Kia Soul EV Goes On Sale In U.S. Next Year

The Kia Soul EV, Kia’s first all-electric, zero-emissions vehicle is powered by a 109-hp electric motor, producing 210 lb.-ft. of torque to the front wheels through a single speed constant ratio gear reduction unit, accelerating from 0-62 mph in less than 12 seconds with a top speed in the region of 90 mph. With a high-capacity 27 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack the Soul EV will have a target range of more than 120 miles on a single charge. Recharging times are up to five hours for a fully depleted battery using a standard 240v outlet, or 25 minutes on ‘fast’ charge with 100 kW output. It goes on sale next year.

2014 Kia Forte Koup Kuming Soon

The 2014 Kia Forte Koup, is an all new second-generation model offered in EX and SX trim levels, and adds a 201 horsepowr 1.6-liter GDI turbocharged four-cylinder engine to the standard 173 horsepower 2.0-liter GDI powerplant coming standard with a 6-speed manual transmission and an available 6-speed automatic featuring steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Sales are expected to begin soon.

2014 Kia Optima Gets Updated

The 2014 Kia Optima mid-size sedan, powered by either a 2.4-liter GDI engine on LX, EX and SX (non-turbo) models or a 2.0-liter turbo GDI engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission featuring Sportmatic® clutchless shifting, gets newly designed LED rear lamps, and inside, redesigned seats, new Blind Spot Detection system5, which includes rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors, and new displays, a 4.3-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster and an optional high-resolution 8-inch navigation and telematics screen.

2014 Honda Civic Coupe Revealed At SEMA Sow

2014 Honda Civic Coupe has been updated with a new grille, hood, front fenders, headlight design, taillight lenses, side mirrors, wheel designs and sportier front and rear bumpers. Making its world debut at SEMA this week, more details will be released at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show this month.

Nissan BladeGlider Performance EV To Debut Next Year

The Nissan BladeGlider rear-drive performance electric vehicle concept will make its debut at next year's Le Mans 24 Hour race. BladeGlider will have electric motors, using lithium-ion battery technology, proven in Nissan LEAF and utilize in-wheel motors with independent motor management, a Nissan first.

All-new Hyundai Genesis Coming To Major Markets Next Year

The all-new Hyundai Genesis premium rear-wheel drive sedan will debut in Korea later this year and major markets next year with features like Advanced Traction Cornering Control and, as an option, the ‘HTRAC’ all-wheel drive system. Hyundai says the all-new Genesis also focuses on Human Machine Interface, which lets drivers intuitively recognize vehicle functions. The  all-new Genesis has improved body structure and rigidity due to the use of more ultra-high-strength steel, hot-stamping and double-section structure on the front, partitioned engine room design as well as improved rear and center floor structures. Hyundai continues to design stylish cars that are gaining popularity and that, combined with value pricing and their long warranty make it a win-win.

October 2013 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors dealers delivered 226,402 vehicles in the United States in October, up 16 percent versus a year ago. Retail sales were also up 16 percent and fleet sales were up 14 percent. Year-to-date sales of 2,343,861 is an 8.3 percent increase over last year. Cadillac sales were 14,792, a 9.5 percent gain over October 2012 and for the year so far 148,206, up 26.7 percent from last year.

Ford Motor Company's October U.S. total sales of 191,985 vehicles rose 14 percent over a year ago. Retail sales are up 15 percent, at 142,487 vehicles, the best October retail sales performance since 2004. Included are Lincoln sales of 7,131, a gain of 38.4 percent over October 2012 while year-to-date Lincoln sales are 66,983, down 3 percent from last year. Year-to-date Ford and Lincoln sales are 2,085,411, up 12.2 percent over the first 10 months of 2012.

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. reported October 2013 sales results of 168,976, an increase of 8.8 percent from the year-ago month. Year-to-date Toyota sales are 1,867,155, an 8.1 percent increase over the first 10 months of last year.

Chrysler reported U.S. sales of 140,083, an 11 percent increase compared with sales in October 2012 and the group's best October sales since 2007. Year-to-date sales are 1,497,086, up 9 percent over last year.

American Honda reported October 2013 U.S. total sales of 114,538 units, an increase of 7.1 percent compared with October 2012. Year-to-date sales reached 1,273,550, an increase of 8.5 percent. Honda Division October sales reached 100,242, an increase of 5.7 percent compared to last October. Acura Division posted sales of 14,296, an increase of 17.5 percent compared to October 2012. 

Nissan U.S. October sales of 91,018in October was an increase of 14.2 percent from last year's total. Nissan Division sales also set an October record with 81,866 deliveries, a 15.4 percent increase over the prior year. Sales of Infiniti vehicles totaled 9,152, up 4.5 percent. Nissan and Infiniti year-to-date sales of 1,032,134 is a 9.1 percent gain over 2012.

Hyundai Motor America announced sales for the month of October of 53,555, up 7 percent versus the same period in 2012, representing the best October in company history. Year-to-date sales are 601,773, an increase of 2 percent over 2012.

Kia Motors America reported October sales of 39,754, a 6.3 percent drop from a year ago. Year-to-date Kia sales are 456,137,  a 4.4 percent decrease from the same period in 2012.

