Introducing New Cars: Reports

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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Chrysler Group Builds 1 Millionth Pentastar V6 after 18 Months

12:59 PM Hell No comments

Only 18 months after the Chrysler Group began production of its new Pentastar V6 at its Trenton Engine Assembly Plant in Michigan, the company hit its first important milestone with the manufacturing of the one-millionth unit. The V6 is also produced at Chrysler's plant in Saltillo, Mexico.

The Detroit firm's all-aluminum 3.6-liter V6 engine made its debut on the 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee but has since found its way under the hood of many more models.

These include the Chrysler 200, 300 and Town and Country, plus the Dodge Avenger, Challenger, Charger, Durango, Journey and Caravan, and more recently the 2012 Jeep Wrangler.

2012 MINI Roadster Priced from $24,350 to $34,500*, Costs $600 Less than the Convertible

4:52 PM Hell No comments

Mini has just released U.S. pricing for its new two-seater Roadster model that will be available in three flavors.

The Cooper Roadster is priced at $24,350 and is powered by a 121HP 1.6-liter inline four that allows it to hit 60mph in 8.7 seconds and top out at 124mph, while returning 30mpg combined.

New BMW ActiveHybrid 5 Priced from $61,845, Nearly $10k more than the 535i [130 Photos]

4:00 PM Hell No comments

If you want a little more power (but slightly worse performance) and a little better fuel economy and don't mind paying US$9,345 over the price of a regular 535i, then you may want to take a look at BMW's new ActiveHybrid 5 sedan.

If you live in Europe or in any other region where BMW offers diesel variants of the 5-Series, then you're probably better off with one of those models – we'll explain why later on.

BMW today announced that the ActiveHybrid 5 will go on sale in the States in March with a base MSRP of $61,845 (€47,800), which includes an $895 destination and handling fee.

Toyota TS030 Hybrid Le Mans Racer Sounds Like the Batmobile when it Takes Off

3:10 PM Hell No comments

The first thing that came to mind upon viewing the videos of Toyota's brand-new TS030 Hybrid Le Mans Racer as it was leaving the pits at the Paul Ricard circuit in France for its first test run was the Batmobile – well, that or Anakin Skywalker's podracer from Star Wars Episode 1.

And no, we're not referring to the racecar's shape and styling but the sounds emitted by the hybrid powertrain which starts off with the electric motor before the V8 engine kicks in like an afterburner – yes, it's that cool.

After that, you get the usual screaming sounds produced by race-prepped engines.

2013 SRT Viper Teaser Shot Coming on Monday

2:29 PM Hell No comments

Last night, the Chrysler Group's SRT crew had us constantly refreshing its Facebook page to see if it would upload the promised teaser photo of the next generation 2013 Viper sports car once it reached 10,000 "likes".

A couple hundred clicks later, SRT came out with an announcement saying that ~~the teaser was the teaser~~ it would release the first official shot on Monday, 11:59.59 PM Eastern Time.

Blown up Tank Arrives in front of Kim DotCom's New Zealand Mansion

1:49 PM Hell No comments

Even though Kim DotCom, otherwise known as Kim Schmitz, is currently behind bars awaiting possible extradition to the United States after a New Zealand judge denied an application for bail on Wednesday, the founder of the popular file-sharing website MegaUpload continues to make headlines for reasons not related directly to his case.

After his amazing collection of luxury cars were seized by police last Friday, we thought that would be the last we heard about DotCom's toys.

Apparently, we were wrong as it has been reported by several New Zealand newspapers that after his arrest, Dotcom's mansion received delivery of a…full-size inflatable replica of a Russian T-72 tank!

Where Do You Think You're Going? Woman Tries to Escape Three Times After Being Stopped by Police

1:08 PM Hell No comments

Surely, anyone with an iota of common sense would give it up when surrounded by at least three police vehicles, right? Well, maybe most people but not Alexandra Osteyee-Hoffman.

The 28-year old North Carolina woman tried not once, but three times (!) to escape from the police last Friday. It all began when deputies came to her house to serve papers on a hearing. The officer approached her Toyota Corolla and asked for her at which point she took off only to be cornered by at least three police vehicles shortly after.

