Tuesday, January 10, 2017

2018 Honda Odyssey Arrives This Spring


The new 2018 Honda Odyssey minivan will be powered by a 280 horsepower 3.5-liter, direct-injected i-VTEC™ V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management™ connected to a 9-speed automatic and, for upper grades an all-new, 10-speed automatic transmission when it launches at dealerships nationwide this Spring. New features include a Magic Slide™ second-row seat and CabinWatch which, using a camera, lets the driver and front passenger keep tabs on passengers both day and night via the 8-inch Display Audio screen while CabinTalk enables the driver to talk to second and third-row passengers through speakers and rear entertainment system headphones. A new hands-free power tailgate with foot activation is available.

Monday, January 9, 2017

2018 Lexus LS Sedan Is Longer, Lower, Lighter


The all-new, fifth-generation 2018 Lexus LS flagship sedan, on a 123-inch wheelbase is 1.3-inch longer, lower and more than 200 pounds lighter than the current LS long-wheelbase model, and is powered by an all-new 415 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine with all-new twin turbos matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The 2018 Lexus LS goes on sale in U.S. near the end of this year.

All-New Audi SQ5 Arrives This Spring


The all-new Audi SQ5, second-generation SQ5, offers a 354 horsepower 3.0-liter TFSI® engine mated to eight-speed tiptronic® transmission and arrives this Spring. The available S sport package has a sport adaptive air suspension, which lowers vehicle height by 30 mm (when in auto mode) compared to the standard adaptive suspension.

2018 Chevrolet Traverse Coming This Fall


The all-new 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, with available seating for up to eight and a longer wheelbase than the current model, will have a new 3.6L V-6 and nine-speed automatic transmission that's expected to offer nearly 10 percent more horsepower delivering a GM-estimated 25 mpg highway (FWD) with an estimated 5,000-pound trailering capacity when properly equipped. The all-new 2018 Chevrolet Traverse goes on sale this Fall with two new trim levels, the RS with a 2.0L turbocharged engine and the High Country.

2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA250, Mercedes-AMG GLA45 This Summer


The newly redesigned 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 is powered by a 208 horsepower 2.0L inline-4 turbo engine mated to a 7-speed DCT dual-clutch transmission and the new Mercedes-AMG GLA45 has a 375 horsepower AMG 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine tied to the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sport transmission with a zero to 60 mph time of 4.3 seconds. The refreshed 2018 GLA will go on sale in the U.S. this summer.

2018 GMC Terrain Arriving This Summer


The all-new 2018 GMC Terrain has a choice of a new 1.5L and 2.0L turbocharged gas engines matched with new nine-speed automatic transmissions and an all-new 1.6L turbo-diesel. The 2018 Terrain goes on sale this summer in SL, SLE, SLT and Denali models.

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Is Longer


The all-new 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, powered by a 184 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct injection TSI® engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, is 185.2 inches long, making it 10.7 inches longer than the current version to accommodate an optional third row and it has up to 57 percent more cargo capacity. The Tiguan is either front wheel drive or has an optional 4Motion with Active Control all-wheel-drive.

2018 Kia Stinger Coming Later This Year


The all-new 2018 Kia Stinger five-passenger fastback sports sedan will offer a standard estimated 255 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Theta II engine or an available 365 horsepower 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 Lambda II engine with an expected 5.1 second zero to 62 mph time to a top speed of 167 mph. The Stinger features a second-generation eight-speed rear-drive automatic transmission. The Stinger is planned to go on sale in the U.S. late this year.

2018 Ford F-150 Coming With New Engines This Fall


The new 2018 Ford F-150, with new front and rear styling in XL to top-of-the-line Limited trim levels, offers an all-new 3.0-liter Power Stroke® V6 turbo diesel, an all-new standard 282 horsepower 3.3-liter V6, an all-new second-generation 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission, and a 5.0-liter V8 also paired with the 10-speed automatic transmission for the first time. The new 2018 F-150 goes on sale this Fall.