Volkswagen of America reported October sales of 28,129, down 18 percent from October 2012 and year-to-date sales of 342,962, down 4 percent for the first 10 months. Separately, Audi reported October 2013 sales of 13,001, an 11 percent increase over the previous October record set last year. October also stands as the brand’s 34th consecutive month of record sales. Audi year-to-date sales of 127,412 is an increase of 13.4 percent.

Subaru sold 34,483 vehicles in October, up 32 percent over last year and sold 347,890 total vehicles in 2013 so far, a gain of 28.1 percent, to surpass last year's annual sales record making it the fifth consecutive year of sales records for Subaru of America and the sixth consecutive year of sales increases, the only manufacturer to increase sales each year for the last six years.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported October sales of 33,274 vehicles, an increase of 2.9 percent from the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, the BMW Group (BMW and MINI combined) is up 10.6 percent on sales of 295,474 in the first ten months of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. 

Mercedes-Benz USA reported total October sales of 32,620 for the Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and smart model lines, a 22.4 percent increase from the same period last year.  Retail volumes for the Mercedes-Benz brand alone broke October records at 30,069, up 25.4 percent, while year-to-date sales of 245,125, rose 13.7 percent from a year ago levels.  Adding year-to-date volumes of 16,978 for Sprinter Vans and 7,450 vehicles at smart, MBUSA’s year-to-date totals reached 269,553, making this the best October in the company’s history.

Mazda North American Operations reported October U.S. sales of 19,738, an increase of 6 percent versus last year. Year-to-date sales through October are 240,229, up 5.3 percent versus last year.

Jaguar Land Rover North America reported October 2013 U.S. sales for both brands of 5,801, a 52 percent increase from October 2012. Jaguar sales were 1,515, a 117 percent gain from October 2012 while Land Rover sales were 4,286, up 37 percent. Year to date through October, Jaguar Land Rover North America is up 19 percent, with Jaguar sales at 13,962, up 36 percent and Land Rover up 14 percent.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported October sales of 4,972, up 19.4 percent compared to October 2012.

Porsche Cars North America announced October 2013 sales of 3,562, an increase of 11 percent over the same period in 2012. Year-to-date, Porsche has sold 35,111 cars in the U.S., 24 percent ahead of last year’s total and thus surpassing the entire 2012 sales volume of 35,043.

Sales will be updated as manufacturers report.

Consumer Reports' Reliability Study

The redesigned 2014 Subaru Forester is the most reliable vehicle you can buy according to the latest Consumer Reports' new car reliability study which surveys its magazine and website subscribers each year to ask about any serious problems they've had with their vehicles in the preceding 12 months. No mention of miles driven which is the biggest factor.

Lexus ES 350

Japanese carmakers Lexus, Toyota, and Acura were one, two, three for brand reliability, with all Lexus and Acura models scoring above average. Audi, jumped 22 spots in just two years, moving up four places from last year to fourth overall. Next were Mazda, Infiniti and Volvo jumping 13 places to seventh. Honda was next at eighth. All Infiniti, Mazda, and Toyota models scoring average or better. All Japanese makes rank among the first 11 except for Nissan, which sank to 22nd. GMC was the top domestic brand at ninth, three places higher than last year. Subaru rounded out the top 10.

Ford and Lincoln were just above Mini at the bottom of the Consumer Reports' list because of their MyTouch infotainment system difficulty according to Consumer Reports. Ford is having sales success and happy Ford owners are questioning this latest study and the ranking of their brand.

Consumer Reports’ says their reliability Ratings show how well vehicles have held up and the odds that an owner could be inconvenienced by problems and repairs. The large-scale survey collects detailed data on about 1.1 million vehicles, giving them a solid source for chronicling past reliability and predicting future performance. For more on the brand rankings and individual vehicle recommendations, subscribe to Consumer Reports.

Motor Press Guild's Innovation Vehicle of the Year Finalists

Finalists chosen for Motor Press Guild's Innovation Vehicle of the Year (IVY) awards have been selected in two price categories by MPG's panel of journalists who reviewed all of the nominated vehicles. Vehicles have to be on sale in the U.S. by January 1, 2014 to be eligible for the 2013 MPG IVY Award.

Under $29,000 Category: Chevrolet Spark EV, Chevrolet Cruise Diesel, Ford Fiesta ST, Jeep Cherokee, Mazda3

$29,000 and Over Category: Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Ford Fusion Energi, Honda Accord Hybrid, Infiniti Q50 Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, Range Rover Sport

These vehicles will be judged on overall innovation, technology/engineering, safety, environmental impact, and price/affordability/value and the winner will be determined by a vote of MPG member journalists and analysts. The selection process starts with all MPG members nominating up to three vehicles for each price class. Manufacturers may also nominate their own vehicles. In the second stage, a jury of MPG Journalist members vets the nominations and chooses twelve finalists, six in each category. Though it looks like there are five in the lower price category and seven in the higher price this year. The winners will be announced at the 2013 L.A. Auto Show on November 20.

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid Selling Now For $35,970

The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, which is on sale now at U.S. Nissan dealers nationwide, is one of Pathfinder's 14 model configurations with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $35,970 (including $860 Destination and Handling) for the SV 2WD Hybrid model, versus a starting price of $32,970 for a comparably equipped SV 2WD 3.5-liter V6 model.

