Monday, January 14, 2013

Cadillac ATS and Ram 1500 Win North American Awards


The Cadillac ATS took the 2013 North American Car of the Year. The jurors gave the ATS 207 points, the Accord 159 points and the Fusion 124 points.


The Ram 1500 won the 2013 North American Truck/Utility of the Year. The jurors gave the Ram 1500 261 points, the CX-5 142 points and the C-Max 87 points.

Get the tour of the Ram 1500.

The awards, now in their 20th year, were chosen by a jury of 49 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

2014 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S This Spring At $146,975


Porsche Cayenne Turbo S with a 550 horsepower 4.8-liter twin-turbocharged engine that accelerates from zero to 60 in 4.3 seconds and a top track speed of 175 mph is scheduled to arrive in dealerships in the Spring at a starting price of $146,975 (including a $975 destination charge).

Lincoln MKC Concept Makes Debut


The Lincoln MKC Concept small luxury utility vehicle makes its debut in Detroit.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Arrives In 3rd Quarter


The all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with an estimated 450 horsepower from an all-new 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine is able to accelerate from 0-60 in less than four seconds and will exceed the EPA-estimated 26 mpg of the current model when it goes on sale in the third quarter of this year. America's finest sports car? Could be.


Lightweight materials include a carbon fiber hood and removable roof panel, composite fenders, doors and rear quarter panels,  carbon-nano composite underbody panels and a new aluminum frame help shift weight rearward for an optimal 50/50 weight balance. The Z51 Performance Package includes an electronic limited-slip differential, dry-sump oiling system, integral brake, differential and transmission cooling, as well as an aero package that further improves high-speed stability. This looks like the best answer to mid-life crisis and the ultimate retirement self-reward.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Toyota Furia Concept Sedan Debuts Next Week


The Toyota Furia Concept sedan will make its world debut next week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Furia will be revealed using a structure housing thirty of Samsung Display’s new 46-inch transparent LCD screens to partially obstruct or completely block view of the vehicle until the panels are made completely clear to show the car.

The global reveal of the Furia Concept will be broadcast live via Livestream at http://new.livestream.com/toyota.

2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4MATIC Coming This Summer


The new 2014 E63 AMG 4MATIC with all-wheel-drive as standard equipment on all U.S. models makes its debut in Detroit next week and goes on sale this Summer. There's a 550 horsepower 5.5-liter AMG V8 Biturbo engine mated to the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission and an available 577 horsepower S-Model with a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 3.5 seconds. The top-of-the-line E-Class AMG model comes in a sedan and wagon. The E63 AMG and the CLS63 AMG all-wheel-drive passenger car models are part of the Mercedes-AMG line-up along with the ML63 AMG, GL63 AMG, and G63 AMG SUV's. 

Rolls-Royce Has Record Global Sales In 2012

 
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars reported record global sales of 3,575 cars for 2012, the third consecutive record and the best sales result in its 108-year history with notable gains in the Middle East (up 26%), Mainland Europe (up 21%), and Asia Pacific (up 18%), The United States and China remained the most significant individual markets for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. A number of markets reported record sales, including Saudi Arabia (up 63%) and Germany (up 15%).


Rolls-Royce has the Phantom family of products – Phantom, Phantom Extended Wheelbase, Phantom Drophead Coupe and Phantom Coupe – and the Ghost family – Ghost and Ghost Extended Wheelbase.Thirty new or refurbished dealerships opened across the world, taking the total to over 100 for the first time in the company's history. Rolls-Royce also expanded into new markets, including Latin America, and sold motor cars in more than 40 countries worldwide.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

All-new Lexus IS and IS F-Sport To Debut Next Week

 
The all-new Lexus IS, inspired by the LF-CC concept, is wider and longer and will make its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week and expected to go on sale this Summer. The F Sport model of the Lexus IS (above) has an exclusive grille and front bumper design with the ‘waistline’ of the grille is higher than on standard models, increasing the area of the lower grille to make it capable of drawing in a larger volume of cooling air appropriate to a sportier performance. The center console incorporates Lexus first, electrostatic switches to control the air conditioning temperature with the touch of a finger. More next week.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Dodge Throws Another Dart - 2013 Dart GT In Q2

 
2013 Dodge Dart GT with the 184 horsepower 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2 four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual or available six-speed PowerTech automatic AutoStick for an MSRP of $20,995 (excluding destination charges) will debut at North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week and go on sale in the second quarter. Standard equipment on the 2013 Dart GT model includes Nappa leather, 18-inch aluminum wheels, sport suspension with frequency sensing damping shocks, an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen and ParkView rear backup camera. Seems like a lot of car for the money. Check out the 2013 Dodge Darts.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Sid Is Gone, But Harman Is A Hit With Aha At CES

