While European buyers took to the like a proverbial fish to water, American buyers have not, by and large, followed suit . But the next product in the pipeline from the Italian automaker could stand to change the brand’s fortunes on this side of the Atlantic with something a little more accommodating to America’s plus-sized appetites.
Code-named Ellezero (as in the letter L and the number 0), Inside Line says this new compact crossover is slated to debut this coming March at the . Based on a new compact yet wide platform targeted at American consumers – not the one that underpins either the European or North American market 500 – the Ellezero takes a similar approach to the , only even smaller. In fact we’re told to expect the smallest crossover on the market.
Future Fiat and models are also expected to be based on this platform, with production slated for the Serbian factory that used to build the Yugo and which was, at one time, expected to produce a new Topolino that would be smaller (not larger) than the 500. European markets are tipped to get the new crossover later this year, with a U.S. market introduction sometime in 2013.
What exactly is TrueCar? That’s the question behind recent conflicts between the company and a growing list of foes, which include dealership organizations, automakers and regulators in at least three states.
According to a report by Automotive News, TrueCar’s business model is under fire by this old guard, backed by long-standing legislation to protect their franchise interests. AN says government officials in Colorado, Wisconsin and Virginia have all raised issue with TrueCar, and that the company may face legal problems in other states, including California. TrueCar has responded by promising to make “meaningful changes” to its service by the end of the year, according to the report.
Nominally, TrueCar is an “Internet marketing company” that profits from the fees that dealers pay when they sell a car that was listed on TrueCar. But that practice may not be legal, especially in states that have consumer protection laws against brokering and what is known as “bird-dogging,” or paying third parties for leads. There are also issues with TrueCar’s marketing, which could be in violation of some state’s rules prohibiting the mention of invoice price. Dealers who do business with TrueCar may risk steep fines or loss of license in some jurisdictions, but from what the report says, most regulators are putting businesses on notice first.
TrueCar has also raised the ire of at least one carmaker, with recently on TrueCar.
There are things that Peugeot does well, and there are things that Peugeot doesn’t do well. Come to think of it, there aren’t many things it does all that well, short of the 908 HDi endurance racer, but in any event, crossovers aren’t one of the French automaker’s core competencies.
Aside from the 508 RXH, which is more closer to a Outback and Allroad in its beefed-up wagon approach, all of Peugeot’s crossovers to date have been based on borrowed mechanicals – and built for it – by the likes of . But parent company PSA knows that it can’t rely on borrowed tech for long, and so it’s working on some new crossovers on its own.
Among those in the pipeline is said to be the 2008, a crossover version of the hatchback that just debuted in November. Tipped to replace the slot previously taken by SW wagon versions of the previous 206 and 207, the 2008 is expected to borrow some of its styling cues from the HR1 concept (pictured in the rendering above) that debuted at the last Paris Auto Salon.
Overseas buyers will have to wait a little while longer to see what the Lion marque has in store, but one thing we can tell you with as much certainty as can be assured in this business is that the 2008 – like the rest of the Peugeot range – won’t be making it Stateside.
will join the likes of , and with a new research and development facility in California’s Silicon Valley.
The new facility, due to open in the first half of this year, will be part of the Ford Research and Innovation unit, and will work in partnership with its Advanced Design Studio in Irvine, California. The Blue Oval team will also be working with Microsoft in Redmond, Washington.
Among the projects Ford’s new Bay Area-based team will tackle: Open-source hardware and software, beginning with ; utilizing vehicle sensors to enhance real-time data (think windshield wipers activating and informing weather sites when it’s raining); and new business models based around “personal mobility,” something BMW has been actively pursing at its Mountain View, California facility.
The announcement comes right before Ford’s fourth major showing at , including another appearance by FoMoCo CEO Alan Mulally, where the exec will expand on Ford’s plans for the facility and its next developments with in-car technology. Full details in the press blast .
Where there are winners, there are inevitably losers. Last year was to big pickups, sprawling family sedans and SUVs, but not every model came out of 2011 with big sales figures. We took the time to dig through the low-selling models of the past 12 months to find out which vehicles produced throughout the year were the biggest duds. Since we aren’t interested in how few models rolled off of dealer lots in the U.S. in 2011, we kept the MSRP under $100,000.
Our criteria immediately nixed vehicles like the , , Ram Cargo Van and everything in the stable due to the fact that those models weren’t manufactured through all 12 months of 2011. High-end metal like the , and were also kicked to the curb due to our price ceiling. Which was the worst of them all? We’ll give you a hint. It wasn’t the . to check out our list of the worst-selling vehicles of 2011.
is gearing up for its first showing at , and in addition to building a sizable booth to highlight its range of new and updated products, M-B head .