The new 2014 Pathfinder Hybrid has a supercharged 2.5-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor paired to a compact Lithium-ion battery that fits under the 3rd row seat. The hybrid system uses a Nissan Intelligent Dual Clutch System (one motor / two clutch parallel system) that manages power from both the electric motor and the gas engine. The 15 kW electric motor and gas engine work in tandem to provide performance equivalent to the Pathfinder 3.5-liter gasoline V6 model. The system is rated at 250 net horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque versus the 3.5-liter V6 ratings of 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy for the new Pathfinder Hybrid is rated at 26 mpg combined, an increase of 24 percent over the standard Pathfinder. City fuel economy is 25 mpg, while highway mileage is rated at 28 mpg (27 mpg 4WD).

Kia K900 Flagship Sedan To Debut At L.A. Auto Show

The all-new Kia K900 rear wheel drive flagship sedan will debut at the Los Angeles auto show next month and is scheduled to go on sale next year with either a V6 or V8 engine. Kia is wanting to take the brand upscale.

2014 BMW 2 Series Coupe Arrives In March Starting At $33,025

 
The all-new BMW 2 Series Coupe, 2.8 inches longer than the 1 Series Coupe it replaces, will arrive in the US in the first quarter of 2014 as the 228i for $33,025 (including $925 destination and handling) and the M235i for $44,025. The BMW 228i Coupe will be powered by the 240 horsepower TwinPower Turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The BMW M235i will have a 322 horsepower 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with TwinPower technology delivering 332 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to an 8-speed sport automatic transmission.

The BMW 2 Series Coupe has a rain sensor with automatic headlight activation and available optional features that include Adaptive Xenon headlights with cornering light, High Beam Assistant, Park Distance Control and the rear view camera, which displays its images on the iDrive operating system’s Control Display, Parking Assistant and Driving Assistant which comprises the camera-based Lane Departure Warning and Collision Warning systems.

2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coming In The Fall Of 2014

The all-new 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and launching in Fall 2014, is 221 lbs lighter than its predecessor with its aluminum hybrid body, adds a head-up display, has a newly designed 4-link front axle, comes with a steel suspension and can be equipped with an air suspension (AIRMATIC) on the front and rear axles. Stay tuned for engines, trim levels, pricing and packaging for the US market details.

Bi-fuel CNG Chevrolet Impala Arrives Next Summer

General Motors will build a bi-fuel Chevrolet Impala sedan for retail and fleet customers that operates on either gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG) to go on sale next summer as a 2015 model, GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson announced. CNG vehicles typically have 20 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline-powered cars, according to the California Air Resources Board. The Chevrolet Impala bi-fuel sedan will have a factory-engineered and fully warranted powertrain that switches seamlessly from CNG to gasoline with a total range expected to be up to 500 miles.

Akerson says GM is committed to saving 12 billion gallons of gasoline in its 2011 to 2017 model year vehicles, offsetting nearly a year of crude imports from the Persian Gulf, with technologies that include lighter materials to reduce vehicle mass, alternative fuels, clean diesel and electrification.

Green Car Journal's Green Car of the Year Finalists

Green Car Journal, which will announce its Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show in mid-November, has narrowed down the field to five finalists and only one of the five, Honda Accord, offers hybrid and plug-in electric versions. The others, getting 38 miles per gallon or better, are two diesels and high mileage gas engines. The five 2014 models are: the Audi A6 TDI, BMW 328d, Honda Accord, Mazda3, and Toyota Corolla. These five finalists are also honored as Green Car Journal's "Top 5 Green Cars for 2014" and earn the magazine's "Green Car Product of Excellence" honors.

Who decides? Car buff Jay Leno, Ocean Futures Society president Jean-Michel Cousteau, Natural Resources Defense Council president Frances Beinecke, Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune, and Global Green USA board member Matt Petersen and Green Car Journal editors.

Last year's winner was the Ford Fusion. Prior winners were Honda Civic GX natural gas vehicle, Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, Audi A3 TDI Clean Diesel, Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel, Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

See you at the L.A. Auto Show.

2014 BMW 428i and 435i Convertibles Start At $49,675 In First Quarter

The all-new 2014 BMW 4 Series Convertible with a three-piece retractable hardtop will be offered as both a 428i starting at $49,675 and as a 435i with a starting price of $55,825 (including $925 destination and handling). The 2014 BMW 428i Convertible, powered by a 240 horsepower TwinPower Turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, will be offered with a choice of rear-wheel drive or with optional xDrive, BMW’s intelligent all-wheel drive system. The 2014 BMW 435i Convertible will be available at launch in rear wheel drive with a 300 horsepower TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter inline six engine.

The 2014 BMW 4 Series Convertible has a longer wheelbase, wider track and lower ride height than the previous-generation BMW 3 Series Convertible and will arrive in US showrooms in the first quarter of 2014.

2014 Cadillac ELR Electrified Coupe Starts At $75,995 In January

The 2014 Cadillac ELR electrified luxury coupe will go on sale in January in all major U.S. metropolitan areas at a starting price of $75,995 (including $995 destination charge) with purchasers possibly eligible for a tax credit from $0 to $7,500 depending on individual tax liability. ELR's electric driving range is about 35 highway miles or 82 MPGe with its total driving range in excess of 300 miles. The ELR comes equipped with Cadillac CUE with Navigation accessible through an eight-inch, full-color capacitive-touch screen, light-emitting diode, or  LED, front and rear exterior lighting, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, the Safety Alert Seat and the exclusive Regen on Demand™ feature, allowing the driver to temporarily regenerate energy from the vehicle’s momentum via steering-wheel paddles.