Sid Harman would love this. The Canadian-born genius who died last year at age 92 worked hard at putting his audio and infotainment systems in cars and now Aha, a unit of HARMAN International Industries, the interactive service that makes Web content as easy and safe to use as radio, is revolutionizing the latest model vehicles and just may be the hit of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Aha uses the Harman Cloud Platform to organize content from the Web into personalized radio stations that consumers can listen to from anywhere – at home, on the go, or safely from the driver's seat.

Porsche Aha
By the end of 2013, more than ten automotive manufacturers will launch vehicles using Aha to enable safe access to Web content for drivers, including Acura, Ford, Honda, Porsche and Subaru. The Aha platform and service was started in 2008 in Silicon Valley by a group of Web and multimedia veterans with a shared passion for delivering an "always on" audio experience to connect drivers to the content they really want. HARMAN, named after its founder Sid, designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets, acquired Aha in September 2010.

Sid who passed away in April of 2012 will be remembered every time someone decides to switch on one of his Harman Kardon®, JBL®, Mark Levinson® or Infinity® systems or use Aha to create music for their ears.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Consumer Electronics Show: Subaru

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the largest annual attraction in Las Vegas, that starts Tuesday is once again heavily weighted to automotive with Subaru demonstrating in-car connectivity.


On the all-new 2014 Forester at CES, Subaru will debut its new STARLINK in-car connectivity brand demonstrating its Aha integration from its partner HARMAN International and its Eyesight® driver-assist system that integrates adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management, and vehicle lane departure and sway warning. Eyesight® has two charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras mounted inside the car on the upper edge of the windshield (see above) and, under certain circumstances, is able to bring the car to a complete stop, thus avoiding a collision. Below closing speeds of approximately 19mph, Eyesight® is capable of detecting pedestrians in the vehicle's path and can activate in order to mitigate or even avoid a collision.

Consumer Electronics Show: Hyundai

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the largest annual attraction in Las Vegas, that starts Tuesday is once again heavily weighted to automotive with Hyundai showing off new next-generation concepts and future infotainment systems.


Hyundai will integrate Siri, the voice activated Apple assistant, through its Eyes Free infotainment system for drivers with a compatible iPhones running iOS 6. Dragon Drive, developed by Nuance, is an automotive-grade voice services platform for the connected car that enables drivers to speak naturally and conversationally with in-car systems like dictating messages or searching for music, weather and restaurants. MHL technology (Mobile High-Definition Link) integrates mobile devices into the car infotainment experience by delivering 1080p60 uncompressed video with up to eight channels of digital audio from a mobile device to a dashboard display, all while charging the device. Hyundai will also feature the latest hardware with high resolution, multi-touch displays, Bluetooth® 3.0 and Wi-Fi/3G connectivity options with user-centric interface design. Drivers will be able to access connectivity features such as web browsing, mobile hot-spot, and media streaming through the support of DLNA and Mirror Link and Aha by HARMAN. These next-generation systems will also showcase entertainment features like Pandora®, HD Radio® and SIRIUSXM®.

Check out Hyundai's latest Bluelink videos.

2014 Mazda6 Starts At $21,675 MSRP Now


The all-new 2014 Mazda6 mid-size sedan is on sale now with a starting MSRP of $21,675 (includes $795 destination charge) for the entry i Sport, $25,290 for the mid-level i Touring trim on larger 19-inch alloy wheels with Blind Spot Monitoring system and Rear Cross Traffic Alert and $30,290 for the i Grand Touring that includes all the equipment features of the i Touring with Touring Technology Package. The 2014 Mazda6 has the 184 horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine mated to either the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission getting 25 city/37 highway/29 combined MPG or achieving 26 city/38 highway/30 combined with the optional automatic transmission. The 2014 Mazda6 with the SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine will be offered during the second half of the year. 

MazdaUSA President Jim O'Sullivan discusses Mazda6 at L.A. Auto Show.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

2014 Audi R8 And RS 5 Cabriolet Coming This Spring

 
Audi has the U.S. debut of the 2014 Audi R8 model line at the NAIAS in Detroit in about a week. At the top of the R8 line-up is the new R8 V10 Plus with 550 horsepower and 398 lb.-ft. of torque. The Audi R8 V10 generates 525 horsepower with 391 lb.-ft. of torque. The Audi R8 V8 FSI® produces 430 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque. All Audi R8 models have the option of the gated 6-speed manual transmission or the new seven-speed S tronic double-clutch transmission that boosts the performance of the Audi R8 with smoother shifts.


