Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: Car Tech Archives

August 15, 2008

Chrysler to Get In-Car Internet

It seems that Chrysler has beat other car manufacturers to the punch and will begin selling cars equipped with wireless internet come August 25th.

But of course it will come with a fee. $499 just for the Uconnect equipment, $50 to get that equipment installed, $35 dollars to get that equipment activated, and finally $29 a month to use that equipment.

Who else can sense a law that prohibits using the internet while driving just around the corner?

August 13, 2008

Mercedes-Benz to introduce Attention Assist

Stuttgart - Accident researchers at Mercedes-Benz are acutely aware of the danger in nodding off at the wheel (the "one-second nap"). In the view of these specialists, long holiday journeys without intermediate breaks involve a high risk of overtiredness, whose signs drivers often fail to notice in time.

For this reason Mercedes-Benz has developed the innovative driver support system Attention Assist. This is able to recognise driver fatigue at an early stage, and warn the driver that a break is called for soon. The system will enter series production in spring 2009.

Continue reading "Mercedes-Benz to introduce Attention Assist"

4 million Volvo cars built in Ghent plant

On August 8, the four millionth car was built at Volvo Cars Gent. It was a Volvo V50, a sporty R Design version, ordered by VDL, a customer from Breda in Netherlands.

Volvo Cars Gent has been building cars in Belgium since 1965. Initially the plant was set up to avoid the country's high import taxes on finished cars, but over the years Volvo Cars Gent has, together with Volvo Cars Torslanda, become one of the two main Volvo Cars factories.

Continue reading "4 million Volvo cars built in Ghent plant"

Lincoln enhances color palette

DEARBORN, Mich. -- It shines, it glitters, it energizes and allures. In fact, the importance and psychology of color is unmistakable, even in the automotive realm.

"It's critical," says Susan Sage, Color and Materials design manager, at Ford Motor Company. "Color creates an aesthetic emotion. If it's a color that the customer loves, if it gives them that sense of balance and comfort, they'll want it. It can make or break a sale."

Continue reading "Lincoln enhances color palette"

Design Points Of The 2009 Toyota Venza

Torrance, CA - The 2009 Toyota Venza, scheduled to go on sale later this year, is the first example of Toyota's new direction in passenger car design combining elegance, innovation, comfort and utility.

"We wanted to create something entirely different," said Kevin Hunter, president of Toyota's Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, Calif., and Ann Arbor, Mich. "Not an SUV, not a wagon, not a coupe and not a sedan. We aimed for a more road-focused vehicle and sporty direction."

Continue reading "Design Points Of The 2009 Toyota Venza"

Honda honors top suppliers

TORRANCE, Calif. - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. President and CEO Tetsuo Iwamura today presented the company's Premier Partner Award to 15 American Honda suppliers for demonstrating excellence in quality, value and customer service.

This year's award recipients were selected from among 53 suppliers nominated by American Honda associates, out of more than 1,000 eligible companies.

Continue reading "Honda honors top suppliers"

GM to Invest $445 Million in New Plant, Thai Operations

Rayong, Thailand - General Motors is investing $445 million to build an engine plant and upgrade an existing vehicle assembly plant here, company Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced today.

The new 14,492-square-meter (156,000-square-foot) facility will be GM's first diesel engine plant in Southeast Asia and will provide four-cylinder diesel engines for use by Chevrolet in Thailand and other global markets and brands.

Continue reading "GM to Invest $445 Million in New Plant, Thai Operations"

August 12, 2008

Ford Sets Best-in-Class Quality Targets on New Global Small Vehicles

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- After climbing to the upper ranks in vehicle quality in the past two years, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) said today it has set an aggressive new target -- best-in-class initial quality for compact cars the company will launch in North America in 2010.

"We aim to launch our new compact vehicles at 800 things gone wrong per 1,000 vehicles," said Bennie Fowler, Ford's group vice president, Global Quality. "That's more than 500 TGWs less than the predicted industry average -- and we believe these levels will ensure our upcoming small cars will achieve industry-best initial quality."

Continue reading "Ford Sets Best-in-Class Quality Targets on New Global Small Vehicles"

Chrysler Kicks Off Woodward Dream Cruise with '09 PT Dream Cruiser

ROYAL OAK, Mich. -- Chrysler kicked off the annual Woodward Dream Cruise today at Duggan's Irish Pub with the introduction of a special-edition PT Cruiser.