We expect Zetsche to detail the automaker’s plans for its infotainment systems going forward, including a comprehensive update of COMAND and new connected and app-driven features.
On the floor, Mercedes will be showing off mbrace2, it’s revamped communications and connectivity platform, which will include new safety features, speech recognition, traffic and navigation information, vehicle care and personal assistance functionalities, along with a new concierge service and internet browsing. A complimentary smartphone app will link up with the system, allowing drivers to lock and unlock their vehicles, set up geo-fence alerts and include a new social functionality dubbed Send2Benz.
Additionally, Mercedes will preview its new DriveStyle iPhone app that integrates much of the phone’s functionality into the central display to limit driver distraction, along with new safety systems, both of which will debut later this year.
We’ll be on the floor getting hands-on with all of it it less than a week, but until then get the full details in the press blast .
The Koenigsegg Agera is one stupendously quick supercar. It can travel from a dead stop to 186 miles per hour and back down to zero in a scant 21.19 seconds. That’s not even enough time to sit through a car insurance commercial.
The isn’t quite as quick, but it can boast some serious performance chops all its own. The race-ready 911 can hit 62 miles per hour in just 3.6 seconds, and a trip to 120 miles per hour takes only 11.5 seconds.
But while the GT3 RS 4.0 can’t quite keep up with the Agera once the rubber starts rolling, this athletic can stop a bit more quickly. The GT3 RS 4.0 has reportedly beaten the Agera’s braking record of 186 mph to zero , and we have the video that proves it. to watch the speedometer plunge from 186 mph to zero in only 6.5 seconds.
Detroit in January isn’t exactly the proper place to go topless in a 650-horsepower tire smoker, but that doesn’t mean rumors of the Convertible’s at the aren’t accurate. And these spy shots prove that the car is very much ready for its big debut.
We’re expecting the soft-top Shelby to pack the same 5.8-liter supercharged engine as its hard-topped sibling, which means the asphalt will be punished with those aforementioned 650 ponies along with 600 pound-feet of torque. For the coupe, that power equals a top speed of over 200 miles per hour.
So, here’s the big question: Will the 2013 GT500 Convertible be the least expensive way to a wind-in-your-hair blast at supercar speeds? While we all ponder that question, let’s all take a gander at the spy photos in the gallery above. And let’s pray to the god of sunshine that the GT500 Convertible does indeed drop its top in the snowy climes of Detroit in January.
While Rhys Millen’s been having at Hyundai’s , plans continue apace on the new building that will replace it. The $150-million cost is the largest has ever spent on an office building in the U.S., and for that money, the LEED-certified, Gensler-designed structure will be 419,000 square feet, featuring four stories of glass above a two-story pedestal entrance. A show of Hyundai models will be visible from the freeway, a feature you see rather often in Europe.
Follow the jump for a press release with more details on the command center that Hyundai says “represents Hyundai’s vision for the future and reflects the innovation and creativity that our brand has come to represent.”
The figures have been tallied for the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. in 2011, and not surprisingly, the Ford F-Series pickup truck is king of the heap once again. Dealers sold a total of 584,917 F-Series units in 2011, beating out the second-place by 169,787 units. The filled out the podium with 308,510 sales, which left the top three unaltered from their 2010 rankings. Fourth place went to the surging , which jumped from its seventh place position last year. Likewise, the enjoyed a jolt in popularity as well. While the aging CUV took the 13th spot last year, the Ford sold 254,293 units to take fifth place in 2011.
That bumped the and its variant to sixth place. Interestingly enough, the duo just barely beat out the by 5,000 units. Were the two Honda models to be split, the Fusion would have easily knocked the Accord further down the list. Likewise, the and teamed up to edge out the for ninth and tenth places, respectively. Head over to for a full chart detailing the top 20 best-selling vehicles in the U.S. for 2011.
The is about to get safer. That’s the big message from GM today as the company announced structural and cooling system “safety enhancements” that are intended to better distribute the car’s energy load from a crash and, thus, better protect the battery from potential fires.
Mark Reuss, president of GM North America, said that GM is treating this as a voluntary customer satisfaction issue, and therefor it is not a recall. Still, the process to fix the cars does kind of smell like a recall, since all the Volts that have left the factory – and another 4,400 at dealerships (every will need to get this fix as well) – will need to be changed, a process that takes roughly 2-3 hours, Reuss said. He would not hint at what this could cost GM.
Mary Barra, senior vice president of Global Product Development, said the repair parts should be ready and out to dealers in February. In a conference call with reporters, Barra explained the fix this way:
First, we’re going to strengthen an existing portion of the vehicle safety structure that protects the battery pack in the event of a severe side collision. … The current steel tunnel of the car acts as a safety cage surrounding the battery pack. The side pole test impacts the car directly in line with the cross car structure. … The structural enhancements more evenly distribute the load to further protect the battery and coolant line in the event of a severe side crash. In addition to these structural modifications, we are going to make enhancements to the cooling system. First, we’re going to be installing a sensor in the reservoir of the battery cooling system to monitor battery coolant levels. We’re also adding a tamper-resistant bracket to the top of the battery coolant resevoir to prevent a potential coolant overfill.