General Motors - Driven By The Customer

General Motors is tackling quality - real and perceived - with new measuring tools, helping customers with their infotainment technology struggles through call centers and online through social media sites while trying to provide a friendly dealer environment by remaking their stores and using the Disney Institute to train dealership staff.

"It’s about making GM a customer-centric company… and working to ensure that everything we do is driven by the customer” according to a very impressive and well-credentialed Alicia Boler-Davis, General Motors Senior Vice President of Global Quality and Customer Experience who, in my view, has the biggest job in the auto industry - hitting head on: 1. Customers’ perception of GM vehicles, brands, and image before they step into the dealer showroom, and, 2. the relationships customers have with GM and dealership personnel throughout the sales, service and ownership experience. There's a history to overcome.

Difficulty using infotainment and technology features can be a dissatisfier so GM has 50 in-vehicle technology experts or "Connected Customer Specialists" in the field, covering 85 percent of U.S. markets to work with customers and dealership staff to quickly address customer questions about vehicle connectivity and infotainment systems. GM's new Customer Engagement Center in Warren, Michigan, will have about 300 advisors by the end of the year and there's one dedicated Infotainment Call Center in Texas with fully functioning infotainment systems, so advisors can re-create exactly what their customers are experiencing. GM's effort in what-they-call Human Vehicle Integration (HVI) has resulted in MyLink, IntelliLink, and CUE, the Cadillac User Experience.

Drive quality is now measured with a tool that was purchased from Austrian company AVL that provides a numerical assessment of drive quality and enables GM to precisely benchmark the competition. Boler-Davis says "The AVL tool allows us to take the customer’s requirements and translate them into technical specifications that our engineers use to deliver the driving experience that customers expect."

Product quality has been a legacy issue for GM but that is already changing with the 2013 J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey, ranking GM the best automaker for initial quality for the first time and being the only automaker to have fewer than 100 problems-per-hundred-vehicles. Eight of GM vehicles placed first in their segment. No other automaker had more than three. And half of GM's models scored in the top three in their segment. 2013 J.D Power Vehicle Dependability Study ranked GM vehicles highest in four separate segments and 11 GM models either received a segment award or placed in the top three in their category.

In the 2012 Consumer Reports Annual Reliability Survey, all four of GM U.S. brands improved their scores and are now ranked above the industry average. Cadillac improved 15 places and is now ranked the most reliable U.S. brand. Consumer Reports now recommends 16 GM vehicles, up from 11 the previous year.

Boler-Davis says "Warranty costs are another way to gauge the quality of our products, and so I’m also pleased to point out that – on a per-vehicle basis – we have spent less than, for example, Toyota on warranty repairs for the last five years."

2014 Chevrolet Impala

It's a critical time for GM that will introduce 28 new vehicles in 2013-14 alone, as they turn 70 percent of their North American lineup by the end of next year. It's that new vehicle market reception that will make or break a brand and so far GM looks like they're making it.

"...our goal at GM is to provide the best overall customer experience in the industry." I believe positive parting memories of a vehicle influence future purchases so GM is on the right track.

2014 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Price Cut Starting Next Month

Toyota has cut the price on the 2014 Prius Plug-in Hybrid by $2,010 to $29,990 (excluding DPH) and on the 2014 Prius Plug-in Advanced model by $4,620 to $34,905 (excluding DPH). The Prius Plug-in qualifies for a Federal Tax Credit of up to $2,500 in addition to the State of California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program (CVRP) which offers a $1,500 rebate. The 2014 Prius Plug-in is also eligible for the State of California’s HOV lane sticker. Pricing takes effect when these models arrive in showrooms in November in 15 states.

In September, Prius Plug-In Hybrid sales were 1,152, a 24.2 percent drop from a year ago and year-to-date sales are 7,974, up 3.6 percent from 2012. That compares to year-to-date sales for the Prius sedan of 117,251, an 0.4 percent rise over last year, for the Prius C of 33,133, a 27.4 percent increase and for the Prius V of 28,398, down 11.5 percent compared to the first 9 months of 2012.

In comparison, the Chevrolet Volt extended electric vehicle with an MSRP of $34,185 (excluding delivery charges) had sales of 1,766 in September, down 38.1 percent from September 2012 and year-to-day Volt sales are 16,348, a 2.5 percent increase over the first nine months of last year.

All-New 2015 Cadillac Escalade Goes Into Production Next Spring

The all-new 2015 Cadillac Escalade, the fourth-generation of General Motors luxury SUV, is offered with 2WD and 4WD drivetrains in a standard and extended-length ESV edition with a new 420 horsepower 6.2L V-8 engine matched with the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission and delivers 460 lb-ft of torque.

The Escalade ESV has a 14-inch-longer wheelbase and approximately 20 inches more in overall length than the Escalade, maximizing space for third-row passengers and 60 percent more cargo space behind the third-row seat.

Production of the 2015 Escalade begins next spring in Arlington, Texas.

Can Volvo Win Nobel U.S. Sales Comeback Prize?

