Auto Industry News

Selected news facts from around the car industry…




The Hot as Fire Ferrari 458 Italia

  • Thursday Sep 3,2009 07:39 PM
  • By Heather
  • In 2010 Cars

ferrari 458Man, who doesn’t at least secretly love a Ferrari? Even if you don’t, it is almost impossible not to fall in love with the new Ferrari 458 Italia. This car is beautiful almost to the point of being sexy.

The Italia has not been officially unveiled yet, but we have word that, in addition to this picture, there are lots of new images floating around the internet.

It is possible to tell a few things from these pictures. For instance, the interior seems to be super luxurious, not to mention innovative, with main commands located on the steering wheel and secondary commands located within two satellite pods set up on either side of the dashboard.

The driver’s side is really more of a cockpit, completely oriented for the driver. There is an infotainment center, connectivity for Bluetooth, satellite navigation, and a camera for rear parking — among many, many other features, some known and some still a mystery.

Sneaking a Peek at the Lexus LF-Ch

lexus lf-chA lot of drivers have been waiting with baited breath to know just a little more about the new Lexus LF-Ch — and we have a bit of a sneak peek and preview for you.

A couple of weeks ago, drivers were treated to a sketch depicting three quarters of the front of the car — and now we have a rear view to pair with that teasing picture of the front. We also now know that it is the Lexus LF-Ch. It comes equipped with the Hybrid Drive system by Lexus, so it will be able to run not only on electric but also on gasoline. It will go on sale in 2010 as a rival to the BMW 1 Series.

The car features a raked back windscreen, full volumes, and a very aggressive variation on the corporate nose of Lexus.

Toyota Recalling Nearly 700,000 Vehicles: Why?

  • Wednesday Aug 12,2009 02:12 AM
  • By Heather
  • In auto news

toyota-camrToyotaWhen you think of Toyota – what is usually the first thing that you think about?  Well, I usually think about quality, however – if you got yourself a brand new Toyota car that was China-made, you want to definitely return it.  The reason?  The door panel has definitely melted is the reason.  While it is not your fault, if they are recalling all of the Toyota Camry’s that were China-made because of this problem, you should definitely return it!

While the fact that they are going to fix the problem for free might be great news for you, it is not for Toyota, for the customer service is already something that has went downhill, if they are skimping on quality as well and having to recall cars – it does not look good for this Japanese automaker.

The reason that the door panels melt is caused by excessive lubrication that was used during manufacturing, which can cause overheating and eventually melting.

Suzuki Alto Lapin: VW & Suzuki?

  • Tuesday Aug 11,2009 02:05 AM
  • By Heather
  • In 2010 Cars

sSuzuki Alto Lapin Just a short time ago, the VW chairman Ferdinand Piech was very interested in procuring a very small stake in Suzuki.  While those rumors were denied by Suzuki, the rumors are once against surfacing again and the German magazine Manager Magazin, is actually the one that seems to have the inside scoop.  It looks like Suzuki is actually thinking about going with a joint venture on a few models with VW, which is something I am very excited about.

The main reasons for the joint is because Suzuki is very fond of producing compact cars and as we all know, Volkswagen is the leader for small cars, with them remaking the VW Bug, so to me?  This is a partnership made in heaven!  Of course, there have been a lot of talks and conversations between the two automakers, nothing is finalized just yet.

However, the VW did go into a partnership with Porsche, so that could definitely secure them a spot for a partnership with Suzuki as well!

Cadillac Launches ‘Sport Wagon’ for a Roomier Ride

cadillac ctsMSRP Price: anywhere from $36,750 to $51,820. Invoice price: anywhere from $34,526 to $48,711. What are we talking about? The 2010 Cadillac CTS, which is now also available as a roomy Sport Wagon — in addition to being a sedan which has already won awards, of course.

The Sport Wagon is a first for Cadillac in a number of ways. First of all, it has almost twice as much room as the sedan on the inside. It features a roof load management system which is totally integrated as well as a power liftgage.

Both the sedan and the Sport Wagon have the option of all wheel drive, and they are both full of style.

The 2010 Cadillac CTS has two trim styles available. Standard features include seventeen inch or eighteen inch alloy wheels, respectively; nineteen inches are optional. A 3.0 liter V6 engine featuring variable vale timing, direct injection, and 255 hp comes standard. Other highlights include a great standard stereo — it is a Bose system complete with XM Satellite radio, an auxiliary input jack, and eight speakers.

