Hummer and Chevy to Add Engine Choices, Including Diesel(10/27/2005)
General Motors is modifying its midsize Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups to accommodate optional V6 and V8 engines in 2007, supplier sources told Inside Line. The pickups, which currently can only be ordered with inline four- and five-cylinder engines, have been criticized for being underpowered against such competitors as the Dodge Dakota, which can be equipped with V6 or V8 engines. The Hummer H3, which shares its chassis with the Colorado and Canyon, also will offer the V8, likely a version of GM^s pushrod 5.3-liter unit, for 2007. According to Automotive News, the H3 also will get an optional diesel engine, but possibly not until 2008.
Audi to launch TV channel(10/27/2005)
Audi has launched its own TV channel - a first in the car industry. It will feature car launches and a range of Audi activities including Le Mans motor racing, amateur golf tournaments, high-goal polo and social events (presumably featuring celebs arriving in Audis). It also features interviews with celebrities and documentaries, such as the history of Audi^s quattro, the production of the Audi ^ski jump^ ad and the making of a watch inspired by Audi with jeweller, Stephen Webster. The channel has been developed with the ad agency BBH and the TV production company, North One. It is available of Sky Digital, Channel 259.
Finalists for European Car of the Year Announced(10/20/2005)
The seven final nominees out of 28 candidates for the 2006 European Car of the Year have been announced: the Alfa Romeo 159, the BMW 3 Series, the Mazda 5, the Renault Clio, the Toyota Yaris (which will replace the Toyota Echo in the United States), the Volkswagen Passat and the "triplets" — the Citroën C1, the Toyota Aygo and the Peugeot 107, which are classed as one car.
From Russia With Love: Hyundai Wins 21.5 Percent of Vast Nation^s Market(10/20/2005)
Korean automaker Hyundai and affiliate Kia are outpacing their global competitors, including Toyota and Ford, in winning over the vast Russian auto market. The pair has captured a combined market share of 21.5 percent. Hyundai^s market share in Russia reached 17.4 percent in August, and Kia had a 4.1-percent market share. The Korea Times reported that Toyota captured 12.3 percent; Uzbek-Daewoo, 10.5 percent; Mitsubishi, 9.8 percent; and Ford, 8.7 percent. Hyundai saw its sales in Russia this year surge 114.8 percent for the first eight months, compared with the same period in 2004. The growth was due to the transfer of the company^s regional headquarters from Eastern Europe to Moscow last year, a Hyundai official said.
"Father of the Ford GT" Joins ASC(10/20/2005)
ASC Inc., the auto supplier known for its convertible systems, announced Wednesday that industry veteran Chris Theodore has joined the company as vice chairman. Theodore, 55, will be responsible for ASC^s product-development activities. Theodore^s 33-year career has included the development of such landmark vehicles as the Ford GT, the Chrysler PT Cruiser, the current Ford Mustang and the original Dodge Viper. Theodore most recently worked for Ford Motor Co., where he headed North American product development before retiring in 2004 as vice president of advanced product creation.
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An extravagant Ferrari concept car was displayed in Tokyo, though not on the compact Ferrari/Maserati stand itself. The Bridgestone stand played host to the Ferrari GG50 show car, designed and created by Italdesign to celebrate Giorgetto Giugiaro^s 50 years in the business of car design. Giugiaro himself penned the GG50 by hand, as he has apparently done for the past 50 years. It is unlikely that the GG50 will ever make production, though it was given full backing by Ferrari. The show car is based on the 612 Scaglietti, with the mechanicals unchanged save for a repositioned fuel tank allowing more boot space. Overall the GG50 is a little shorter than the Scaglietti, though it appears a lot more compact thanks to sculpted panels and large rear lights; asymmetrical unlike the original Ferrari^s.
Volkswagen unveiled its carbon-fiber EcoRacer prototype, which boasts a top speed of 143 mph and gets 69 miles per gallon, this week at the international auto show here. The concept was designed to "serve as a technology test bed," the German automaker said. The company describes the carbon-fiber EcoRacer as a "coupe, a roadster and a speedster all in one." The prototype is powered by a future 1.5-liter, turbodiesel, direct-injection engine that makes 134 horsepower. The EcoRacer goes zero to 62 mph in 6.3 seconds, VW says.
Prices for Dodge^s new police cars will range from $26,575 for the 2006 Charger to $30,505 for the 2006 Magnum with a 5.7-liter Hemi engine, the Chrysler Group brand said Wednesday. The prices include a destination charge of $675.
Jeep will launch an interactive ad campaign for the 2006 Jee Commander SUV that centers on a mud-covered family of five, while Mercury is hitting the road with "random acts" that include free coffee, haircuts and manicures as it pitches the 2006 Milan sedan. Mercury said it will conduct two-day "invasions" in Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, San Diego and Austin, Texas, until mid-November, offering consumers complimentary coffee and salon services for checking out the Milan.
Toyota Motor Sales on Tuesday said it is launching a voluntary recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of some 2005 and early-2006 Scion tC sport coupes because of a possibility that the wind deflector may shatter and separate from the moonroof if road debris hits it. "Pieces of the wind deflector glass that have separated from the frame may fall upon the vehicle occupants, causing driver distraction and/or injury," the company said in a statement.