Saturday, January 7, 2017

2018 Genesis G80 Sport Coming This Spring


The 2018 Genesis G80 model, with a new 365 horsepower 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 engine paired with a sport-tuned eight-speed automatic transmission, will have a Sport trim featuring 19-inch wheels, carbon fiber interior trim, leather sport seats and steering wheel along with Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Driver Attention Alert and a multi-view camera. The 2018 Genesis G80 is scheduled to arrive this Spring, and the 2017 Genesis G90 is available now at Genesis retailers.

2018 Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolets Debut


The all-new 2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet comes equipped with a 252 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed S tronic® dual-clutch automatic transmission and sprints from 0-60 mph in 6.0 seconds. The 2018 Audi S5 Cabriolet is equipped with a re-engineered 354 horsepower 3.0-liter TFSI® V6 engine mated to a newly equipped with an eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission and sprints from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The A5 and S5 Cabriolet feature standard-equipped with quattro® all-wheel drive  and a fully electronic top that can be lowered using the new one-touch opening function, in just 15 seconds, at speeds of up to 31 mph.

2018 Subaru WRX and WRX STI Arrive This Spring


The 2018 Subaru WRX with a 268 horsepower 2.0-liter direct injection turbocharged BOXER engine, Symmetrical All Wheel Drive and Active Torque Vectoring comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission and offers an optional performance automatic transmission, the Sport Lineartronic® CVT with manual mode. The WRX STI is powered by a 305 horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged BOXER engine with Multi-Mode Driver Controlled Center Differential Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Both have a restyled front fascia, a more pronounced grille design, along with a larger lower grille opening and new roof rack mounting brackets and will reach Subaru retailers this Spring.

2018 Volvo V90 Coming This Summer


The 2018 Volvo V90, with both T5 FWD and T6 AWD powertrains in either Inscription or R-Design trim, is coming to the United States this Summer.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

December 2016 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors (Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac) total U.S. sales in December were 319,108, up 10 percent from last year. General Motors 2016 sales of 3,042,775 is down 1.3 percent from 2015.

Ford Motor Company’s total December U.S. sales of 239,854 vehicles were up 0.3 percent. 2016 U.S. sales of 2,614,697 vehicles mark Ford Motor Company’s best annual sales in a decade.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported December 2016 sales of 243,229 vehicles, an increase of 2.0 percent from December 2015. For the year, TMS reported sales of 2,449,630 vehicles, a 2.0 percent decrease.

FCA US (Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep, Fiat, Alfa Romeo) reported U.S. sales of 192,519, a 10 percent decrease compared with sales in December 2015. FCA US full-year sales of 2,244,315 were flat in 2016 compared with sales in 2015.

American Honda reported a new December record of 160,477, a 6.4 percent gain leading to an all-time annual sales record of 1,637,942 for Honda and Acura vehicles for 2016, an increase of 3.2 percent to eclipse the previous best set in 2015. Honda Division sales also set a new annual record of 1,476,582 vehicles, a 4.8 percent rise while Acura total annual sales reached 161,360, down 8.9 percent for the 2016 year.

Nissan Group announced total U.S. sales for December 2016 of 152,743, an increase of 9.7 percent for a December record. For calendar year 2016, Nissan set an all-time record with 1,564,423 total U.S. sales, an increase of 5.4 percent.

Hyundai Motor America announced December sales of 60,572, down 1.9 percent but leading to its seventh consecutive year of record U.S. sales of 775,005, an increase of 1.7 percent.

Kia Motors America announced its highest December total in company history of 54,353 for an all-time best annual sales of 647,598 vehicles in 2016, up 3.5 percent over 2015.

Subaru of America reported December sales total of 63,177 vehicles for its best-ever sales month contributing to record-breaking sales of 615,132 vehicles for 2016, an increase of 5.6 percent for the eighth consecutive year of sales records and ninth consecutive year of sales increases.

Volkswagen of America today reported sales of 37,229 in December, a 20.3 percent increase over December 2015. VW sales for 2016 totaled 322,948, a 7.6 percent decrease over 2015. Separately, Audi December 2016 sales increased of 23,195 vehicles, a 13.7 percent rise, and for a 2016 total of 210,213 vehicles, up 4 percent for the brand’s best annual performance.