From that point on, we have the video footage from the police car dashboard camera, which shows her fleeing the scene for the second time leading the police on a high-speed chase – well, as fast as a Corolla can go, that is…

New Details Emerge on Fiat's 500L Wagon that will Debut in Geneva and go on Sale in the U.S. in 2013

12:29 PM Hell No comments

We had heard earlier this month that Fiat was preparing a new five-door variant of its 500 city car but we didn't know much else about the Italian firm's plans.

Today, Autonews has the inside scoop on the new model reporting that it will allegedly be called 500L with its world premiere to take place at the Geneva Salon in March.

We also learn that while it will keep the 500s familiar face and styling cues, it will be based on the same architecture as the larger Punto to improve passenger and luggage space.

BMW Recalls Six X5 xDrive35i SUVs Because they May Roll Out of Park

10:29 AM Hell No comments

In one of the smallest recalls we have ever heard, BMW will be calling in six owners of the 2012 X5 xDrive35i SUV to address a problem with the automatic transmission.

In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Bavarian automaker says that due to a manufacturing error, the automatic transmission’s parking lock may not occur even if the “P” position has been selected and is displayed.

Fiat-Chrysler Alliance wants to Produce Jeep Models in China

9:54 AM Hell No comments

Chinese officials may be withdrawing their support for investments made by foreign automakers, but the Fiat-Chrysler Alliance is still looking for ways to increase its presence in the country.

A new report from the Detroit News says that Fiat and Chrysler are currently in "intense negotiations" with the Guangzhou Automobile Group to produce Jeep models for the local market.

The Italian automaker has already forged a joint venture with Guangzhou for the manufacturing of a new compact sedan based on the 2013 Dodge Dart, which will most likely be introduced in China at the upcoming Beijing motor show in April.

New Four-Cylinder Honda Crosstour Costs $2,685 Less than V6, Starts at $28,465*

6:26 AM Hell No comments

Honda is expanding the range of its Accord-based Crosstour model with the addition of a four-cylinder, two-wheel drive version that goes on sale today priced from $27,655, or $28,465 if you include an $810 destination and handling charge. That's $2,685 less than the equivalent V6 model.

The new entry level Crosstour sports a 2.4-liter i-VTEC inline four-cylinder engine that develops 192 horsepower matched to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission, delivering 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, an improvement of 3 mpg and 2 mpg respectively over the V6 model.

Ford Posts Biggest Profit Since 1998 but only Thanks to One-Time Gain, Gives $6,200 Bonus to Workers

5:31 AM Hell No comments

Piggybacked by a one-time tax gain, Ford Motor Company has posted its highest annual profit since 1998 and the second biggest in the firm's 109-year long history. The Blue Oval's net income for 2011 was US$20.2 billion or US$4.94 per share, an increase of US$13.7 billion, or US$3.28 per share, from a year ago.

However, most of the profit came from a one-time, non-cash special item of US$12.4 billion from eliminating a valuation allowance against the company’s net deferred tax assets.

Ford said that full year pre-tax operating profit was US$8.8 billion, or $1.51 per share, an increase of US$463 million from 2010.

New BMW X3 Tops while Range Rover Evoque Flops Consumer Reports' Tests

4:55 PM Hell No comments

Just like a Rotten Tomatoes review can make or break a movie’s reputation and its box-office success, Consumer Reports’ road tests have the potential to boost a vehicle's sales or in some cases force a an automaker to run back to the drawing board.

The latest batch of vehicles tested by CR include two SUVs that even though different in size, will compete in the premium segment: the second iteration of the BMW X3 and the brand-new challenger in the category, the Range Rover Evoque.

To sum it up, the BMW X3 xDrive28i scored an 80 in CR's road test and received the “Recommended” tag, while the Range Rover Evoque managed a test score of 60 score and was placed near the bottom of its class.

SRT to Tease New Viper if it Reaches 10,000 Facebook Fans by February 1st

3:01 PM Hell No comments

Top Gear isn't alone in promising to give back to its fans if they "like" its Facebook page. Joining the social media craze is the Chrysler Group's SRT brand, which promises to show a "small teaser" of the next generation Viper sports car if it reaches 10,000 fans on Facebook by February 1.