Barra added that the LG Chem cell chemistry used in the Volt is safe and that, “We still believe liquid cooling is the right option for the Volt.”
Since Volt production was shut down for the holidays (as is normal), Reuss said that when it is restarted “very shortly” the safety enhancements will be in place. As for the cars out in the wild, GM dealers can still sell them before the repairs are made because, Reuss said, “the car is safe.”
Not everyone is so sure. Reuss said that around 250 Volt owners have requested either a or a , but he said this number may change following today’s announcement. As for people who are still shopping, Reuss said, “To our potential customers, if you’re in the market, we think you’ll be missing an opportunity if you don’t consider the Volt.”
With that in mind, what does 2012 hold for the Volt? Reuss admitted that even though , GM is flexible and that, “We will match supply with demand.”
Volt will receive safety enhancements, but don’t call it a recall
has started a new roadside billboard advertising campaign in the U.S. to promote the fact that people are buying the supercar. The billboards, like this one erected in Lake Forest, Illinois, alert the good townsfolk that an R8 GT has been purchased within their city limits. In red is the warning, “Slow traffic keep right,” which could also just as easily say, “Rob him while he’s out driving.”
Half a decade ago, thought so little of the that it canceled its participation altogether. But the German automaker came back last year with the concept, and will use the show to unveil its new to the public for the first time.
Initially revealed in cyberspace this past November, the new Cabrio makes use of a new folding soft top that employs all manner of advanced materials like magnesium-infused canvas and high-strength steel to keep weight to a minimum, while its design is said to more closely mimic the profile and design of the fixed-roof coupe.
In selecting the Detroit show as its launchpad for the new open-air Elfen, Porsche is recognizing the importance of the annual expo and the central place it holds for one of the largest new car markets in the world. In fact, it comes at the start of a fresh product push in the United States that will, as has now been confirmed, include the , the and the all-new Cajun to follow next year. for the full announcement.
Cabrio heralds U.S. product blitz with Detroit debut
Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray didn’t brake or try to steer away from the rock ledge his Ford Crown Victoria was headed for at speeds of nearly 100 miles per hour. That’s according to reports stemming from the aftermath of an early morning accident on November 2, 2011 in which Murray’s state-owned car left the roadway on Interstate 190 in Sterling, MA, and struck a rock ledge at 92 mph before rolling over. The Massachusetts State Police have released the black box data from the incident, which revealed not only the high rate of speed, but also contradicts prior statements from Lt. Governor Murray that he was wearing a seatbelt and driving around the speed limit.
This particular stretch of Interstate 190, which your author drives five days a week, isn’t particularly treacherous, although the region did experience a freak snowstorm just two days prior on Halloween. The storm caused significant damage to trees and power outages were widespread, and Lt. Governor Murray had set out early that morning to assess the damage in the region that serves as his homebase. Massachusetts State Police have concluded after analyzing the black box data that the Lieutenant Governor fell asleep at the wheel, which accounts for the rapid acceleration from a sustained 75 mph to essentially flat-out, as well as the lack of avoidance maneuvers or braking attempts.
At the scene, Lt. Governor Murray asked for a Breathalyzer, which showed there was no alcohol in his system, and in statements since then, he’s pledged to reimburse the state for the vehicle. In light of this latest evidence, State Police cited Lt. Governor Murray with a $555 fine, but he managed to avoid further charges including reckless driving. From where we sit, that’s a stroke of good fortune, but no more lucky than Murray avoiding serious injuries in the first place.
Top Gear magazine and Jeremy Clarkson have already let us in , the taking the cake from both of them (although Clarkson made the distinction that the was the BMW M-Sport Touring). A few more TG stars have clocked in to make their assessments, with Hammond choosing the , May selecting the , The Stig pointing to the BAC Mono, and mag writer Tom Ford laying money on the .
the 1 Series M perfectly “boisterous,” with the Karma’s future-forward-vegan ethose, namely the fact that it has no animal products, and wrote that the F3-racer-cum-street-legal-maniac BAC Mono is, well, just that. As for the Morgan 3Wheeler, after recounting all the ways it misses the mark as a car, for it being an awesome experience. You can have a look at each in our high-res gallery of photos and click the links to read all the details.
and BAC Mono are Top Gear stars’ Car of the Year winners
Lada? Racing? We’ve got to be kidding, right? Only we’re not. While the Russian automaker may not have the motorsport pedigree of, say, or , there’s reason enough to believe it’s getting serious.