Identity Crisis
Is Volvo's identity crisis slowing down sales? Bought by Chinese Geely Automobile in 2010 with the volume leading S60 and XC60 both made in Ghent, Belgium, and their biggest sales market being the United States. Does that distance the company from its headquarters in Göteborg, Sweden, where safety slogans like "We built them the way we build them because we have to" originated.
Did Volvo lose its Swedish touch?
Sweden is one of the most successful producers of top talent for its tiny population of just 9.5 million people. Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, is the namesake of the world's most respected prizes, Ikea owner Ingvar Kamprad's furniture sales has made him one of the world's richest people, Henrik Stenson, born in Volvo's hometown, just won golf's top trophies, the FedEx Cup and Tour Championship, after fighting back from two major career slumps that maybe Volvo can follow. Will Volvo take a chapter from the late Stieg Larsson's highly successful Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trilogy and go for some aggressive market share revenge?
Bi-coastal Bouncing
When Ford bought Volvo in 1999, under then-CEO Jacques Nasser, it became part of The Premier Automotive Group and in 2001 moved U.S. headquarters from Rockleigh, New Jersey, where it had been since 1964 to Irvine, California. Alan Mulally became Ford's President and CEO in September 2006, Volvo's U.S. headquarters returned to New Jersey in 2008 and Volvo was the last PAG brand to be sold off. The moves and stretch of ownership uncertainty obviously froze focus.
Management Changes
Now is Volvo rearranging the deck chairs in the wake of sinking sales in the U.S., their largest market, or hoping to relaunch with a vengeance by giving the role of acting president and CEO to Tony Nicolosi, 26 years with Volvo, who will attempt to revitalize U.S. sales with his background at Volvo Cars Financial Services? He replaces one of the most competent automotive marketing men John Maloney, who was asked to consider a senior role in Europe but, with strong ties to Southern California, decided to leave after 14 years with the company. Greg Swetoha, Executive Vice President of sales operations, has also elected to leave Volvo, despite the August news that Volvo Cars of North America ranked first among luxury brands at having dealerships that are effective at influencing the purchase, according to Foresight Research's 2013 Dealership Report. 
U.S. Sales Down
For the first nine months of 2013, Volvo's seven available U.S. models had sales of 48,193, down 6.6 percent from the same period last year. Only the XC60, with sales of 15,441, up 12.3 percent over 2012, and the volume leading S60 with 18,732, a 4.1 percent sales gain over last year, are showing increases. If U.S. sales hold steady for the last 3 months of 2013, they are on pace for sales of about 64,000 for the year, a far cry from the 2004 U.S. sales record of 140,000 vehicles.

2008 Volvo XC60 Geneva Auto Show Debut

2014 Volvo XC60

Relaunching
The popular XC60, introduced at 2008 Geneva Auto Show is said to be redesigned for 2014 which should boost sizzle and sales. They don't look a lot different but Volvo says the 2014 XC60 has a new hood, front fenders, grille design, headlight assemblies, vertically mounted LED daytime running lights, Corner Traction Control by torque vectoring with interior changes including a new instrument cluster, white illumination in buttons replaces the previous green illumination, new front door sill plates, new metal threshold for cargo area, revised automatic transmission shift knob with piano black background and illuminated symbols, to name a few. In 2010, I spent a week in the XC60 diesel driving around Southern Sweden and loved the vehicle.

The latest Volvo Concept Coupé is being touted as a Scandinavian creation. The Swedish touch, safety legacy and revitalized products will be the key to the return of a brand that sold 456,224 vehicles globally just 9 years ago.

Volkswagen XL1 Plug-in Hybrid Shown In Chattanooga

The Volkswagen XL1, plug-in hybrid with a 48 PS (35kW) two-cylinder TDI® engine, a 27-hp electric motor, a seven-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission, and a lithium-ion battery, made its U.S. debut in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The XL1 offers an estimated European combined fuel consumption rating of 261 mpg (more than 200 mpg estimated in the U.S. cycle) and can cover up to 32 miles as a zero-emissions vehicle in all-electric mode.

The XL1 also has a top speed of 99 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 12.7 seconds. The XL1 is 153.1 inches long, 65.6 inches wide, and just 45.4 inches tall. By comparison, a Volkswagen Polo is slightly longer (156.3 in) and wider (66.2 in), but is significantly taller (57.6 in).EV1 or old Honda Insight similarity?

September 2013 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors delivered 187,195 vehicles in the United States in September, down 11 percent year over year. Retail sales were down 6 percent versus a year ago and fleet sales were down 27 percent. Year-to-date sales are 1,603,319, an 11.6 percent increase. GM sold 13,828 Cadillacs in September, up 9.9 percent, and 133,414 of the luxury brand vehicles this year, a 28.9 percent gain over 2012.

Ford sales totaled 185,146, a 5.8 percent increase for its best September since 2006 while year-to-date sales are 1,893,426, a 12 percent increase of last year. The Lincoln brand had sales of 6,453, a 5.1 percent drop from September 2012 while year-to-date sales of the luxury brand are 59,852, a 6.3 percent decline.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported September 2013 sales results of 164,457, a decrease of 4.3 percent from year-ago month. Toyota Division posted September 2013 sales of 144,935, down 4.3 percent over September 2012. Lexus reported September sales of 19,522, a 4.2 percent decline on a raw volume basis year-over-year.

