Maserati Ghibli Now On Sale Starting At $65,000

 
The all-new Maserati Ghibli four-door sedan is now on sale in the U.S. with plans to build 50,000 cars a year by 2015. Starting at $65,000, the Ghibli has a 350 horsepower twin turbo-charged, 3.0-litre V6 gas engine and the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive and starting at $75,000, the Ghibli S, has 410 horsepower with a zero to 62 mph of 5.0 seconds and stretches out to a top speed of 176 mph. The Ghibli, the Ghibli S, the Ghibli S Q4 and the Ghibli Diesel all utilize an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Features include the Maserati Touch Control screen, adjustable pedals, reversing camera, Poltrona Frau leather interior and the 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkes audio system, as well as WLAN-based WiFi and compatibility with most modern mobile phone systems. This is a stand-out at the L.A. Auto Show. MPG figures are 15 city/22 highway but this is a performance car giving you the Ferrari Maserati design and technology for a great entry level price.

2015 Porsche Macan Arrives Next Spring For $49,900

The 2015 Porsche Macan S compact SUV starting at $49,900 is powered by a 340 horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with a zero to 60 mph acceleration of 5.0 seconds while the Turbo variant starting at $72,300 has a 400 horsepower 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 with a zero to 60 mph time of 4.4 seconds. Porsche expects to sell 10,000 Macans in the first year after it arrives at U.S. dealerships in late spring of next year. The Macan will attempt to compete with the Audi Q5 and BMW X3.

Honda Accord Selected As 2014 Green Car Of The Year

The Honda Accord, which gets 47 miles per gallon city and 46 highway, Accord Hybrid which gets 50mpg on the highway, and Accord Plug-In Hybrid, which can go 115 miles on one gallon of gas, were all selected as the Green Car of the Year® 2014 beating out the Audi A6 TDI, BMW 328d, Mazda3, and Toyota Corolla. Two years ago the Honda Civic CNG took the honor.

MPG's Innovation Vehicle of the Year (IVY) Award Winners

Under $29,000 Category: Mazda3

$29,000 and Over Category: Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black Edition For $185,000

The Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black edition, which has a starting MSRP of 185,000, has nearly eight inches more rear seat legroom than standard-wheelbase models and an increased seatback recline of 17 degrees. Rather pricy and it looks like the Black edition is white.

Audi A3 Becomes A Smartphone Next Spring

Next Spring you'll be able to buy an Audi A3 sedan with secure high-speed wireless Internet connections with download speeds of up to 100 Mbps giving you access to picture navigation with Google Earth™ and Google Street View, high-definition video streaming for up to eight devices, read-aloud news headlines, Facebook and Twitter alerts, access to more than 7,000 Web radio stations, personalized RSS news feeds, and more. The 4G LTE connectivity powered by Qualcomm Technologies’ second generation LTE chipset, the Qualcomm® Gobi™ MDM 9215 is the same technology found in smartphones and tablets. Can a driver really enjoy all these visual options or is it just more driving distractions and reasons for kids to fight with no need to talk to the other people in the car. Really? Shouldn't we focus on the road? How long a commute justifies all this technology?

2015 Nissan GT-R and GT-R NISMO Coming Soon

The 2015 Nissan GT-R is refreshed offering a smoother ride with fine-tuned suspension, braking and steering and multi-LED headlights. The Nissan GT-R goes on sale in Japan on December 2, to be followed by other markets worldwide.

The Nissan GT-R NISMO with a 600 horsepower 3.8-liter V6 VR38DETT engine will be available in Japan in late February 2014, U.S. and Europe later in 2014.

Bentley Flying Spur Is A Fast Luxury Sedan

 
The Bentley Flying Spur with a 616 horsepower 6.0-liter twin turbo W12 engine sprints from 0-60 mph in just 4.3 seconds will be on display with the 2014 Bentley Mulsanne and Continental GTC V8 at the Los Angles Auto Show this week and next. Bentley's worldwide sales through the end of September increased nine per cent to 6,516 cars. The Americas remains Bentley’s largest market and accounted for 2,022 cars which represented a 16 percent increase over the previous year and 31 percent of all sales.

Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Coming This Spring At 30 MPG

The Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD luxury-performance sedan which uses Acura's new three-motor hybrid powertrain technology combining a direct-injected 310-horsepower 3.5-liter i-VTEC® V-6 engine with two high-output 27-kilowatt electric motors mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor and an electrically powered variant of Acura's torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD)  launches next spring. The RLX Sport Hybrid with Variable Cylinder Management™ that includes an idle-stop feature to help maximize fuel efficiency is expected to get 28mpg city/32 mpg highway for a combined 30mpg EPA rating.

2013 J.D. Power U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index Study

J.D. Power's SSI study says satisfaction is highest among new-vehicle buyers who are presented with pricing/payment options on a computer screen or tablet (833), followed by a computer printout (820); verbal price quotes (792); and hand-written figures (780). Rankings are based on the experiences of both buyers and rejecters. Overall sales satisfaction improves 9 points year over year to 673 in 2013. The 2013 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study is based on responses from 29,040 buyers who purchased or leased their new vehicle in April or May 2013. 

Courtesy J.D. Power

Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupé Concept Coming To L.A. Next Week

Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupé concept is 192.5 inches long, 79.3 inches wide and 66.1 inches high with a turbocharged direct-injection (TSI) V6 gasoline engine that works together with two electric motors to produce as much as 415 horsepower with a 0 to 60 mph time of just 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 147 mph. The CrossBlue Coupé can be driven as a zero emissions EV for up to 13 miles at a maximum speed of 75 mph. The CrossBlue Coupé has a manufacturer estimated combined fuel consumption of 70 MPGe.

In hybrid mode, it allows for a theoretical range of around 570 miles. Powered by its lithium-ion battery, the CrossBlue Coupé can cover a distance of up to 13 miles in pure electric mode with a top speed is limited to 75 mph. In EV mode, only the 114-hp rear electric motor provides propulsion. In all-electric driving, the V6 TSI engine is decoupled from the drivetrain by opening the clutch, and the engine is shut off. As soon as there is a need for gasoline power, because of the battery charge or other parameters, it is coupled to the drivetrain again, jolt-free, within fractions of a second. The powertrain is made up of a 295-horsepower EA390-series V6 TSI engine mated to a six-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission. The vehicle’s electrical architecture includes a lithium-ion battery mounted in the center tunnel as well as a pair of electric motors: 54 horsepower at the front and 114 horsepower at the back.

Ford Ka Concept Could Turn Into Big Global Selling Car

Ford Ka Concept compact hatchback with comfortable seating for five developed by Ford Brazil and just shown there, could launch in 2014

Volkswagen e-Golf Debuts Next Week, Arrives In A Year

 
Volkswagen e-Golf fully electric vehicle, powered by a 115-horsepower electric motor and 24.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week and go on sale in the U.S. in select states in the fourth quarter of 2014. The average range for the e-Golf is between 70 and 90 miles and the EEM-85 synchronous permanent-magnet AC motor develops 199 pound-feet of torque getting the e-Golf to25 mph from rest in 4.2 seconds and to 60 mph in approximately 10.4 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 87 mph. Standard Fast Charging capability allows 80 percent battery charge within 30 minutes.

2015 Lincoln MKC Small SUV Arrives Next Summer

The all-new 2015 Lincoln MKC small premium utility will offer an available all-new 275 horsepower 2.3-liter EcoBoost® turbocharged four-cylinder engine in addition to the standard 240 horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost powerplant when it begins arriving to Lincoln dealerships next summer.

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.