Automotive News (Page 1048)

Automotive News

This section of Torque News provides the latest auto news and updates from the car manufacturers. Every day number of news stories and editorials are published here that give our readers an overview of what is happening in the automotive industry. Read this section daily to find out about new cars, vehicle reviews and car pictures. Torque News is an automotive news website by Hareyan Publishing, LLC, dedicated to covering the latest news, reviews and opinions about the car industry.

Clean diesel sales beating hybrids, up 27% in 2011

By Aaron Turpen on January 12, 2012 - 10:49AM

Sales of clean diesel vehicles in the United States rose by 27.4% in 2011 compared to 2010. At the same time, hybrids saw sales drop by 2.2% in the same period. Clean diesels make up about twice the market segment that hybrids do.

How to hack into a car and why the industry is nervous about it

By Aaron Turpen on January 12, 2012 - 9:50AM

Computer security experts have shown how easy it is to hack into a car's electronics and control brakes, steering, and more. Even remotely. It has got the auto industry on edge and SAE is taking steps to form new security standards for automotive electronics.

Japanese automakers moving more production to North America

By Don Bain on January 12, 2012 - 3:24AM

Due to the rising value of the yen compared to the American dollar, Toyota, Honda and Nissan have indicated more of their production for global markets is moving to North America. Doubtless, escaping the earthquake prone Pacific Rim provides even further incentive after the supply and production problems caused by last years natural disaster.

The iconic 2012 Tesla Roadster is updated for overseas markets.

2012 Tesla Roadster updated for overseas markets only

By Don Bain on January 11, 2012 - 7:17PM

The iconic Tesla Roadster, the first fully electric production automobile on the market when it came out in 2008, will be updated with significant improvements offered only in Europe, Asia and Australia – presumably in right-side steering models – while the limited supply lasts.

Ford recalling 200k+ minivans over torque convertor failure

By Patrick Rall on January 11, 2012 - 5:03PM

Ford Motor Company and the folks at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced a recall of 2004 and 2005 model year Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans over a concern that they may have been built with defective torque convertor output shafts – a problem that could leave the vehicle “dead in the water” if the output shaft was to fail on the open road.

Ford recalls 244,000+ Escape SUVs for master cylinder fire risk

By Patrick Rall on January 11, 2012 - 4:36PM

Ford Motor Company and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced a recall of over 244,000 2001 and 2002 model year Ford Escape compact sport utility vehicles over a concern that the master cylinder cap could leak – increasing the risk of an underhood fire if the problem is not addressed.

Smart's nose-snubbing For-Us concept flops in Detroit

By Aaron Turpen on January 11, 2012 - 1:21PM

If you are Smart, what do you do when your cars are a complete flop in the North American market? Why, you produce a concept for the area's largest car show of the year that snootily tells your market why they suck. That's what.

The Car Show crashes second season hopes

By Adam Yamada-Hanff on January 11, 2012 - 9:55AM

If you are a fan of SPEED channel's “The Car Show”, you might be disappointed to hear that show has not been picked up for a second season. Sadly, this means the show has been canceled.

Daimler's Dr. Zetsche talks about internet-connected electric cars at CES

By David Herron on January 10, 2012 - 11:22PM

What's a car company Chairman doing at CES, in Las Vegas, when one of the largest auto shows in the industry (NAIAS) is happening the same time in Detroit?

Tesla Model S third row seating - courtesy Craig Agranoff

Tesla Model S to have optional throwback third row seating

By Aaron Turpen on January 10, 2012 - 11:10PM

Remember when you were a kid riding in the back of your family station wagon, facing the wrong way and making faces at the cars behind you? Well, engineers at Tesla Motors do and they've thrown in an optional third row of rear-facing kiddie seats in the Model S.

Via Motors introduces plug-in hybrid-electric truck in Detroit, partnering with PG&E

By David Herron on January 10, 2012 - 7:09PM

Via Motors unveiled today their "extended range electric" truck meant for commercial fleet customers, such as their partner Pacific Gas and Electric.

Toyota NS4 Concept at NAIAS with COO Jim Lentz

Toyota NS4 Plug-in Concept Bombards Detroit With New Technology

By Aaron Turpen on January 10, 2012 - 5:45PM

Toyota's latest NS4 plug-in concept unveil at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit shows the direction the company is taking with its new technologies packaged in one concept auto

First Collector Car Auction of The Year, Barrett-Jackson Gauges the Market

By Nicolas Zart on January 10, 2012 - 12:42PM

Barrett-Jackson's auction in Scottsdale, January 15 to 22 is famous for moving a wide variety of cars, including exclusive rarefied vintage racers to bone fide muscle cars.

The Maserati Kubang should hit the spot for that market

Maserati Enters the Exclusive SUV Market With a Bang

By Nicolas Zart on January 10, 2012 - 11:16AM

Kubang, that is... The first Maserati SUV aptly named Kubang, Italian for SUV has been highly anticipated since rumors surfaced, in Ferrari’s and Alfa Romeo’s case, as far back as 5 years ago of an Italian SUV.

Ford's New Lincoln Exemplified In Presidential Style With the New MKZ Concept

By Aaron Turpen on January 10, 2012 - 7:16AM

Lincoln has long been Ford's luxury brand, whose checkered past success and failure has been as colorful as the president it was named after. Lately, the brand has been lackluster, stealing design elements from Ford's other products. Today, Ford is emphasizing Lincoln at the North American International Auto Show with a new flagship: the MKZ Concept.