Announced in conjunction with Detroit's famed Woodward Dream Cruise, the new 2009 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 will be available this fall as a limited-production version of the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Continue reading "Chrysler Kicks Off Woodward Dream Cruise with '09 PT Dream Cruiser"

GM Offers More Fuel-efficient Pickup Trucks, SUVs

DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. is releasing new, more fuel-efficient versions of its full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles later this fall. The XFE -- or extra fuel economy -- versions of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks and Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs will get one mile per gallon more in both city and highway fuel economy than non-XFE versions.

The boost will give them a total of 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway. The XFE pickups and SUVs will be available in the fourth quarter of this year.

Ford jumps into quality race

TRAVERSE CITY -- Ford Motor Co. threw down the gauntlet to its Japanese rivals Monday, vowing to snatch the quality title from rival Toyota Motor Corp., starting with the launch of its new small car lineup in 2010.

"That's right, I said it. Ford Motor Co. will be the quality leader," promised Bennie Fowler, Ford's group vice president of global quality. "This time, we're playing for all the marbles -- and we aim to win."

To help achieve its goal, the Dearborn automaker will enroll hourly workers from each of its U.S. factories in a rigorous quality training program at Wayne State University that is usually reserved for managers.

Chrysler Hunts for Contract Jobs from Other Automakers

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- Automaker Chrysler is seeking manufacturing alliances with other automakers in a bid to "generate cash as a smaller company," Chrysler's manufacturing chief said Monday. Chrysler has "the flexibility" to perform contract manufacturing for other automakers, Frank Ewasyshyn, Chrysler's executive vice president in charge of manufacturing, said during an industry forum in Traverse City. "We have looked at partners for a lot of things and we are going to continue to do that for the best business model," Ewasyshyn said.

August 11, 2008

BMW Hydrogen 7 hits the road

Portland, ME -- The BMW Hydrogen 7 -- the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan -- joins an unprecedented cross-country journey featuring hydrogen-powered cars by the world's leading automakers in the 2008 Hydrogen Road Tour.

From August 11 - 23, the hydrogen powered convoy will travel from Portland, Maine to Santa Monica, California with one goal: to call on congressional leaders to support the creation of a nationwide hydrogen fueling station infrastructure.

Continue reading "BMW Hydrogen 7 hits the road"

Zero Emission Volkswagen Tiguan will Travel to 31 Cities

HERNDON, Va.- Volkswagen's Hydrogen Fuel Cell concept vehicle, the HyMotion Tiguan, will travel from Portland, Maine to Los Angeles, Calif. over the next 13 days as part of the National Hydrogen Road Tour.

A dedicated Web blog, vwhydrogentour.com will provide daily updates and photos from the historic trip.

Continue reading "Zero Emission Volkswagen Tiguan will Travel to 31 Cities"

BMW supportts Automotive Youth Education

Woodcliff Lake, NJ -- Passaic County Technical Institute students got a glimpse of their future with the donation of a BMW 745i which will be used as a state of the art automotive teaching tool.

The students are members of Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES), a nationwide partnership among automotive manufacturers, participating dealers, and selected high/prep schools.

Continue reading "BMW supportts Automotive Youth Education"

Diesel Myths Dispelled

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- Would you consider buying a clean diesel passenger vehicle? What if owning a clean diesel vehicle translated into savings for your pocket book and helped protect the environment, without sacrificing vehicle performance?

If you are in the Detroit area on Labor Day weekend, make your way to Detroit's beautiful Belle Isle where you will have a chance to see clean diesel technology in action. The Audi R10 TDI racecar with Bosch clean diesel technology will be showcased at the 2008 Detroit Sports Car Challenge.

Continue reading "Diesel Myths Dispelled"

Researchers Work to Turn Car's Exhaust into Power

WARREN, Mich. -- The stinky, steaming air that escapes from a car's tailpipe could help us use less gas. Researchers are competing to meet a challenge from the U.S. Department of Energy: Improve fuel economy 10 percent by converting wasted exhaust heat into energy that can help power the vehicle.

General Motors Corp. is close to reaching the goal, as is a BMW AG supplier working with Ohio State University. Their research into thermoelectrics - the science of using temperature differences to create electricity - couldn't come at a better time as high gas prices accelerate efforts to make vehicles as efficient as possible.

