Automotive News (Page 1165)

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.

DOE announces up to $74M for fuel cell R&D

By Frank Sherosky on December 23, 2010 - 12:25AM

Less than one week after the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and NHTSA announced up to $184M for advance vehicle development, the DOE announced it is accepting applications for a total of up to $74 million to support the research and development of clean, reliable fuel cells for two separate but related applications: stationary and transportation.

Allstate’s X the TXT Program Has 100,000 Fans

By Keith Griffin on December 22, 2010 - 9:26PM

Allstate, a leading automotive insurer, obviously doesn’t want to pay out claims, which is why it has launched the fairly successful ‘X the TXT’ program that seeks to end texting while driving. It has attracted more than 100,000 fans at Facebook.

Dual fuel upgrades on the rise for heavy trucks

By Frank Sherosky on December 22, 2010 - 5:04PM

GreenMan Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:GMTI) announced that its subsidiary, American Power Group Inc. (APG), has received a Vehicular Memorandum of Exemption from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It includes eleven initial Test Exemptions of testing and verification of APG’s unique, non-invasive, dual fuel upgrade system for aftermarket diesel truck and tractor engines.

Edmunds Predicts 11.5 Million in Vehicle Sales for 2010

By Keith Griffin on December 22, 2010 - 3:38PM

Edmunds.com in an effort to beat the end-of-the-year rush has come out with a prediction of 11.5 million in new vehicle sales for 2010. That would be a healthy increase of 10.5 percent from 2010.

Chrysler recalling 76,000 diesel Ram trucks over braking concern

By Patrick Rall on December 22, 2010 - 2:19PM

Chrysler and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced a recall of 76,122 2010-2011 Ram HD pickups equipped with the Cummins diesel engine and a hydroboost braking system over a concern of slow pedal return.

Chrysler to use Fiat dual clutch technology by 2013

By Patrick Rall on December 22, 2010 - 2:02PM

Fiat is all about spreading their European-bred technology to the American Chrysler models and when something offers drivetrain efficiency like Fiat’s new 6-speed TCT dual clutch transmission.

Roof strength plays major factor in IIHS 2011 Top Safety Picks

By Frank Sherosky on December 22, 2010 - 1:53PM

While most reviews of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award for 2011 seem centered on who made the list, some have astutely noticed the emphasis on electronic stability control, a crash avoidance feature. Fewer, though, have concentrated on the criteria behind the weakest point of an automobile - the roof.

GM working on plug-in hybrid Cadillac SRX

By Patrick Rall on December 22, 2010 - 12:13PM

The Cadillac SRX crossover has been a big part of the luxury automakers success over the past few months and rumors from around the automotive industry suggest that we could soon see a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the compact Caddy crossover.

Automotive Dealers See Largest Growth in Sales in 2010

By Keith Griffin on December 22, 2010 - 11:54AM

On the surface, it looks like good news that automobile dealers, on a percentage basis, saw the largest growth in sales for 2010 among any other businesses. That is, until you reflect on the fact that 2009 was the worst sales year for the industry in almost three decades.

Nissan Unveils New Global Sedan in Important Chinese Market

By Keith Griffin on December 22, 2010 - 9:54AM

Coming soon to a country near you: a new global sedan from Nissan. The Japanese automaker unveiled the new model that will be available in 170 countries at a Chinese auto show.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Announces Top Safety Picks

By Keith Griffin on December 22, 2010 - 7:44AM

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is out with its list of the 66 winners of 2011 Top Safety Pick award. The number includes 40 cars, 25 SUVs and crossovers, and a minivan.

Projected fuel cell costs decline 81 percent since 2003

By Frank Sherosky on December 22, 2010 - 12:31AM

Contained within a 2010 update by the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE), fuel cell costs have reduced to the level of high-end internal combustion engines. This means Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) can become cost effective within a few years if produced in high volumes.

Suzuki Uses Humor in Last-Ditch Effort to Revive Brand

By Keith Griffin on December 21, 2010 - 10:29PM

Suzuki is apparently trying to use humor when all else fails to sell an amazingly good car – the Suzuki Kizashi. Its latest commercial is a comparison among the Audi A4, the Kizashi and a motorized sofa that needs to succeed to revive the brand.

BMW EfficientDynamics Supercar i8 to cost $200,000

By Patrick Rall on December 21, 2010 - 5:29PM

During the official launch announcement of the new 1-Series M Coupe, BMW’s Sales and Marketing Director Ian Robertson commented that when the production version of the BMW EfficientDynamics supercar hits showrooms, it will carry a price around $200,000.

Judge rules that Toyota must disclose recall settlement terms

By Patrick Rall on December 21, 2010 - 4:16PM

Toyota Motor Corp reportedly settled with the first of what could be a great many lawsuits from consumers against the automaker for their lethal recall practices and when the settlement was achieved, Toyota requested that the terms of the settlement not be disclosed publicly but Judge Anthony J. Mohr has ruled that Toyota must indeed disclose the terms of the agreement.