Chrysler reported U.S. sales of 143,017, a 1 percent increase compared with sales in September 2012 for the best September sales since 2007. Year-to-date sales of 1,357,003 is a 9 percent gain over last year.

American Honda September 2013 U.S. sales of 105,563 was a decrease of 9.9 percent compared with September 2012 while year-to-date sales 1,159,012 are up 8.7 percent over 2012. The Honda division posted September 2013 sales of 93,915, a decrease of 8.7 percent compared with September 2012 with year-to-date sales of 1,038,182, a 9.2 percent increase over last year. Acura U.S. September sales of 11,648 is a decrease of 18.9 percent compared with September 2012 and year-to-date is 120,830, a 4.4 percent gain over last year.

Nissan U.S. sales in September totaled 86,868, down 5.5 percent from last year while year-to-date, sales are 941,116, an 8.6 percent increase over 2012. Nissan Division September sales finished at 77,828, a decrease of 5.6 percent. Sales of Infiniti vehicles totaled 9,040 units, down 4.3 percent.

Hyundai Motor America September sales of 55,102 was down eight percent versus the same period in 2012. Year-to-date sales of 548,218, was a 1.6 percent increase of 2012.

Kia Motors America reported September sales of 38,003, a 21 percent tumble from 2012, while year-to-date sales of 416,383 is a 4.3 percent fall from last year.

Subaru of America reported 31,755 vehicle sales for the month of September, an increase of 15 percent over September 2012, representing the best September sales month in company history. Year-to-date sales for Subaru totaled 313,407, 28 percent higher than the same period in 2012.  Subaru is on track to achieve its fifth-consecutive year of sales increases.

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported September sales of 28,874 vehicles, an increase of 8.3 percent from the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, the BMW Group (BMW and MINI combined) is up 11.6 percent on sales of 262,200 in the first nine months of 2013 compared to 2012.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported the highest September sales in its history with 27,474 sold across the Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and smart model lines, an increase of 5.8 percent from September 2012.  Retail volumes for the Mercedes-Benz brand rose 6.7 percent over the same period last year to 24,697, while year-to-date sales of 215,056 was up 12.2 percent. Adding year-to-date sales of 14,940 for Sprinter Vans and 6,937 vehicles at smart, MBUSA's year-to-date total reached 236,933, marking a best-ever third quarter for both the Mercedes-Benz brand and MBUSA.

Mazda North American Operations reported September U.S. sales of 22,464 vehicles, representing a decrease of 6.9 percent versus last year. Year-to-date sales through September are up 5.3 percent versus last year, with 220,490 vehicles sold.

Jaguar Land Rover North America reported September 2013 U.S. sales of 4,700, a 1 percent increase from September 2012. Jaguar sales were 1,313, 31 percent up from September 2012 with year to date Jaguar sales 12,447, up 30 percent. Land Rover sales were 3,387, down 7 percent from a year ago but still up 12 percent year-over-year. Year to date through September, Jaguar Land Rover North America is up 16 percent.

Volvo Cars of North America reported U.S. sales of 4,188, a 15.9 percent decrease versus September 2012. Year-to-date sales are 48,193, down 6.6 percent over the first nine months of 2012.

Porsche Cars North America September 2013 sales of 3,093 vehicles was an increase of 13 percent over the same period in 2012. During the first nine months of the year, Porsche has sold 31,549 cars in the U.S., 26 percent ahead of last year's year-to-date total.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported September sales of 4,001, down 16.7 percent compared to September 2012. 

The 2015 Ford F-Series Super Duty Unveiled Today

The 2015 Ford F-Series Super Duty with a second-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 turbo diesel engine with reverse-flow that places the exhaust inside the engine’s V-shape while the air intake is positioned on the outside of the V to shorten airflow from the exhaust system to the turbocharger sitting between the engine’s cylinder banks also the turbo inside the engine’s valley helps isolate the engine’s hottest temperatures, improving performance and efficiency.

2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD Arrives In First Quarter Next Year

The all-new 2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD full-size pickups arrive in the first quarter of 2014, including the 2500HD and 3500HD models, and the Sierra Denali HD, which will carry a payload of 7,374 pounds and be able to trailer 19,600 pounds. The pickups will have a CornerStep rear bumper, EZ Lift and Lower tailgate, standard upper tie-downs, Standard StabiliTrak with Trailer Sway Control, Integrated cruise control, auto grade braking and diesel exhaust braking on the diesel models. These GM pickups will take on customers shopping for the Ford F Series, Chrysler Ram trucks, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan.

2014 Accord Hybrid Halloween Treat For $29,945 At 47 MPG

The 2014 Accord Hybrid, with EPA fuel-economy ratings of 50 mpg city/45 mpg highway/47 mpg combined, has a starting MSRP of $29,945 (including $790 destination and handling charge) for base model. Standard features include Honda's LaneWatch™ blind spot display system, a rearview camera, LED daytime running lights, an Expanded View Driver's Mirror, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, USB/iPod® integration, Pandora® compatibility, SMS text message function, dual-zone automatic climate control, alloy wheels, a driver's seat with 10-way power adjustment, and a 160-watt AM/FM/CD audio system.