The new 2014 Audi RS 5 Cabriolet, a four-seat convertible with a cloth soft top, will also premiere at the Detroit show in mid-January. The RS 5 Cabriolet is powered by a naturally aspirated 450 horsepower 4.2 liter V8 engine with FSI direct injection. Fuel economy is16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined. The Audi R8 and RS 5 Cabriolet will both go on sale this Spring.Audi says there will be more to see at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit that starts in about 10 days.

2014 BMW Z4 Among Detroit Debuts A Week Away


BMW has lots to show in Detroit next week including the updated 2014 BMW Z4 (above) The BMW Z4 sDrive28i features a 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder that goes 0-60 mph in about five-and-a-half seconds and delivers up to 34 mpg. The Z4 sDrive35i and Z4 sDrive35is both use versions of BMW’s 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-six.


The BMW 4 Series Concept Coupe will make its world debut at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, January 14th. According to BMW, the new “4” segment, is the latest addition to a nomenclature that sees BMW building on the fine tradition of its large BMW 6 Series and BMW 8 Series Coupes, the “4” stands for greater sportiness, greater exclusivity and even clearer differentiation from the BMW 3 Series range.

Also in Detroit, BMW will have the world premiere of the 2013 BMW M6 Gran Coupe with its 560 horsepower V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology coupled with a seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic. BMW will have the North American Premiere of the 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon.

Friday, January 4, 2013

2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe, Cabriolet This Summer


Mercedes-Benz E-Class four-seat Coupe and Cabriolet get restyled for the 2014 model year and go on sale in the U.S. this Summer. The E350 has a 302 horsepower direct injection V6 gasoline engine and the E550 is powered by a 402 horsepower twin-turbo direct-injection V8 both with an ECO start/stop system and a 7-speed automatic transmission with DIRECT SELECT lever and shift paddles. The E350 Coupe is also available in the U.S. with 4MATIC All-Wheel-Drive.

Standard equipment includes the COMAND system featuring a 7-inch high resolution color display, sound system w/ AM/FM/WB radio, in-dash DVD/CD player, in-dash memory card slot, auxiliary input jack and Bluetooth interface for hands-free calling. The 2014 Coupe and Cabriolet are fitted with standard COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, a radar-based collision warning system with adaptive brake assist systems to reduce the risk of a collision. ATTENTION ASSIST is now able to warn of inattentiveness and drowsiness across a wider speed range, and also inform the driver about his level of fatigue and the amount of driving time which has elapsed since the last break with an adjustable sensitivity level.

Options include:
  • DISTRONIC PLUS® with Steering Assist can help the driver keep the vehicle centered in its lane and can semi-autonomously track lines of traffic;
  • Brake Assist system BAS PLUS® with Intersection Assist is able to detect crossing traffic and pedestrians too, and boost the braking power applied by the driver accordingly; PRE-SAFE® Brake can detect pedestrians and initiate autonomous braking to avoid a collision at speeds up to 30 mph;  
  • PRE-SAFE® PLUS can recognize an imminent rear-end collision, then prompts the PRE-SAFE® system to trigger occupant protection measures to reduce the forces to which occupants are subjected;
  • Active Lane Keeping Assist now can detect when the adjacent lane is not clear, including when it is occupied by oncoming traffic. If a collision threatens, even if the lane marking is not a solid line the system can prevent the vehicle from leaving its lane unintentionally by applying the brakes on one side;
  • Active Parking Assist enables automated parking with active steering and brake control in both parallel and perpendicular spaces;
  • 360-degree camera covers all four sides of the vehicle and enables a seamless all-around view including a virtual bird's-eye perspective – with a top view of the vehicle and its direct surroundings.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

December 2012 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors December U.S. sales were 245,733, a 4.9 percent increase over 2011. For the year, GM sales were 2,595,717, a 3.7 percent rise over 2011. For 2012, Chevrolet sales were 1,851,646, up 4.3 percent. GMC sales were 413,881, up 4 percent. Buick sales were 180,408, up 1.6 percent and Cadillac sales were 149,782, down 1.7 percent from 2011.