Ford Gains in Supplier Rankings

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. -- The turmoil in the U.S. auto industry is reflected in the 2008 rankings of the six major North American automakers by their suppliers, with Toyota and Nissan dropping significantly and Honda virtually tying Toyota for the best working relations among the automakers.

Chrysler is in free-fall, continuing its decline from 2006 and is now in last place -- slightly below General Motors -- but Ford improved dramatically and jumped two ranks to fourth place. The rankings are part of the annual Working Relations Study conducted by Planning Perspectives, Inc., Birmingham, MI.

Continue reading "Ford Gains in Supplier Rankings"

August 10, 2008

Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Launch Underway

DETROIT, Mich. - The launch of the world's first hybrid applied to a large luxury SUV, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, begins this month.

Achieving a 50-percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving, Escalade Hybrid arrives at Cadillac dealerships in the United States with an MSRP of $71,685. That represents a premium of only $3,600 over a comparably-equipped Escalade.

Continue reading "Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Launch Underway"

Nissan previews new enviro-vehicles

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled all-electric and original hybrid electric prototype vehicles, both powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries.

Under the NISSAN GT 2012 business plan, the company has committed to zero-emission vehicle leadership, and has announced plans to introduce an all-electric vehicle in 2010 and mass market globally in 2012.

Continue reading "Nissan previews new enviro-vehicles"

2009 Honda Ridgeline Adds Power, More Standard Equipment

Torrance, Calif. -- Updated for 2009 with a total of 50 significant changes and new features, the Honda Ridgeline takes on a bolder look and feel with new exterior and interior styling along with a more powerful engine.

A trailer hitch becomes standard on every model, and newly-introduced premium features include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and a rearview backup camera on Ridgeline RTL models equipped with the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System.

Continue reading "2009 Honda Ridgeline Adds Power, More Standard Equipment"

Nissan previews collision-free technology

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has unveiled an All-Around Collision Free prototype incorporating two all-new technologies - Side Collision Prevention (SCP) and Back-up Collision Prevention (BCP). Incorporating the available Distance Control Assist (DCA) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems, this latest prototype vehicle further extends Nissan's "Safety Shield" concept to help protect the vehicle and its occupants from potential risks coming from multiple directions.

Continue reading "Nissan previews collision-free technology"

Ford introduces powertrain upgrades for 2009

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford Motor Company is meeting the rapidly changing market and shifting customer preferences with a new 2009 lineup that features an array of all-new or upgraded vehicles as well as major improvements in fuel economy, smart technology, safety features and quality across its vehicle portfolio.

"This is without question the best Ford lineup we've ever produced - and it comes at a critically important time for the company," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "Our product-led transformation is well under way, and there is much more to come."

Continue reading "Ford introduces powertrain upgrades for 2009"

Volvo enthusiasts gather in Gothenburg

Coming up this weekend is this summer's VROM - the Volvo Rendezvous for Owners & Members, when Volvo enthusiasts from all over Europe flock to Gothenburg.

VROM is a three-day event for owners and fans of classic Volvos. It has been held in Gothenburg situated on the Swedish west coast every year since 1987.

Continue reading "Volvo enthusiasts gather in Gothenburg"

August 9, 2008

Gumball Rally Kicks Off in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO -- This Saturday, August 9, superstars and super cars converge in San Francisco for the official kick-off of the 10th Anniversary Gumball 3000 Rally. More than 100 of the most amazing cars, driven by film stars, musicians, athletes and billionaires, will take an incredible eight-day journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, North Korea and China.

The "Gumballers," driving by day and reveling at VIP parties by night, will witness the Mass Games celebration in North Korea as part of a "global friendship initiative" as well as attend the Olympic finals in Beijing.

Continue reading "Gumball Rally Kicks Off in San Francisco"

Auto Dealers Take Child Passenger Safety Message to Public Television

MCLEAN, Va. -- The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is promoting September as Child Passenger Safety Month. And to further amplify its child safety messages, NADA is teaming up with SeeMore's Playhouse(TM), a children's public television series that reaches an audience of 60 million homes.

Since NADA's national child passenger safety campaign was launched six years ago, auto dealers have inspected more than one million child safety seats and discovered that nine out of 10 seats are improperly installed or need repair.

