Automotive News (Page 1116)

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.

Las Vegas ponders purpose of recession-idled car lots

By Don Bain on May 31, 2011 - 5:50PM

Cars sales are up this year but not enough to refill all the empty auto sales lots in Las Vegas, one of the cities hardest hit by the recession of 2008. The number of dealerships in Nevada is down to 96, with 65 remaining in the city. Over 20 dealers have closed their doors in the Las Vegas Valley alone.

Ziebart International expands rust-protection line

By Hawke Fracassa on May 31, 2011 - 5:21PM

Ziebart on Tuesday released an exclusive rust-protection formula for garage tools and other uses that was previously only available on cars and trucks at Ziebart locations. Now the formula can be bought through its Ziebart.com Web site for various do-it-yourself uses in the U.S. market.

General Motors responds to Nissan “Gas Powered Everything” television ad

By Patrick Rall on May 31, 2011 - 5:13PM

Earlier today, TorqueNews brought you a look at the new Nissan Lead television advertisement that envisions a world where everything relies on a gasoline engine with the commercial going so far as to include the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and in reply to the playful commercial shot in the ribs, General Motors employees have offered a few choice comments.

MADD credits diligent cops, asks Apple, Google to dump DUI apps

By Hawke Fracassa on May 31, 2011 - 4:55PM

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Michigan and Macomb County (Mich.) Prosecutor Eric Smith will honor 50 police officers next month who in 2010 went beyond the call of duty to do an exemplary job of apprehending drunken drivers or providing outreach to prevent drunken driving.

Everyday people help mankind, Toyota harness 'Ideas for Good'

By Hawke Fracassa on May 31, 2011 - 4:15PM

The people have spoken. Toyota after hearing from voters in an online poll has selected five winners in its "Ideas for Good" initiative, which asked everyday people how they would use Toyota technologies outside of the automotive arena to make the world a better place.

2012 Kia Sorento Shows Huge Spike in Residual Value

By Keith Griffin on May 31, 2011 - 4:04PM

The Kia Sorento has turned out to be a shining star since its introduction back in January 2010. It continues to be the Korean automaker's top seller month after month and now news comes that the 2012 model has a residual value a whopping 10 points ahead of the 2011 model.

A Formula 1 racer actually driven upside down

By Don Bain on May 31, 2011 - 3:45PM

It’s been theorized for years that the upside down wings on the front and rear of Formula one racers generate enough downforce that such a car could actually be driven upside down, given the proper speed and a track specially built to allow for such a stunt. This weekend that theory was proven on the Hot Wheels Test Track.

Spy shot of 2012 Ducati Super Quadrata revealed

By Roman Rosa on May 31, 2011 - 3:32PM

The first spy shot of the 2012 Ducati Super Quadrata has been shown off today by Italian magazine Moto Sprint. If the rumors are correct, the new motorcycle from Ducati will be a completely radical departure from what super bikes from the Italian manufacturer have been.

The 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe hits the dyno, makes big power

By Patrick Rall on May 31, 2011 - 2:59PM

The awesome new BMW 1 Series M Coupe packs and advertised 335 horsepower and 332lb-ft of torque but when the folks from Inside Line strapped the compact M coupe to the dynamometer, the world found that the 1 Series M Coupe makes quite a bit more than the German automaker claims.

The Fisker Karma makes its production debut at the Monaco Grand Prix

By Patrick Rall on May 31, 2011 - 2:11PM

Attendees of the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix this past weekend were the first people to see a production version of the upcoming Fisker Karma sedan on a public road as the electric vehicle with a range extending as the sleek sedan took to the track of the Monaco street circuit.

Audi unveils the 503hp A1 Clubsport Quattro Concept

By Patrick Rall on May 31, 2011 - 12:35PM

Audi has thrown their hat into the ring for the battle of the hottest high performance hatch with the introduction of the new Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro Concept and thanks to the folks from Electronic Arts, PC gamers can drive the new hot hatch in Need for Speed World.

Kiss Mini Countryman Auction Helps UNICEF

By Keith Griffin on May 31, 2011 - 12:04PM

At first the notion sounds silly until you realize it's for UNICEF, but you can buy one of four extremely limited edition Mini Countryman custom painted with the iconic makeup for each member of Kiss, the 70s rock band that is still selling out shows almost four decades later.

A world where gasoline powers everything

By Don Bain on May 31, 2011 - 11:50AM

In a brilliant stroke of advertising, Nissan turns the tables on the modern world by projecting a world where everything that normally runs on electricity actually is powered by gasoline engines. Even the machine that reads your credit card at the restaurant has tiny little twin chrome exhausts spewing grayish white smoke into the air.

Lessons learned by GM fuel economy engineers

By Frank Sherosky on May 31, 2011 - 10:52AM

Results from an actual driving test by two GM fuel economy engineers support data from OnStar that shows the fuel economy of drivers in identical cars can vary by 75 percent.

Driving can be the reason we are fat if we don't walk it off

By Hawke Fracassa on May 31, 2011 - 9:39AM

Driving in our cars makes us sedentary and overweight unless we take steps to change that. This according to a University of Illinois study that ties commuting in a car to obesity.