Ford's U.S. December sales were 214,222, up 1.9 percent over the same month a year ago, its best December sales results since 2006. For 2012 Ford's U.S. sales were 2,250,165, a 4.7 percent gain with cars up 5 percent, utilities up 7 percent, and trucks up 2 percent for the year. The Ford brand ended 2012 with 2,168,015 vehicles sold, the only brand to top 2 million U.S. sales. Lincoln brand sales were 82,150, down 4.1 percent in 2012 from the previous year.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported December sales of 194,143, up 9 percent. 2012 sales were 2,082,504, up 26.6 percent. Lexus brand year-end sales of 132,741 represent a 31.2 percent increase over 2011.

Chrysler Group reported U.S. December sales of 152,367, a 10 percent increase compared with sales in December 2011, the group's best December sales since 2007. For the year, Chrysler Group sales totaled 1,651,787, up 21 percent compared with sales in 2011.

American Honda's December 2012 U.S. sales of 132,774 was an increase of 26.2 percent compared with December 2011. For the year, sales of 1,422,785 was up 24 percent compared with 2011. This makes 2012 American Honda's fourth-best sales year ever, and its best sales result since 2008. The Acura Division's year-end sales totaled 156,216, up 26.7 percent compared with 2011 results

Nissan North America reported December sales were 99,290, down 1.6 percent from the prior year. For 2012, sales were 1,141,656, an increase of 9.5 percent and the first time that the Nissan brand sold more than 1 million units in a calendar year. Infiniti sales of 119,877 in 2012 were up 21.8 percent compared to 2011.

Hyundai Motor America announced record sales of 59,435 vehicles in December, a 17 percent total sales increase compared with the same record-setting period a year ago. For the year, Hyundai sales were 703,007, up 9 percent versus 2011. Sales to fleet accounts represented 10 percent of total sales for 2012.

Kia Motors America reported December sales of 39,178 and all-time record sales in 2012 of 557,599, a 14.9 percent increase over the previous best-ever mark set in 2011. 

Volkswagen of America reported December deliveries totaled 44,005, up 35.4 percent over 2011, marking the best December since 1970. VW of America delivered 438,133 vehicles in 2012, a 35.1 percent increase over prior year sales. Separately, Audi sold 14,841 vehicles in December, a 17.3 percent increase over the previous December sales record. Audi ended the year with its 24th consecutive month of record sales with 2012 Audi's best year. For the full year, Audi sold 139,310 vehicles, a 18.5 percent rise. Audi sales in the U.S. have increased 68.4 percent since 2009.

BMW Group reported December sales of 43,855 vehicles, an increase of 34.8 percent from the same month a year ago. In 2012, the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) achieved its best sales since the previous record year of 2007 retailing 347,583 vehicles, up 13.8 percent compared to 2011.

Mercedes-Benz posted December sales of 28,145, up 9.5 percent from last year bringing MBUSA sales to a best-ever 31,372, up 12.0 percent from December 2011. Mercedes-Benz USA reported its highest year on record with 305,072 vehicles sold in 2012, representing a 15.4 percent increase over 2011. The Mercedes-Benz model line alone also recorded a record year with sales of 274,134 for the year, up 11.8 percent. Smart and Sprinter model lines both achieved their highest volumes under the MBUSA umbrella with smart sales increasing 92.2 percent to 10,009 while a record month for Sprinter took the brand to 20,929 for 2012, an increase of 26.3 percent.

Subaru of America reported record sales of 36,653 vehicles in December 2012, the best sales month in Subaru history and up 8.8 percent from a year ago.  Subaru also announced record-breaking annual sales of 336,441, a 26 percent increase over 2011. This is the fourth consecutive year of sales records for Subaru of America and fifth consecutive year of sales increases. Subaru is the only manufacturer to increase sales each year for the last five years.

Mazda North American Operations reported December 2012 U.S. sales of 27,25, an increase of 21.9 percent versus 2011, and the best December since 1994. On a year-to-date basis, MNAO reported 277,046 vehicles sold in 2012, exceeding 2011 by 10.6 percent, and representing the company's best full calendar-year of sales since 2007.

Volvo Cars of North America reported U.S. sales of 6,150, a 15.1 percent increase from December 2011 and the best since 2007. For the year, U.S. sales of 68,117, 1.3 percent higher than 2011.

Jaguar December sales of 1,049 was an 8 percent drop from December 2011 leaving 2012 sales at 12,011, a 2 percent decline from the prior year. Land Rover December sales of 5,174 was a 9 percent gain helping 2012 sales reach 43,664, a 15 percent rise over 2011. Combined, JLR sales were 6,223 in December, a 6 percent increase and for all 2012, sales were 55,675, an 11 percent gain.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported December sales were 4,113, down 18 percent compared to December 2011. 

