Mini is finding its feet in China after a slow start following its introduction in 2005. Back then it recorded just 430 sales but last year it hit a record 15,500.
LMC Automotive has raised its forecast for US light vehicle sales from 14.3m to 14.5m in 2012. The upward revision has been prompted by recent strong sales.
Zhongsheng, a major Chinese auto retailer has acquired a 70 percent stake in German vehicle-personalization specialist Carlsson to meet rising demand from wealthy Chinese car owners for custom bodies and tuned engines.
Delphi has put its toe back in the acquisition water with the announcement it intends to purchase FCI Group's Motorised Vehicles Division (MVL) for EUR765m (US$962m).
Renesas Electronics, the world's biggest maker of automotive microcontrollers, plans to raise capital of 100 billion yen ($1.
Two highlights for the j-a crew this week; days of sunny hot weather after the coldest and wettest autumn anyone can remember and the annual SMMT Test Day at Millbrook.
BMW named Karim Habib as head of design for its automobiles division. Habib takes over the role from Adrian van Hooydonk, who had been doing the job in addition to his responsibilities as BMW's group design chief.
BMW named Karim Habib as head of design for its automobiles division. Habib takes over the role from Adrian van Hooydonk, who had been doing the job in addition to his responsibilities as BMW's group design chief.
Toyota Motor said on Friday it plans to roll out eight models of compact cars for emerging markets, starting with the Etios that was launched in India in December 2010.
Officially there are no plans to shift any South Korean General Motors production to Europe but unofficially it 'could' happen.
Fiat says it is open to expanding its newly announced partnership with Mazda and building the Japanese automaker's vehicles at Fiat and Chrysler factories worldwide.
Fiat says it is open to expanding its newly announced partnership with Mazda and building the Japanese automaker's vehicles at Fiat and Chrysler factories worldwide.
Toyota said it would roll out eight compact car models tailored for emerging markets by 2015 in an attempt to catch up to front-runners such as Volkswagen and General Motors.
Toyota said it would roll out eight compact car models tailored for emerging markets by 2015 in an attempt to catch up to front-runners such as Volkswagen and General Motors.
A top German union official will explain to hourly employees at Volkswagen's U.S. plant in early June that his group will not pressure them to join the UAW union, the automaker's top labor representative said.
We're certain that, like us, you are glad to see the leaves out, the sun high in the sky and temperatures soaring.
There are many guilty pleasures in life and one of our absolute favorites is to cruise around in a convertible. With the top down and wind in our hair (at least for some of us), work and stress become a thing of the past.
Here's our Top 10 fave convertibles currently available:
10. 2012 Volkswagen EOS
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| Photo: Sebastien D'Amour |
While some automakers arbitrarily name their vehicles, or make up words, VW called their four-seater the Eos on purpose. When the car was first introduced in 2005, VW marketed the Eos as being the “dawning of a new era” for VW.
More details on the 2012 Volkswagen Eos.Continue reading Top 10 convertibles for 2012
Leery that an offshore automaker would only buy Chrysler for its brand names and shut all its American factories, the U.S. Government stipulated that Fiat could only increase ownership in Chrysler if it agreed to certain domestic manufacturing stipulations. One was that the company had to build in America, one vehicle with “an unadjusted combined fuel economy rating of 40 US mpg (5.88L/100km)” as defined by the EPA.
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| 2013 Dodge Dart (Photo: Dodge) |
The 2013 Dodge Dart is that vehicle. Or more precisely, the soon-to-be introduced Dodge Dart Aero is that vehicle. Expected sometime in the last quarter of this year, the Aero will feature the 1.4L MultiAir turbo engine, 6-speed manual transmission, low resistance tires, wheel covers, more aluminum, and other various tricks and treats no doubt.
The EPA has not yet released its unadjusted combined fuel ratings for the first Dart models coming this summer. The most fuel-efficient Dart powertain so far introduced — the 2.0L with the 6-speed manual — is very efficient but falls below that EPA target.
Even without the US-manufacturing mandate, it's highly unlikely Chrysler/Fiat would have even considered “importing” a compact car line into North America. It's such a large segment and marketplace, with its own standards and tastes. Most automakers build North-American specific vehicles for large-volume segments.
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