Continue reading "Auto Dealers Take Child Passenger Safety Message to Public Television"

Chrysler's car plans in question

Reports that Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Co. are in discussions to jointly produce midsize cars raise questions about the future of Chrysler's car lineup.

If the Auburn Hills automaker is turning to Nissan for help, progress may have slowed or hit a snag in Chrysler's effort to redevelop its midsize cars, analysts said Thursday. That initiative, dubbed Project D, involves a special team of top engineers and designers charged with developing replacements for the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger sedans.

Cars are getting more reliable

DETROIT -- Compact and midsize cars are showing gains in long-term quality, says J.D. Power, which is good news for drivers looking to downsize into more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Power's Vehicle Dependability Study, out Thursday, shows that long-term quality is up 5% industrywide. Improvements in small and compact cars made up more than half of the gains.

Neal Oddes, director of product research and analysis for J.D. Power, says it helps that smaller cars tend to have fewer gadgets that can fail, such as navigation systems, than do larger cars. Oddes also says owners of smaller cars are more accepting of problems such as wind noise -- a common complaint among car owners -- than owners of luxury brands.

GM agrees to lend Delphi $300 million against bankruptcy

General Motors Corp agreed to lend Delphi Corp a further $300 million as the automaker's former parts unit struggles to exit bankruptcy protection, courts papers show.

Delphi, in court papers filed Wednesday, said GM would increase its loan to the auto parts supplier to $950 million from $650 million so Delphi can maintain a minimum level of liquidity.

A hearing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York is scheduled for August 26.

Nissan shows test models of electric car

YOKOSUKA, Japan -- Nissan showed on Wednesday a spiffy electric car packed with a battery developed by the Japanese automaker to deliver more power than the type common in today's hybrids.

The electric vehicle, set for sale in 2010, carried a 300 kilogram (660 pounds) lithium-ion battery and still zipped around a Nissan Motor Co. test course, accelerating more quickly than comparable gas-engine cars.

It was extremely quiet, absent of engine noise _ a trademark of electric vehicles. Details such as cruising range are yet to be determined, Nissan officials said.

Ford boosts better fuel economy in engines

Ford Motor Co.'s group vice president for global product development, Derrick Kuzak, said Wednesday that Ford would "achieve class-leading fuel economy" for its new cars and trucks in North America "through unprecedented spending on advanced gasoline engines."
Advertisement

That includes EcoBoost, a Ford-branded engine technology that combines gasoline-injection with turbocharging for up to a 20% improvement in fuel economy, as well as other technologies.

Chrysler, Nissan in Talks on Cars

DETROIT -- Chrysler LLC is in talks with Nissan Motor Co. about jointly producing midsize cars, a partnership that would move the U.S. auto maker toward a radical new business model.

The two companies agreed earlier this year to team up on pickup trucks and subcompact cars. Since then, they have been discussing an agreement under which Nissan would produce midsize sedans that Chrysler would sell in the U.S. under its own name, people familiar with the matter say.

A Chrysler spokesman said the company has "no new alliances" to announce, and declined to comment on any discussions it might be having.

August 8, 2008

Nissan doubles fuel cell efficiency

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has developed a new fuel cell stack with double the power density of the previous generation stack.

The new fuel cell stack also achieves a 35% cost reduction mainly due to half the use of platinum, a key material used in the production of fuel cell stacks. Test fleets incorporating the improved fuel cell stacks will be operational by the end of this year.

Continue reading "Nissan doubles fuel cell efficiency"

Bill Would Let Insurers Track Where, When, How Californians Drive

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Legislation that would allow insurance companies to track when, where and how Californians drive passed the Senate Appropriations committee today.

The bill authorizes different insurance rates for drivers who choose to protect their privacy and those who agree to place a "black box" in their cars.

Continue reading "Bill Would Let Insurers Track Where, When, How Californians Drive"

Mitsubishi to Provide i MiEV Electric Vehicles to Southern California Edison

TOKYO -- Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced today that it has signed a letter of intent with Southern California Edison (SCE) to forge a unique collaboration for testing and evaluation of the new i MiEV electric vehicle.

Continue reading "Mitsubishi to Provide i MiEV Electric Vehicles to Southern California Edison"

Car Buyer's Notebook

Recent Stories

Topics