Obese Americans and the small cars driving Detroit's rebound

By Don Bain on May 31, 2011 - 1:38AM

Detroit is selling more cars and that has a lot to do with the Chevy Cruze and Volt as well as the Ford Fiesta and Focus, as the country turns to higher mileage vehicles with gasoline prices near historic highs. Though they still make more per unit on crossovers and SUVs, the higher demand for small cars is making them more profitable.

Axion Power (OTCBB: AXPW) advancing battery tech into micro-hybrid vehicles

By Frank Sherosky on May 31, 2011 - 12:14AM

Do not count lead-acid batteries out of the energy picture yet, especially for the micro-hybrid vehicle market featuring stop-start. The Axion PbC® technology represents the first major advance in lead-acid battery and electrode technology in 30 years.

Close-up: The 2011 Toyota Yaris Liftback

By Don Bain on May 30, 2011 - 7:49PM

The 2011 Toyota Yaris, in any of its variations, is the essence of the modern commuter – efficient, easy to drive, technologically up to date, inexpensive to operate and far safer than small cars were just a few years ago.

Auto parts supplier moving forward with tech center in Novi

By Hawke Fracassa on May 30, 2011 - 6:57PM

A suburban Detroit vehicle tester and supplier of auto parts such as sensors, crash-test software and other products and services to car companies worldwide announced on Memorial Day that it is on schedule to open a North American Technical Center in September.

Volkswagen and MoMA Launch Artistic Partnership

By Keith Griffin on May 30, 2011 - 1:26PM

It's a growing trend among German carmakers: form partnerships with artists and museums to build brand awareness. Volkswagen is the latest to join the artistic fray as it partners with New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Fame can't protect crash victims like NC State basketball star Lorenzo Charles

By Hawke Fracassa on May 30, 2011 - 10:33AM

"Jackass" movie star Ryan Dunn is the latest celebrity to die in a car crash. Dunn (pictured) has wrecked his car in West Goshen, Pa., near Philadelphia about two months after a car crash that killed Macho Man Randy Savage in Florida.

Higher break-even price for Saudi oil sets new normal for auto fuel

By Frank Sherosky on May 30, 2011 - 12:12AM

In 2003, the breakeven for Saudi crude oil was $30 per barrel. It’s now reported to be $85 and expected to rise to $110 by 2015, according to the latest MarketWatch article.

Coach Jim Tressel quits; were car deals for Ohio State players the last straw?

By Hawke Fracassa on May 29, 2011 - 11:23PM

The Ohio State University football program is under scrutiny over the sale or loan of used cars from two auto dealerships at bargain prices to a few dozen football players and their families in the past six years. And the impact of the controversy in part is the resignation today of Coach Jim Tressel.

Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle Displayed at Indy 500

By Keith Griffin on May 29, 2011 - 10:56PM

Seems like the Army is concerned about fuel efficiency, but probably not for the same reasons as the rest of us based on the Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle that was displayed at the Indianapolis 500.

China sends clear message it will protect its own car manufacturers

By Frank Sherosky on May 29, 2011 - 8:21PM

You may have missed it. China’s Development and Reform Commission released a draft of guidelines last month for foreign investments into the Chinese market that limits foreign capital to 50% of any investment in certain electric vehicle component technologies.

Suzuki Kizashi No. 1 with satisfied owners in AutoPacific survey

By Hawke Fracassa on May 29, 2011 - 4:36PM

The value-driven 2011 Suzuki Kizashi has aced AutoPacific's 15th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards for overall satisfaction among all new midsize cars sold or leased in the United States. It is the second straight year the under-$20,000 Kizashi has come out on top.

Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Roadster revealed

By Roman Rosa on May 29, 2011 - 1:52PM

What would have Luciano Pavarotti been without his voice? What would Usain Bolt be without his speed? What would Christina Hendricks from Mad Men be without her, well... you know. Most importantly, what would the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG be without it's gull wing doors? I'll tell you: The SLS Roadster.

Porsche Cayman S Black Edition gets $67,500 MSRP

By Hawke Fracassa on May 29, 2011 - 10:57AM

Porsche will start selling a limited-issue 2012 Cayman S Black Edition this summer. It will retail for $67,500 and only 500 of the sporty cars will be assembled. Peak speed when equipped with a 6-speed manual trans is 173 mph.

A123 Systems stock (Nasdaq: AONE) falls hard from grace of IPO

By Frank Sherosky on May 29, 2011 - 10:41AM

In March, A123 Systems (Nasdaq: AONE) stock traded very shaky after an annual net earnings loss of 1.56 loss per share. A few month’s later, the stock chart reveals it has broken every price support since its IPO.

Driving tests: Men are better than women, but both sexes are failures

By Hawke Fracassa on May 28, 2011 - 11:04PM

LeaseTrader.com reports after quizzing 500 men and women about their driving habits that men are more likely to get answers on a driver's test right than women (59% to 46%). At the same time, results show both sexes need to brush up on their studies because 75% of test takers flunked.

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