The Accord Hybrid EX-L, strating at $32,695, has Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning along with leather-trimmed and heated front seats and the HondaLink™ cloud-based media and connectivity system featuring Aha® compatibility. Power driver's seat memory, front passenger seat with 4-way power adjustment and one-touch moonroof are also standard on the EX-L trim. The top-of-the-line Accord Hybrid Touring, starting at $35,695, adds the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with voice recognition and FM traffic data, LED headlights with blue tinted chrome bezels, Adaptive Cruise Control and hard disk driveaudio memory. The 2014 Accord Hybrid goes on sale October 31st.

Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition Concept

The Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept car is equipped with V8 twin turbo engine with 530 horsepower with a top speed of over 190 miles an hour and an acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in 4.7 seconds. So where does men's fashion designer Ermenegildo Zegna come in? The interior greige tint with soft moka and greige leather in the seats, door panels and roof lining finished in genuine soft leather, and a smooth, bright fabric created especially for the Quattroporte which they say conveys a formal, sophisticated character.

2015 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Arriving Soon For $184,995

The 2015 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S, which arrives in showrooms around the world over the next few weeks, is equipped with the new 565 horsepower AM28 6.0-liter V12 engine mated to the Sportshift™ III automated manual transmission taking the V12 Vantage S just 3.7 seconds to sprint from 0-60 mph and to a top speed of 205 mph. The price: $184,995

Toyota Yaris Hybrid-R Concept Has 420 Horsepower

The Toyota Yaris Hybrid-R Concept has a 420 horsepower hybrid powertrain system with its front wheels driven by a 300 horsepower 4-cylinder 1.6 turbo engine with direct injection and at the rear, each wheel is individually powered by a 60 horsepower electric motor providing an ‘intelligent’ electric four-wheel drive capability. The two electric motors work as electric generators during the braking phase and supplement the gas engine during the accelerating phases as does a 3rd 60 horsepwoer electric motor, located between the engine and the 6 gear sequential transmission.

Jaguar C-X17 Sports Crossover Concept Rolls Out In 2015

Jaguar C-X17 sports crossover concept vehicle, built on the aluminium-intensive architecture, will be powered a wide variety of engines including diesel and the F-TYPE's 340 and 380 horsepower 3.0-liter V6 supercharged gas engines with intelligent All-Wheel Drive, according to Jag. The C-X17 features a Meridian 28-loudspeaker system for its four passengers riding in individual bucket seats. Its global rollout will begin in 2015.

Audi nanuk quattro concept - Move Over R8

Audi nanuk quattro concept two-seater, made of lightweight, aluminum Audi Space Frame and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, is powered by a newly developed 544 horsepower 5.0-liter V10 diesel engine installed longitudinally in front of the rear axle giving it a curb weight of around 4,190 lbs. A seven-speed S tronic transmission located behind the engine transfers the torque to a specially designed quattro drivetrain. It has a 0 to 62 mph time of 3.8 seconds, and top speed of about 190 mph. Thermal management with separate cooling loops and the regulated oil pump contribute to fuel consumption of 30 mpg on average. Luggage is stowed at the front of the car, where there is room for a couple of small carry-ons or a golf bag - now that's the clincher, never go anywhere without my clubs.

The adaptive air suspension allows the driver to manually adjust the ground clearance of the Audi nanuk quattro concept in three stages. With integral steering, when the driver steers at low to moderate speeds, the rear wheels turn up to nine degrees in the opposite direction of the front wheels while at higher speeds the system turns the rear wheels by as much as 2.5 degrees in the same direction as the front wheels. Just when I assigned my lotto ticket winnings to an R8, the nanuk quattro comes along.

Interview: Bob Hegbloom, Director, Ram Brand Marketing

Bob Hegbloom, Director, Ram Brand Marketing, brags about awards and market share growth for Ram trucks, a division of Chrysler Group.

2014 Ram ProMaster Latest Delivery To Ram Commercial Line Up

The new 2014 Ram ProMaster is a front-drive wheel drive van powered by either a 280 horsepower 3.6-liter 24-valve Pentastar V-6 or 174-horsepower 3.0-liter inline 4-cylinder EcoDiesel engine. The ProMaster is available in two roof heights, three wheelbases and four body lengths and a total of 14 different configurations. The latest addition to Ram Commercial’s line up comes from Italy as the ProMaster is based on the Fiat Ducato, which has been in production for more than 30 years. Benvenuto!

Ford S-MAX Concept Measures Driver's Heart Rate

The new Ford S-MAX Concept has a more flexible interior than its predecessor and features connectivity and wellness technology including Ford SYNC with AppLink, which enables drivers to voice-activate apps from behind the wheel, and the Ford ECG Heart Rate Monitoring Seat, which records the driver’s heart rate. The S-MAX Concept offers an Intelligent Protection System with Pre-Collision Assist, which identifies pedestrians and automatically applies the brakes if a collision is imminent. Dual-View Display allows the driver to receive important information while from the same center console screen that the front passenger can enjoy a movie. No wonder there's a heart rate monitor with so much going on.

Oh Doctor! as my friend and longtime San Diego Padres commentator Jerry Coleman would say to describe a home run.

BMW i8 Shown In Frankfurt 2 Years After L.A. Auto Show Concept

 The BMW i8 is a 2+2-seater sports car powered by a 231 horsepower 1.5-litre combustion engine that drives the rear wheels  and a 131 horsepower electric drive sends its power to the front wheels giving the i8 an all-electric range of up to 22 miles and a top speed of 75 mph. We saw the BMW i8 2 years ago at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show so it's been a long wait for the production model. The 2014 BMW i8 will be priced from $135,700 plus destination and handling fee. This is before any federal or state incentives for which the i8 may qualify.

