight biggest carmakers and has been looking for ways to boost capital. It was recently announced that Mazda and Fiat are partnering for the development and manufacturing of a new roadster for the Mazda and Alfa Romeo nameplates based on Mazda's next-generation MX-5 rear-wheel-drive design.

Ford F-450 Fire Prevention Workhorse

The basic Ford F-450 has a 390 horsepower turbocharged 6.7 liter Power Stroke V8 diesel engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and sells for $49,395. Those F-450's have four-wheel drive with Crew Cabs and 8 foot bed. This special Chartis Property and Casualty Ford F- 450 is one of six trucks that are designed to service their insurance clients who are threatened by wildfires. At a cost of nearly $200,000 these trucks carry 200 gallons of water and another 200 gallons of Phos-Chek fire retardant. Fire prevention to save homes saves lives, irreplaceable valuables and huge insurance claims is the mission of this Ford F-450.