Four alternate engine technologies for 2011 and beyond

By Frank Sherosky on December 21, 2010 - 1:37PM

With ultra-green ideas on the minds of many legislators that may one day force 60-plus mpg and ultra-low CO2 levels into law, the auto industry best rethink its entire engine technology position for 2011 and beyond. Fact is, there are technologies and concepts just waiting for development and a chance to prove the ICE and other combustion technologies can compete, not only on a fuel mileage basis, but on a cost and an ecological basis as well.

Tesla has already taken 3000 buyers for the 2012 Tesla Model S sedan

By Patrick Rall on December 21, 2010 - 11:59AM

In a form filed recently with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Tesla Motors revealed a handful of information about the current goings-on within their company, including the fact that they have already received 3,000 pre-orders for the 2012 Tesla Model S sedan – accounting for $15 million in revenue from a car over a year away from seeing production.

Cadillac Donates Super Bowl Tickets to Cure Duchenne Auction

By Keith Griffin on December 21, 2010 - 11:29AM

Auto manufacturers are doing their best to get you to Super Bowl XLV in Dallas. Yesterday, Mercedes announced a tweeting contest while today Cadillac has announced its donation of 50 tickets to benefit a charity called Cure Duchenne.

Toyota fined $32.4m more for lethal recall practices

By Patrick Rall on December 21, 2010 - 11:16AM

Toyota Motor Corp. has reportedly agreed to pay an additional $32.4 million dollars to the US government stemming from their careless recall practices which may have cost over 100 people their lives.

Dodge announces free maintenance program for 2011 Durango, Journey

By Patrick Rall on December 21, 2010 - 10:37AM

The all-new 2011 Dodge Durango and refreshed 2011 Dodge Journey are all packed full of reasons to belong in your short list for your next new car but in case you needed one more reason, Dodge has just announced a free maintenance program for the highline versions of their crossover and new SUV.

TD Bank Buys Chrysler Financial, Chrysler Says no "connection"

By Armen Hareyan on December 21, 2010 - 8:36AM

TD Bank this morning announced that it acquired Chrysler Financial. The news is so sensitive that Chrysler Group immediately tweeted reminding they have no connection with the acquisition.

SLS AMG GT3 Undergoes Final Testing Before Delivery

By Keith Griffin on December 21, 2010 - 7:00AM

Top Gear America co-host Adam Ferrara may not like the Mercedes SLS in its street clothes, but even he would have to be a fan of the SLS AMG GT3 that undergoes final testing at a 24-hour race in Dubai before delivery to customers.

Laurence Fishburne named the new voice of Cadillac

By Patrick Rall on December 20, 2010 - 3:26PM

During college football’s Rose Bowl Game on January 1st, 2011, Cadillac’s new “red-blooded luxury” advertising campaign will begin and when it does, the luxury arm of General Motors will use Hollywood star Laurence Fishburne for voiceovers.

New 2011 Chrysler 300 revealed ahead of the Detroit debut

By Patrick Rall on December 20, 2010 - 1:59PM

The redesigned 2011 Chrysler 300 is expected to make its grand debut next month at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show but today, we have a full spread of images showing what the new luxury sedan will look like.

The 2012 Lamborghini Aventador already selling well in Singapore

By Patrick Rall on December 20, 2010 - 12:53PM

The 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 hasn’t been official unveiled yet, but pre-orders for the next generation of Italian supercar are already streaming in, with over 50 orders in Singapore alone.

NHTSA confirms recall of 2011 Toyota Sienna

By Frank Sherosky on December 20, 2010 - 12:51PM

NHTSA Campaign ID 10V620000 N/A is officially in play for another Toyota recall. Components affected this time are the pedals and linkage of the hydraulic service brakes. The brake stop lamp switch, due to its proximity to the parking brake pedal, in limited circumstances the operator’s foot could damage the stop-lamp switch bracket.

GM Recycles Gulf Disaster Oil Booms for Chevrolet Volt

By Keith Griffin on December 20, 2010 - 11:46AM

GM has managed to make something good from the ecological disaster that was the massive BP gulf oil spill. It is recycling oil-soaked plastic booms from the Gulf disaster into parts for the Chevrolet Volt.

Tweet Your Way to the Super Bowl and a Mercedes

By Keith Griffin on December 20, 2010 - 11:24AM

Mercedes wants to give you and a partner two tickets to the Super Bowl and two Mercedes C-class coupes. All you have to do is Tweet your way to Dallas 140 characters at a time at a special Mercedes contest.

New Sail Electric Concept Vehicle Debuts in China

By Keith Griffin on December 20, 2010 - 9:58AM

General Motors has taken the wraps off a new electric concept vehicle called the Sail. It debuted in China at the 2010 Guangzhou Auto Show, which began today.

GM Introduces First Four-Cylinder Turbo Cadillac in World

By Keith Griffin on December 20, 2010 - 9:36AM

General Motors, through its Shanghai GM joint venture, has introduced the first Cadillac with a four-cylinder turbocharged engine in the world. It’s an effort by Cadillac to get into the increasingly popular 2.0 to 2.5-liter luxury powertrain segment.

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