Ferrari 458 Speciale With 597 Horsepower Debuts In Frankfurt

The Ferrari 458 Speciale with a 597 horsepower naturally aspirated new mid-rear-engined V8 berlinetta is a more powerful version of the 458 Italia and 458 Spider with an expected cost of over $300,000.

Mercedes-Benz Concept S-Class Coupé Looks Into The Future

The Mercedes-Benz Concept S-Class Coupé is powered by a 449 horsepower V8 Biturbo engine and is equipped with the Intelligent Drive technology that, with two cameras, can create a three-dimensional view of the area up to about 160 feet in front of the vehicle. A multitude of assistance systems monitors the surrounding traffic for the driver. The infotainment system with the MoodGrid software from Gracenote provides whatever music fits the mood from a catalogue containing 18 million tracks. With a wheelbase of 116 inches the coupé measures 198.8 inches in length, 77 inches in width and 55.5 inches in height. Sleek looking high tech luxury.

2014 Nissan Rogue Starts At $23,350 In November

The all-new 2014 Nissan Rogue compact utility vehicle powered by a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan dealers in the United States in November for a starting price of $23,350 (including $860 Destination and Handling fees) for the Rogue S front-wheel drive model. The Rogue SV FWD starts at $25,090, Rogue SL FWD at $28,930, Rogue S AWD at $24,700, Rogue SV AWD at $26,440 and Rogue SL AWD $30,280, and there's a $239 Rogue Reservation Program lease. Fuel economy is projected to be 33 mpg highway for front-wheel drive models, an 18 percent improvement over the 2013 model.

For the first time, Rogue will offer optional 3-row/7-passenger seating, a Divide 'n Hide® Cargo System providing 18 adjustable variations (two-row models) between the cargo and occupant areas. The EZ Flex™ Seating System includes a reclining 40/20/40-split 2nd row seat and 2nd row legroom of 37.9 inches and 9.0 inches of fore/aft adjustability. Standard interior features include Streaming Audio via Bluetooth® and Hands-free Text Messaging Assistant. Available features include power panoramic moonroof, a power rear liftgate, NissanConnect℠ with Navigation and NissanConnect℠ Apps, Around View® Monitor with Moving Object Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Warning.

I almost bought one three years ago in the Cash for Clunkers program but the dealer talked me out of it, now I might reconsider. Great looking and fuel efficient with a lot of competition though, from the Honda CRV, Toyota Rav4, Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, many Subarus, Jeep Cherokee, to name just a few. Happy shopping!

Porsche 918 Spyder 887 Horsepower Plug-In Hybrid Concept

The Porsche 918 Spyder sportscar concept with an 887 horsepower plug-in hybrid drive made its world debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The Porsche 918 Spyder shaved 14 seconds off the previous Nurburgring record for a street-legal automobile with a lap time of six minutes and 57 seconds, 17 seconds quicker that its run last September. The 12.8-mile Nurburgring Nordschleife (north loop) track for benchmarking speeds and car performance is located 75 miles northwest of Frankfurt and was built in the 1920's with more than 1,000 feet of elevation change from its lowest to highest points. The Porsche 918 Spyder is able to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds and offers an average standard fuel consumption of between 71 and 78 miles per gallon (converted from the metric 3.0 - 3.3 liters/km).

Legendary Car Salesman Cal Worthington Dies At 92

Cal Worthington, who drew attention to his zany TV car commercials with his catchy "go see Cal" music jingle and crazy animal antics and daredevil stunts wearing his trademark Cowboy hat, has died at age 92. I've been watching his ads for 25 years in Los Angeles and there's no question that his ads were old school and corny which gave them an authentic nostalgic style but knowing that Cal was the original TV pitchman set him apart drawing respect and appreciation. He was a institution, part of California culture, no doubt inspiring many stereotypical TV car salesmen. A living piece of history has left us with the passing of this car industry legend. 

All-new 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Will Start At $93,825 Next Month

The all-new 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 with a 455 horsepower V8 engine will have an MSRP of $93,825 (including the $925 destination/delivery charge), $2,100 less than the model it replaces, when it arrives in showrooms in October. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 4MATIC will cost $96,825 when it launches in November and the 577 horsepower Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive (shown above) is priced at $140,425, more horsepower and a slightly lower price than the outgoing model.

2014 Lexus GX 460 Starts At $49,995 In September

The redesigned 2014 Lexus GX 460 luxury utility vehicle with a 301 horsepower 4.6-liter V8 engine mated to a six-speed Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence delivering an EPA-estimated 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway, will cost $49,995 (including $910 delivery, processing and handling fee), nearly nine percent less than the previous year while the Luxury model will have an MSRP of $61,625 when they arrive at dealerships beginning in September.

The 2014 Lexus GX 460 has a new eight-inch touchscreen, backup monitor, HD Radio, Bluetooth audio, automatic phone book transfer, a vehicle information display and complimentary traffic and weather data provided via HD Radio and offers an available Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert which are included on the new GX Luxury model along with Adaptable Air Suspension, Navigation, Intuitive Parking Assist and Advanced Pre Collision with Driver Monitor. Trailer sway control is also added for 2014.