Mazda North American Operations reported December U.S. sales of 28,754 vehicles, a decrease of 1.8 percent versus December of last year. For calendar year 2016 total sales of 297,773 was down 6.7 percent.

BMW brand vehicles totaled 32,835 in December. For the year, BMW brand sales of 313,174 is down 9.5 percent from last year.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported December sales of 37,057 vehicles with Mercedes-Benz Vans reporting December sales of 3,860 and smart 1,186, bringing MBUSA's grand total to 37,057 vehicles for the month. On a year- to-date basis, Mercedes-Benz totaled 340,237, Vans 34,304 and smart 6,211 for an MBUSA grand total of 380,752, a 0.1 percent increase from the previous year.

Jaguar Land Rover North America reported December sales of 12,573, a 30 percent increase over 2015, while Jaguar sales were 4,294, a 259 percent increase and Land Rover 8,279, a 2 percent decrease. Jaguar Land Rover North America December U.S. sales for both brands hit 12,573, a 30 percent increase. For the full year 2016, Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales were 105,104, up 24 percent beating the previous sales record achieved in 2002.

Mitsubishi Motors North America reported December 2016 sales of 7,383 for a 2016 total of 96,267, up 1.0 percent over 2015.

Porsche Cars North America announced 4,015 vehicle sales in December bringing 2016 to 54,280 vehicles sold, a 4.9 percent increase over 2015 and a new PCNA sales record.

Friday, December 30, 2016

INFINITI QX50 Concept To Debut In Detroit


The INFINITI QX50 Concept, an evolution of the 2016 QX Sport Inspiration, will make its global premiere at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

INFINITI will also exhibit its new VC-Turbo (Variable Compression Turbo) engine technology which combines the power of a high-performance 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engine with the torque and efficiency of an advanced diesel powertrain suited to the QX50 Concept. By seamlessly raising or lowering the reach of the pistons, it instantly selects the most suitable compression for current driving conditions. The 268 horsepower VC-Turbo engine will be comparable to certain six-cylinder gasoline powertrains for performance, while significantly outperforming them in efficiency. INFINITI engineers are targeting a 27 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over V6 gasoline engines of similar power output.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Audi Q8 Concept Full Size SUV


The Audi Q8 concept is a full-size SUV with a coupe-look that will make its debut at North American International Auto Show in Detroit Jan. 9.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

2017 BMW 5 Series Starts At $52,195 In February


The all-new 7th generation 2017 BMW 5 Series, arriving in U.S. showrooms February 11, 2017, is priced at $52,195 for the 2017 BMW 530i, $54,495 for the 530i xDrive model, $57,445 for the BMW 540i and $59,745 for the BMW 540i xDrive model (including $995 destination and handling). Standard equipment includes Adaptive LED Headlights, Sport Seats, Active Protection, Fatigue and Focus Alert as well as an 18-inch Double-Spoke Wheels and an Anthracite headliner enhancing the sporty character of the latest BMW Sport Sedan. At launch, the 7th generation BMW 5 Series will be available as a 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i and 540i xDrive models with the BMW M550i xDrive and BMW 530e and 530e xDrive iPerformance models arriving at dealers in the Spring.

2018 Honda Odyssey To Debut Jan. 9


The all-new 5th-generation 2018 Honda Odyssey minivan will make its global debut at the 2017 North American International Auto Show on January 9.

2018 Chevrolet Traverse To Debut Jan. 9


The next-generation Chevrolet Traverse redesigned for 2018 will debut on Jan. 9 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

2018 BMW 530e iPerformance Coming This Spring


The first ever BMW 530e iPerformance, the fourth iPerformance BMW, is powered by a 95 horsepower electric motor and 180 horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo combustion engine for an overall system output of 248 horsepower (preliminary) for a 0 to 60 mph time of 6.1 seconds (preliminary) to a top speed of 130 mph (preliminary). The electric motor and combustion engine direct their power to the rear wheels or all four wheels via the standard 8-speed Steptronic transmission with paddle shifters. The high-voltage battery pack consisting of lithium-ion cells with a total capacity of 9.2 kWh is located underneath the rear seat. The 2018 BMW 5 Series iPerformance will be available at U.S. dealers in Spring 2017 with pricing closer to market launch.