Currently, the page has received 9,686 "likes", meaning SRT should hit its goal within the next 24 hours at the latest. Maybe you can speed things up by clicking here to visit DriveSRT's page and give it a blue thumbs up.

'Half Price' Saab Dealer Shutting Down, Publishes Letter Putting Part of the Blame on GM

2:18 PM Hell No comments

You may remember our Saab post from earlier this week where we asked you if you'd buy 9-3 or 9-5 sedan at half price. Among the deals we listed were several low mileage loaners with a 50 percent discount from the Shaw Saab dealership in Norwell, Massachusetts.

As we learned today from the Saabsunited enthusiast site, the aforementioned dealership is closing shop on February 3 after 44 years as an exclusive Saab seller.

Fred Shaw, the owner, posted a letter on the company's Facebook page where he announces the shut down and outlines his future plans, which include the selling of the real estate to Herb Chambers (the car shop equivalent of Dunkin Donuts in Massachusetts), who will turn it into a Lexus shop.

Nothing unexpected there, but in his letter, Shaw also refers to General Motors and the role it played in the outcome of Saab's failed reorganization efforts. Being an official dealer, Shaw's view on the matter makes for an interesting read. You can check out the letter right after the break.

Volt Probe Fuels Republican Fire, GM CEO Says Company has Become a "Political Punching Bag"

12:32 PM Hell No comments

The issue of the Chevy Volt's fire risk and the following NHTSA investigation that ended last week after GM modified its hybrid and the federal agency cleared the car, seems to be spreading beyond the automotive realm.

According to Bloomberg News, a report released by the House Oversight and Government Committee Report led by California Republican Representative Darrell Issa poses the question whether the six-month delay in making the fire-risk issue public has anything to do with the government’s 32 percent stake in General Motors.

“This unnatural relationship has blurred the lines between the public and private sector as President Obama touts the survival of General Motors as one of the top accomplishments of his administration”, read the report. “On a political level, this relationship raises serious questions about whether or not the administration is too heavily invested in the success of GM to be an effective regulator.”

Official: Renault Slashes UK Lineup, Gone Are the Modus, Kangoo, Wind, Laguna, Espace and Gordini Models

11:52 AM Hell No comments

We first heard about Renault's plans to decimate its model lineup in Britain due to poor sales in a report back in December, and now it's officially official with the French brand providing more details on the changes.

The Renault models no longer available for sale in the UK are the Modus small MPV, the Kangoo passenger and commercial vans, the Wind roadster, the Laguna and the Espace MPV.

In addition, Renault has discontinued all Gordini variants while the core Twingo Renaultsport 133 range has been slimmed down to a single version.

Ford Plans to Triple Production of EcoBoost Engines in 2012

10:03 AM Hell No comments

Downsizing, direct injection and force induction are the way to go for internal combustion gasoline engines to meet the ever-tightening fuel and emissions standards.

Ford has followed this recipe to the letter with its EcoBoost “family of engines and so far it has paid off nicely, recording 127,883 sales in 2011.

The best-selling F-150 pickup truck is the perfect example. In 2010, all units sold in the U.S. were powered by V8 engines. Last year, more than half of F-150 buyers (56 percent, to be precise) downsized to a V6, choosing either the base 305HP 3.7-liter or the 365HP 3.5-liter EcoBoost.

Mazda Begins Production of Diesel-Engined CX-5 Crossover in Japan

9:12 AM Hell No comments

Mazda announced today that it has commenced production of the diesel version of its new CX-5 crossver at its Ujina plant near the company’s Hiroshima headquarters. The new compact SUV will be available in Japan and Europe in spring, with other markets to follow including the U.S. from early 2013.

The CX-5 is the first model in Mazda’s range to be powered by the new Skyactiv-D 2.2-liter diesel engine.

Kia Builds 1 Millionth Vehicle at its Slovakian Plant

8:05 AM Hell No comments

The 1 millionth vehicle rolled off the assembly line at Kia's Zilina plant in Slovakia just a little over five years since the factory opened, marking a significant landmark for the South Korean automaker.

The milestone model was a white, diesel-engined Cee’d SW that was handed over to a Slovakian children’s charity called the Red Nose Clowndoctors (no connection with Adult Swim's Children's Hospital…).

Introducing New Cars