Automotive News (Page 1117)

Automakers have strict ethics guidelines to keep product news secret these days. After all, with all the tech gadgets available today, you have to literally go out of your way not to communicate. So, it’s easy to understand how Renault could have its electric vehicle plans compromised, especially when it’s an alleged inside job.

That association with the NBA appears to be paying dividends for Kia, which has ended 2010 with record annual sales of 356,268 units, up 18.7-percent over 2009 and a 16.6-percent increase over the annual mark set in 2007.

Hyundai is set to do battle with OnStar just as the latter is ready to offer its product to anybody willing to buy the OnStar mirror and pay the subscription. Telematics is the new automotive boxing ring.

Lexus grew at a slower rate than the rest of the recovering U.S. auto industry, but at the end of 2010 it still retained its title as the most popular luxury-vehicle brand in America. But with a growth rate of barely over six percent for the year, Lexus faces a danger of being dethroned by Mercedes-Benz and BMW, which ended 2010 with strong momentum and growth rates much higher than the Lexus level.

Annual sales reports from around the American auto industry are in and with them, we have a clear picture of the Top 10 best-selling vehicles in the US market with the Ford F-Series taking the top spot once again.

A year that started badly for Toyota also ended badly. In December 2010, sales of Toyota brand vehicles dropped 5.9 percent from the same month in 2009. The decline put Toyota's total, 12-month vehicle sales for 2010 nearly a half percent lower than 2009 sales – a dismal performance for a major brand in a year in which total U.S. vehicle sales rose 11 percent. Toyota's overall rank among U.S. car companies slipped to third place in 2010, dropping below Ford for the first time in four years.

We have been hearing about Volkswagen's New Midsized Sedan for months now and thanks to a not-so-subtle plug on the company website, we know now that the car known just as the NMS will be formally introduced at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.

Ford Motor Company was the worst of the Detroit Big 3 in terms of percentage growth with just below 7% improvement over December 2009 but Ford does claim the bragging rights of having the bestselling single brand in the industry.

Consumer Reports, which has more than 7 million print and online subscribers, is out with an article in its February issue that pans the Ford and Lincoln My Touch systems, which operate the vehicle’s entertainment, climate and navigation systems.

General Motors capped off a strong rebound year in 2010 as leading the nation in corporate sales in December with 224,185 units sold – an improvement of 7.5% over 2009.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee continues its march through all of the automotive awards with its pick as Autoweek’s 2011 Best of the Best in the truck category. The Cadillac CTS-V took home the honors in the car category.

Hyundai finished 2010 with record sales of 538,228 with almost all of its 103,164 unit growth coming from the phenomenal success of its Hyundai Sonata. The midsize sedan saw growth in retail sales of 90,349 – the highest in the industry.

Driven by strong E class sales, Mercedes posted an 18 percent growth in annual sales in 2010 with 225,007 vehicles sold in the United States. It also reported its strongest sales month of the year in December with sales of 21,469 vehicles.

December 2010 sales numbers from around the industry are in and although the Dodge and Chrysler brands saw a decline in sales compared to December 2009, the Ram and Jeep brands had big months – helping to make the Chrysler Group to be the strongest of the Detroit automakers in terms of monthly growth.

The recession must be over. That might be what some people might think in the wake of the announcement that Porsche sales were 29 percent ahead of 2009 with total sales of 25,320. Porsche says the Panamera Gran Turismo and the debut of the all-new Cayenne.

Audi is coming off a 2010 that was its best ever with more than 100,000 models sold for the first time, easily eclipsing the former record of 2007 when it sold 93,506 vehicles in 2007. Sales were up 22.9% over 2009 when it sold 82,717.

The Associated Press is reporting that 7 major auto insurance companies are suing Toyota for the unintended acceleration issues that have destroyed the automakers reputation in the US market.

Volkswagen is on its self-proclaimed march to world dominance with strong sales in 2010 that saw it end they year with sales 20.3% higher than 2010. VW executives have said previously they want to be the world’s largest automaker by 2018.

BMW saw healthy growth in 2010 while its Mini brand managed to just squeak out growth. Companies that didn’t experience at least 6 percent growth in 2010 can consider themselves to have fallen behind the pack because 2009 was the worst year for car sales since 1982.

The Chevrolet Camaro saw a 26% decline in sales last month compared to December of 2009 but thanks to steady sales throughout the year, 2010 marked the first time since 1985 where the Chevrolet Camaro outsold the Ford Mustang in annual sales.

New Honda and Acura owners got a late Christmas present last week when the automaker announced that hackers had accessed a company customer database, stealing information to 2.2 million Honda owners and 2.7 million Acura owners.

We are just 6 days away from the Detroit Auto Show debut of the 2011 Hyundai Veloster and today, the Korean automaker offered up a fairly descriptive teaser of the new hatchback.

Contrary to popular belief, there is as much reason to downsize electric motors as there is for an internal combustion engine (ICE). Enter Antonov, a UK automatic transmission developer of a unique 3-speed power shift transmission specifically for electric vehicles.

Smart it reaching out to the Apple lifestyle with the launch of its first iPad app. Called “Ideas in Motion,” the app presents an interactive history of great visions and visionaries for the brand that seems to be somewhat lacking vision for its future in the United States.

Falken Tires of Fontana, Calif., has partnered with Walker Racing of Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 2011 American Le Mans Series. Falken is just coming off its first full-season championship effort in 2010. In related news, the American Le Mans Series will now be broadcast on ABC & ESPN.

Racial and cultural diversity is not new in Detroit. From Polish Hamtramck to Italian businesses, to Greek Town, to Mexican Town and the largest Arabic community in the country, “The D” will help the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) highlight diversity in a unique way, celebrating cultural diversity within the global automotive industry with three events.

An online car shopping service says, based on its research, the Toyota Camry will be the top online seller in 2011. The Ford Fusion generates the second most interest among online shoppers.

For 2011, the Honda Odyssey has been selected as the 2011 Best Redesigned Vehicle by KBB.com. The minivan was selected because it was considered to improve on its predecessor in every way.

Ford has made it public knowledge for some time that when the 2012 Ford Focus hits the US market, it will include a plug-in electric version and this morning, Ford debuted a teaser of the new Ford Focus Electric.

Amazing things happen at the nanoscale, at least according to the scientists at the National Synchrotron Light Source
(NSLS) at Brookhaven Lab. Think capturing energy lost as heat in automotive and factory exhaust.