Acura NSX Hybrid Concept had a giant crowd beyyond what you see here

NAIAS 2012: Day 1 of Press Preview witnesses 27 vehicle unveilings

By Frank Sherosky on January 9, 2012 - 11:10PM

No wonder the parking was so bad around Cobo Center in Detroit. It seemed the entire world of journalists came to witness the largest set of unveilings at the NAIAS 2012 Press Preview.

Subaru has an Aha Moment at Consumer Electronics Show

By Keith Griffin on January 9, 2012 - 10:10PM

Tonight at a Pepcom event at the MGM Grand in advance of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Subaru had an Aha moment that points to a whole new way of listening to music and surfing the Internet while behind the wheel.

Did the NHTSA investigation into Chevy Volt fires "lower demand"?

By David Herron on January 9, 2012 - 9:45PM

A market research company with a questionable history concerning the facts claims demand for the Volt has lowered, when sales figures show the opposite.

Hyundai rocks auto industry by providing Liftetime Battery Replacement on Sonata Hybrid

By Adam Yamada-Hanff on January 9, 2012 - 8:42PM

Hyundai has dropped a bit of a curveball on the auto industry today, because it announced that its Sonata Hybrid will come with a Lifetime Battery Replacement Guarantee. This is a first guarantee of this kind and could potentially have big implications.

NHTSA approves of GM's Volt battery fix, expects to end investigation "real soon now"

By David Herron on January 9, 2012 - 8:29PM

Last week GM announced plans to fix the battery pack fire risk, over the weekend NHTSA says they approve of the fix.

CODA Autmotive sedan get two driving ranges: 125 miles and 150 miles

CODA Automotive announces 125 and 150 mile range for 2012 EV sedan at NAIAS

By Frank Sherosky on January 9, 2012 - 7:39PM

CODA Automotive, the newest US-based EV company, becomes the first-in-class manufacturer to provide two mileage range options. The news was previously embargoed until the NAIAS 2012 Press Preview.

Nissan unveils the e-NV200 electric van, prototype of Taxi of Tomorrow

By David Herron on January 9, 2012 - 5:28PM

The NV200 is Nissan's flexible multi-purpose vehicle, with the e-NV200 slated to be its zero emission electric model starting in 2017.

The Lexus LF-2-2 hybrid sports coupe concept

Lexus reveals futuristic hybrid 2+2 sports coupe concept at NAIAS

By Don Bain on January 9, 2012 - 3:37PM

The Lexus LF-LC 2+2 sports coupe hybrid concept was revealed today with the requisite degree of fanfare by Mark Templin, Group vice president and general manager, Lexus Division, Toyota Motor Sales.

AMP has converted Jeep Grand Cherokees and Mercedes M-Class to electricity

A Full Electric Jeep: The Price, When and Where

By Nicolas Zart on January 9, 2012 - 3:20PM

What would you think about having the full capacity of an SUV at the fraction of the cost of using and maintaining a gas one? With the announcement that AMP will introduce an all-electric Jeep Cherokee and Mercedes M-Class, the curiosity builds up with a set price and where they will be sold.

Audi Unveils Ski-Theme Q3 Vail, a Tribute to Colorado's Ski-town Traffic

By Aaron Turpen on January 9, 2012 - 3:06PM

Audi is unveiling the Q3 Vail, a ski-themed luxury compact SUV aimed for the winter sports-loving crowd. The car's title comes from the Colorado Ski resort just west of Denver which is world-renowned for its slopes and lifestyle. Less known are its long traffic jams and winter-slick roads in stop-and go weekend weather. If you've got to wait in that after-ski traffic, you may as well do it in luxury.

Ford's Focus Electric can lower electricity bill, lengthen daily driving range

By David Herron on January 9, 2012 - 1:57PM

Ford's Focus Electric has implemented a combination of features to schedule charging times for lowest electricity cost, increase charging speed, improving the electric car usefulness and decreasing operating costs.

2012 BMW Active Hybrid 5 price announced

BMW ActiveHybrid 5 Gets Price Tag - Compares to Competition

By Aaron Turpen on January 9, 2012 - 1:39PM

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit today, BMW announced pricing for its ActiveHybrid 5, the latest hybrid entry into the company's luxury lineup, which goes on sale in March of this year.

Volkwsagen E-Bugster makes debut at North American International Auto Show

By Adam Yamada-Hanff on January 9, 2012 - 1:20PM

If you have been waiting for Volkswagen to combine the Beetle with Electricity, your wait is over. Today at North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) Volkswagen debut the new “E-Bugster” concept.

North American Truck of the Year Upset - Range Rover Evoque Takes American Title

By Aaron Turpen on January 9, 2012 - 12:44PM

This year, the NAIAS pick for Truck of the Year is the Range Rover Evoque, a small, but capable and luxurious little SUV that began production in July, 2011. The win marks another upset in this usually American-dominated segment and award, though, interestingly, none of the Big 3 U.S. automakers was even on the competition's list for 2012.

The cover being pulled off of the 2013 Dodge Dart

The 2013 Dodge Dart introduced at just $15,995

By Patrick Rall on January 9, 2012 - 11:52AM

The compact sedan market has become one of the most vital vehicle classes to the automakers doing business in North America and with the introduction of the 2013 Dodge Dart, the Chrysler Group will finally have a car that could be a major player in that segment – with a price of $15,995 making it less expensive than the bestselling models in that class.

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