Yearly Archives: 2009
Chrysler Seeks to be Quality Leader by 2012
For decades Chrysler has had problems with the quality of its vehicles. Chrysler is now seeking to become a quality leader by 2012 and it is doing so with a revamped and much larger quality team and tougher standards. "It's different now," said Doug Betts, senior vice president in charge of quality at Chrysler. "People are talking openly about...
2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo Starts at $64,725
BMW has announced the pricing for the 2010 550i Gran Turismo that will be available in US showrooms on December 5th. The V8 powered Gran Turismo starts at $64,725. The 550i Gran Turismo is powered by a 400-hp 4.4L twin-turbo that is mated to BMW's first ever 8-speed transmission. It is capable of reaching 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds. The...
Toyota Launches European 2010 Land Cruiser
Toyota has unveiled the European version of the Toyota Land Cruiser that is very different and smaller than the version that we have here in the US. The European Land Cruiser is powered by a 3.0L diesel with 171 horsepower and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The body on frame design yields 8.5 inches of ground clearance...
Two-Thirds of All Camaros Sold Have Been V8 Powered
What is surprising to at least GM is that 2 out of 3 Chevy Camaros that drive off dealer lots do so with a V8 under the hood. GM had originally hoped that most of the Camaros sold would be the V6 model so that it would boost the automaker's Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE). But according to Edmunds,...
LA 2009 Preview: 2011 Mazda2 US-Spec. Set to Debut
Mazda has finally made it official that the small Mazda2 is going to be sold in the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2010. The 2011 Mazda2 will officially be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month. The Mazda2 shares its platform with the Ford Fiesta, which is also set to have its US debut at the...
2010 Ford Fusion Captures Motor Trend's Car of the Year Award
Ford is definitely on a roll right now and the good news keeps coming in. Today Motor Trend announced that the 2010 Ford Fusion is the recipient of its Car of the Year award. The 2010 Ford Fusion managed to beat out 23 other models for the award, which included the Toyota Prius, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Ford...
Hyundai's First Direct-Injection 4-Cyl Engine Unveiled, Replaces V6 in Next Sonata
Hyundai has officially unveiled its new direct-injected four-cylinder, which Hyundai claims delivers more power and a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy. The 2.4L Theta II GDI four-cylinder took four years to develop and will debut in the 2011 Sonata. The engine officially puts out 198 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque. The Theta II engine delivers 7-12 percent more...
Smart and Daimler Launch cars2go in Austin, Texas
Daimler has announced the start of a new pilot program in Austin, Texas, in which 200 Smart ForTwos will be available through its cars2go car sharing service. The program will allow city employees to rent the cars for a few hours and then return them to a designated location. It's similar to Zipcar. Daimler also tested the program earlier...
Lutz Confirms the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is on the Way
In addition to news about future of the Regal and Impala, GM's Bob Lutz has also confirmed that the Cadillac Sport Wagon is also going to be offered as a CTS-V Sport Wagon. This means that buyers will be able to get the CTS-V any way they want it, since the CTS-V will also be offered as a coupe. Car...
BMW Delays the Launch of the Next X3 in the U.S. to Mid-2011
BMW is going to delay the introduction of the next X3 by six months to launch a new system that will make it easier for buyers to custom order the X3. This means that the next X3 will not arrive in US showrooms until mid-2011, a full six months after it launches in Europe. The delay will also allow...
