Auto News 5

Lexus has announced the world premiere of a new hybrid coupe concept for the Paris motor show. The Toyota division says the LF-CC, which previews a new D-segment coupe, is powered by a new 2.5-litre hybrid engine.

Japan's Honda Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. are suspending production in China in the wake of anti-Japan protests over the weekend in response to a territorial dispute between Tokyo and Beijing.

Kia, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor, said on Monday that it aims to sell 410,000 new Forte compact cars globally next year and increase the number to 500,000 in 2014.

BMW is betting a new all-wheel drive variant of its 3-series sedan will it help catch a resurgent Mercedes that has outsold BMW all year long in the U.S. market.

BMW is betting a new all-wheel drive variant of its 3-series sedan will it help catch a resurgent Mercedes that has outsold BMW all year long in the U.S. market.

For decades, Honda's creative brief was "Show the car on a blank canvas. Make a clever voiceover comment. Show the logo."

States are struggling with rules for selling and advertising cars online. For example, one state law puts an auto dealer at risk when somebody else takes his dealership's ad, alters the information then posts it on a different Web site.

When Mike Accavitti, 53, joined American Honda Motor Co. as its chief marketer just more than a year ago, he zeroed in on areas needing improvement.

Volkswagen will take center stage at the Paris auto show with the launch of the latest Golf, overshadowing French rivals Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroen on their home turf.

Bruce Bendell, 58, hopes his kids won't follow in his footsteps. He loves the auto industry but says it's getting harder to survive with ever-shrinking profit margins, growing costs and increased competitiveness.

For the second time this month, France's struggling PSA/Peugeot-Citroen has called one of its top executives home from China. PSA's Citroen brand has named Arnaud de Lamothe its new marketing and communications director.

When Mark Fields is named heir apparent to Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally, a pile of thorny problems will land on his desk.

When a public dealership group recently approached Tim White and his brothers about selling several of their stores, the family sat down to consider its future.

A prolonged strike by the Canadian Auto Workers union could cause U.S. dealers to run out of Dodge Grand Caravans and Chevy Impalas within a month.

General Motors has been cranking out pickups to stockpile them ahead of factory downtime this summer and fall, as it retools for the next-generation trucks due out by summer. Now it's crunch time.

Dirk van Braeckel, the 54-year-old Belgian who authored the modern look of Bentley, has been replaced as the brand's top designer by Luc Donckerwolke, Volkswagen Group's head of advanced design.

Citroen named Arnaud de Lamothe as its new marketing and communications director.

Jim Farley, Ford Motor Co.'

The original Land Rover Range Rover redefined off-road vehicles upon its launch because it was the first vehicle that combined off-road abilities with luxury features. Hence, it went on to become the choice vehicle for the rich and the royals.


Over 40 years on, the Range Rover still holds firm to its core values, as a new 2013 model is about to hit the Canadian market.

The 2013 Land Rover Range Rover has been reengineered from the ground up to improve on its own formula. Not only will the new model sport a new look, tying it to the smaller Evoque model, it will also get a new interior that will have a much more modern look than the outgoing model.

At 196.8 inches in length, it is roughly the same size as the outgoing model, however, the new model does have more interior space, especially for rear-seat occupants who will now enjoy an extra 4.7” of legroom. The extra space comes courtesy of a longer wheelbase, which grew by 1.65 inches.

At 196.8 inches in length, it is roughly the same size as the outgoing model. (Photo: LAnd Rover)

Front seat or back, all occupants will get to enjoy a Meridian sound system developed exclusively for the Range Rover, which now comes as standard. However, those who want more can opt for the Signature Reference by Meridian sound system, which pumps out 1,700 Watts of sound through its 29 speakers.

Cosmetics and luxuries, however, play a very small part in this redesigned 2013 Range Rover. The big story is its weight, or a lack thereof. This new model features an all-aluminum unibody structure that is 39% lighter than the all-steel construction of the previous model.

This lighter structure of the 2013 Range Rover will not only help the vehicles ride and handling characteristics, but also improve its fuel consumption. Just how much less does it weigh over the old model? In Canadian spec, the base model weighs in at 2,200 kg, that is 318 kg less than the outgoing model -- which is truly very impressive.

The lack of weight will also help its performance. For example, the new Range Rover Supercharged with its 5.0L, supercharged V8 motor, which produces 510 hp, can accelerate from 0-96 km/h in just 5.1 seconds; that is 0.8 seconds quicker than the outgoing model, despite having the same power. Base engine for this new 2013 Range Rover will still be the normally aspirated, 5.0L V8, producing 375 hp, which is also carried over from the outgoing model. New, however, is its 8-speed automatic gearbox developed by ZF.

The base model weighs in at 2,200 kg, that is 318 kg less than the outgoing model. (Photo: Land Rover)

To ensure that the new 2013 Range Rover will work every single day, Land Rover put it on a tough testing regiment. A fleet of test vehicles covered millions of miles over an 18-month period that took these vehicles in over 20 countries and not only were they subjected to on- and off-road tests, but also hot and cold weather extremes. They do want to get this model right and shake off their image of being unreliable.

The lighter and smarter 2013 Range Rover will be on sale in Canada by December 2012. No pricing information has been released at this point.

The all-new Lexus LF-CC, which will have its world premiere at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, foreshadows the launch of a next-generation midsize coupe from Toyota's luxury division.

Proudly sporting the spindle grille that's become the signature of Lexus, the LF-CC stands out with a unique 3 LED-projector headlamp design housed in the narrow gap between the lower and upper fender surfaces. The independent Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are fully integrated into the upper bumper surface, while the broad lower fenders are aerodynamically sculpted to manage the flow of air to the engine bay and front brakes.

Inside, the dashboard is divided into two distinct zones: a Display Zone with a multi-display screen above an Operation Zone which allows access to the uniquely designed shift lever and an innovative ''touch tracer'' display for remote control.

The Lexus LF-CC combines a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine with a high-output electric motor to form a full hybrid powertrain. Technical specifications and other details will be revealed upon the model's debut in Paris.

Photo: Lexus