Porsche Cars North America announced December sales of 2,952, an increase of 61 percent. Porsche has achieved an all-time record for U.S. sales, with 35,043 cars sold in the U.S. in 2012, an increase of 21 percent. The previous record year for Porsche in the U.S. was 2007 when PCNA sold 34,693 cars.

American Suzuki, which is exiting the car business, reported December 2012 automobile sales of 1,946 units, a 620 unit decline compared to the same period last year. The results were attributed to a decrease in available inventory as the company allocates its remaining automobiles in the U.S. to retail auto dealerships.


Sales will be updated as manufacturers report.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Peter Schreyer Becomes President of Kia Motors

Kia's design chief Peter Schreyer, 59, was appointed as President to oversee Hyundai and Kia's design centers in order to streamline its resources and create synergy between the two brands.thus, becoming the first non-Korean to hold that title in Kia's history.

Schreyer joined Kia in 2006 from the Volkswagen Group to lead Kia's design transformation and will keep that role of Chief Design Officer in addition to being one of three Kia presidents. Schreyer, originally from Bavaria, is based in Frankfurt, Germany, married with two children. He studied at the Royal College of Art in Germany before becoming part of the Volkswagen Group's design team and contributing to the distinct appearance of several VW and Audi models including the Passat and the Audi TT.

Hear my interview with Peter Schreyer at a design panel event in June 2012 where he discusses design and Kia's highly-recognizable "tiger nose".

Schreyer was named Automobile Magazine's 2012 Man of the Year.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Diesel Math With the VW Jetta

Diesel price in green
Clean diesel systems offer fuel efficiency - 30 percent better than gas - and environmental friendliness - up to 25 percent less CO2 emissions with no loss of power or performance vs. gas. When it comes to cost - the diesel vehicle and fuel - are more expensive. Diesel engines are said to be very dependable, require less maintenance and have a lower depreciation rate after 100,000 miles of use than gasoline engines and hybrid vehicles. According to www.fueleconomy.gov there are now no federal tax credits for owning a diesel engine vehicle.

The Volkswagen Jetta with the 140 horsepower 2.0 liter TDI diesel engine starts at $22,990 MSRP, 13.2% more than the 170 horsepower 2.5 liter gas engine Jetta SE with the convenience package which starts at $20,310. The diesel engine gets 43 miles per gallon, 27.3% better highway mileage and 30.4% better city mileage than the gas engine. Take this recent fuel price sign in California where the unleaded cash price is $3.49 per gallon and the cash diesel price is $3.97 per gallon. Diesel costs 13.75% more than gasoline.

Let's assume you drive 12,000 miles per year, half the time in the city and half on the highway. With the Jetta TDI diesel at 36mpg you will use 333 gallons, so at $3.97 per gallon will spend $1,322. With the gas Jetta at 28mpg you will use 429 gallons, so at $3.49 per gallon your annual fuel cost is $1,497. The diesel saves just $175 per year. The diesel vehicle costs $2,680 more so it would take 15.3 years for diesel to pay off despite diesel being 28.6% more fuel efficient. Also, it's a little more difficult finding service stations that sell diesel fuel.



In Europe, governments subsidize diesel through lower taxes to make the pump price cheaper than gas in most countries which helps explain why more than half the cars sold in Europe are diesel. In the U.S., consumer diesel vehicle sales are fewer than hybrids at about a 3 percent market share with Volkswagen offering the most choices at affordable prices. Conclusion is that there's no major advantage in owning a diesel sedan in the U.S. with the current diesel vehicle and fuel price differences and lack of government incentives.

Now if you're comparing a large SUV, like the Audi Q7, the TDI gets a combined city/highway of 22 mpg while the gas engine is at 18 mpg. At 12,000 miles per year, you're saving about $300 per year on fuel cost with the diesel but you're paying $5,200 more for the TDI vehicle, so it takes more than 17 years to breakeven. If you're mainly a highway driver then the Q7 TDI's 28 mpg highway is 6 mpg more than the Q7 gas at 22 mpg but still only saves you $312 per year in fuel cost. (Using the premium unleaded gas cost for the gas version). In any case, with the pricing, you need to own the vehicle nearly 20 years to make it pay off. I invite your comments and discussion.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Happy Holidays!

Acura NSX Hybrid All-Wheel Drive Concept
Thank you for your support! Wishing you a happy, healthy, warm and relaxing holiday season!