A Little Insight into Honda

  • Tuesday Aug 4,2009 07:55 PM
  • By Heather
  • In Green Cars

honda insightA lot of drivers prefer Honda vehicles due to their affordability, which is especially important in this day and age. The new 2010 Honda Insight seems to not disappoint in terms of price either, with an MSRP price range that starts at $19,800 and goes to $21,300. The invoice price range is even less; it starts at $18,688 and goes to $20,098, while the market price begins at $19,561 and goes to $21,038.

But what are you getting for those prices? Well, a lot of changes for one, especially in terms of the Insight which first premiered in 2006. Now the Insight is much more practical. It is a four door hatchback which can fit up to five passengers — much roomier than the original, which was a mere two seater.

The car uses the Integrated Motor Assist system favored by Honda. It combines a thirteen horsepower electric motor with a 1.3 liter gas engine. A continual variable transmission is attached to all of it. The combination of the motor and the engine generates ninety height horsepower for 123 pounds per feet of torque; the fuel economy is more than forty miles per gallon.

The 2010 Nissan Leaf EV Is Coming!

2010 Nissan Leaf EV My first car – it was a Nissan and I have to say that I absolutely love the brand.  While VW is my favorite brand, I have actually owned and driven a Nissan around and it was by far the best car that I have ever had – it lasted so long!  Now, Nissan is still kicking and coming out with not only some of the coolest looking cars but also coming out with a car that is completely electric!  The 2010 Nissan Leaf EV is the next generation that Nissan is going and it looks hot.

Besides its hot exterior, the 2010 Nissan Leaf EV is actually one car that is completely eco-friendly and actually runs completely off of electricity.  While right now, the 2010 Nissan Leaf EV is not out – it will be, they are actually going to release 1,000 different 2010 Nissan Leaf EV to different markets and see how to sales go.  If they go well, it will be released to the rest of the world.

The 2010 Nissan Leaf EV in my opinion is going to change the world and truly make Nissan one of the top car brands again – which is something that I’ve been waiting for!

The 2011 Audi Q3 Looks Quite Fantastic

  • Monday Jul 27,2009 06:36 PM
  • By Heather
  • In Audi

CC070001For the most part, the specific specs on the 2011 Audi Q3 remain something of a mystery. A lot of car enthusiasts and reviewers have been trying to predict just what the new Audi will look like, how it will run, and so far — but a whole lot of them are way, way off the mark.

We suspect that the 2011 Audi Q3 will look a whole lot like 2007’s Cross Coupe Concept, but while the dimensions are somewhat identical, the Audi has much subtler styling.

Notably, you will also be able to off road in this Audi — after all, it is a crossover sports utility vehicle, right? And SUVs can handle off roading.

It is expected that the Audi Q3 will launch sometime around the second quarter — or perhaps the third quarter — of next year, so keep your eyes peeled.

New MINI Bumper Stick = Cash 4 Clunkers!

Cash 4 Clunkers

Now that the Cash 4 Clunkers program is in full swing, it has to be said that it is pretty cool.  You actually get to trade in your car for a brand new one pretty much and the government is going to pay for you to do that – so MINI Cooper is ready to make fun of that! 

I mean – if you traded in your Oldsmobile Aurora for a beautiful new car that is more eco-friendly … why not tell the world about it?  I would!

That is why this cool as hell bumper sticker is so cool! Personally, I would totally put this on my car and while my little Vibe does not qualify for me to be able to take advantage of this program – if you can do it, do it … it is a great program and I am a huge fan of it!

Piaggio MP3 Motor Scooter: Super Popular In The UK!

  • Sunday Jul 19,2009 03:44 AM
  • By Heather
  • In Piaggio

Piaggio MP3 Motor ScooterWhile I know that this is a car blog – I thought that showcasing some of the beautiful scooters out there would be something different and cool.  The Piaggio MP3 Motor Scooter is by far one of the best scooters on the market today.  Not only is it a beautiful bike, but when you really see it up close and personal, you actually look cool driving it … when you usually don’t when you are driving a four-wheel anything besides a car.

The Piaggio MP3 Motor Scooter is actually one of the heaviest scooters on the market today and it is one of the best looking and has one of the largest engines as well.  It has a very large protective windshield and it has quite a hefty price tag as well.  The Piaggio MP3 Motor Scooter tops out at about $9,000 to start, but it is certainly well-worth it.

The Piaggio brand is by far one of the best brands in the world for scooters and it is one of the most popular in the UK … so get one imported to the states.  I can promise you will love it!

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