Latest Car News
Chrysler Aims to Top Quality Surveys by 2012
Posted: Nov. 20, 2009 09:11:58 a.m.
Ford may have made the slogan "Quality is job one," famous, but Chrysler is taking it to heart.
The Detroit News reports, "Chrysler Group LLC is backing claims that it will be a quality leader by the end of 2012 with a revamped, refocused and much larger quality team, tougher standards and a commitment to achieving sustainable quality gains crucial to its long-term success by changing company culture."
Autoblog acknowledges that the quality climb will be a steep one for ...
GM and Chrysler Won't Be Required to make Electric Cars
Posted: Nov. 20, 2009 09:11:53 a.m.
After the government bailout of Chrysler and GM left the feds in charge of many areas of the companies, there were fears that politicians and bureaucrats would start dictating each company’s product line. The Obama administration is saying that's not the case.
Reuters reports, "The Obama administration's preference for robust electric car production will not influence its oversight of taxpayer equity in General Motors and Chrysler, an administration official said."
As much as the administration would like ...
Buick Regal to Have Manual Transmission Option
Posted: Nov. 20, 2009 09:11:52 a.m.
Buicks may have the reputation of being the car of choice for hitting the early bird special, but how do you think your granny would like to row her way through a snick-snick manual tranny on her way to the fabric store?
Buick seems to think she'd like it just fine. Better yet, Buick thinks you wouldn't mind slipping through a standard on your way to the fabric store (or early bird dinner, or wherever you go).
Yesterday ...
Toyota and IIHS Snipe Over Top Safety Picks
Posted: Nov. 19, 2009 10:11:56 a.m.
It seems like Toyota just can't catch a break. First, the global recession cuts into sales. Then, they have a massive recall of millions of Toyota vehicles due to reports of unintended acceleration. After that, Volkswagen takes Toyota's title as world's largest automaker. Then, there are quality issues: Business Week reports, "This year, for the first time, Hyundai Motor passed Toyota in a J.D. Power & Associates survey that measures how many problems a model has in ...
BMW 5 Series GT Pricing Announced
Posted: Nov. 19, 2009 10:11:05 a.m.
The price, along with a few first test drives, of the car no one knows quite what to do with, have come in.
Car and Driver says, "Trying to describe the BMW 5-series Gran Turismo can sound a bit like trying to solve a riddle: What has the rear seat of a 7-series, the driving position of an X5, and the over-the-road dynamics of a 5-series?"
Motor Trend tries to make sense of the 5 Series Gran Turismo by putting ...
Mazda2, Ford Fiesta to Debut at L.A. Auto Show
Posted: Nov. 19, 2009 10:11:09 a.m.
Los Angeles is known worldwide as a place full of very small women with very big . . . never mind. Still, it seems fitting that the L.A. Auto Show is shaping up to be a cavalcade of very small cars with very big . . . utility.
Autoblog reports, " Mazda has finally made it official this morning: it will be bringing its B-segment Mazda2 to the North American market late next year. As you are likely aware, the current generation Mazda2 has been sale ...
Toyota May Shorten Gas Pedals to Fix Floor Mat Problem
Posted: Nov. 19, 2009 10:11:09 a.m.
Over four million Toyota vehicles have been recalled or had their floor mats removed due to reports of some vehicles exhibiting unintended acceleration. Toyota says the problem is due to improperly installed floor mats, though now they may have come up with another solution.
Inside Line reports, "Toyota is reportedly on the brink of deciding to make accelerator pedals shorter in millions of vehicles, as a fix to a problem with floor mat sticking that has led to a 4-million-vehicle ...
Top Safety Picks Announced
Posted: Nov. 18, 2009 10:11:28 a.m.
'Tis the season for automotive groups and publications to hand out awards, but one of the latest stands out. It's not based on blistering zero-to-sixty times or lust-inspiring exteriors. This award is one that really matters to a lot of consumers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has announced their Top Safety Picks for 2010.
In a press release, IIHS says, "Nineteen cars and 8 SUVs earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award for ...
Ford Fusion is Motor Trend's Car of the Year
Posted: Nov. 18, 2009 10:11:34 a.m.
The Ford Fusion may have just missed becoming an IIHS top safety pick, but it's racked up another award -- one that it doesn't have to share with 27 other cars.
Motor Trend announced, "The Ford Fusion has been named Motor Trends 2010 Car of the Year®. This year marks the 60th anniversary for the Motor Trend award - the longest standing editorial automotive award of its kind."
The Fusion snagged the award out of a field of 23 new ...
GM hopes L.A. Show Will Create Buzz for Cruze and Volt
Posted: Nov. 18, 2009 10:11:00 a.m.
Auto show season is when the automotive industry starts handing out awards, and car makers start showing the cars they hope will become award winners. Chevrolet is following that pattern closely as they roll out the U.S. spec 2011 Chevy Cruze at the L.A. Auto Show in December.
Autoblog reports, "General Motors has announced plans to unveil the U.S.-spec version of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze at next month's LA Auto Show, alongside the all-new Chevrolet ...