One reason is its new corporate cousins at the Renault- Alliance, which owns part of Lada’s parent company AvtoVaz and which never fails to get each of its divisions – from Renault in Formula One to Nissan in GT racing to Dacia in the Andros Trophy – on the track. Another is its history, however limited it may be, of competition in the World Touring Car Championship. Lada was contesting the WTCC just a couple of years ago, and in announcing the arrival of the new , confirmed that it would be making a comeback. And this is the car with which it’ll do it.
Called the Granta Sport, this adaptable racer will form the basis for a number of racing categories. One is the WTCC, which Lada will contest this year at two rounds (Hungary and Portugal) with an eye towards expanding to a full-season challenge in 2013. Another is the Granta Cup, a one-make racing series which Lada will field in Russia. Finally, an S2000-compliant version is reportedly in the works that would let privateer teams enter the Granta Sport in any of a number of racing series around the world.
Aside from the calling to ask for its fake plastic grille back, few details are available as to the Granta Sport’s technical specifications, but we have the distinct feeling that Renaultsport has had a hand in its development. One way or another, you can scope out the high-res images in the gallery for a closer look.
Which were the best-performing brands and automakers in 2011? We’ll tell you, and the answers may be surprising. The top two best-performing brands surprised us. led the pack with a 44.04-percent sales increase for the year, followed by , whose sales jumped 40.07 percent.
Behind those two are the two brands we knew early on would have great years: and . Kia gained significant ground on fellow South Korean automaker last year by posting a larger sales increase for the year, 36.27 percent to 19.97 percent, respectively. Volkswagen, meanwhile, proved everyone wrong who questioned its decision to make the redesigned more cost competitive with a sales gain of 26.21 percent for the year on the back of that little compact car’s 54.5-percent increase in sales.
The bottom of our table is also not surprisingly occupied almost entirely by , and their luxury brands, which are joined by and . One could too easily argue that Toyota’s and Honda’s sales trouble in the U.S. last year had everything to do with natural disasters and their effect on production, but that would be ignoring their aging fleet of products, some not-so-well-received redesigns and how much more fierce their competition has become.
Finally, since we teased you last month with a select group of particular sales races we were interested in, we thought we’d let you know which models won.
2011 Best-Selling Minivan: (111,429), (110,862)
2011 Best-Selling Pony Car: (88,249), (70,438)
2011 Best-Selling Small Car: (240,258) vs. (231,732)
2011 Best-Selling Mid-Size Sedan behind Camry (308,510) and Altima (268,981): (248,067), (235,625)
*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 307 selling days in 2011 and 306 selling days in 2010, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company.
For the fourth year in a row, is going big at the in Las Vegas, and that includes the North American debut of the , a new production car and even more SYNC-controlled apps.
Next week at CES, Ford will reveal the , which is also set to bow halfway across the country at the . Joining the Fusion will be the normal smattering of and sedans, hatchbacks and the all-new , along with the Evos concept that debuted earlier this year. The Evos’ presence is particularly important, as it outlines Ford’s plan for a cloud-connected vehicle, and there’s a chance we’ll see those concepts evolved even further at CES.
Finally, Ford reps say they’ll be doubling the amount of apps available through the automaker’s SYNC infotainment system, so expect more streaming, more social and more connected apps to be available later this year.
For the past several years, SPEED has invited classic car fans to participate in the auction with the Hagerty Fantasy Bid contest. Viewers compete to correctly guess the sale prices for select vehicles, and those who accumulate the most points come away with prizes.
SPEED will be holding the contest once again for 2012, and today announced that it will be sweetening the deal for participants – a customized with 750 horsepower. The car has been upgraded with a Racing supercharger system, adjustable suspension system, Wilwood brakes and a few unique visual enhancements.
Lest you think your lack of knowledge of the classic car market leaves you no chance at winning this special Shelby GT500, don’t fret. Simply making a fantasy bid during the auction automatically enters you to win the car, regardless of its accuracy. Of course, if your guesses are spot-on then you have a chance to win a variety of prizes, including a 60-inch Samsung television, gift cards, fuel cards and an iPad 2.
The Hagerty Fantasy Bid starts on January 19th, and you can register over at starting on January 13th. for more details about the contest and the Shelby GT500 giveaway.
has released a quick teaser video for the company’s ahead of the vehicle’s debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Though less than a minute in length, the clip gives us a clear look at the vehicle’s badges as well as quick line-drawing outline. Toyota has released few details about the NS4 beyond saying the vehicle will be an “advanced plug-inhybrid.” Whether that means the vehicle will boast new battery, engine or motor technology remains to be seen. Odds are the NS4 will be used to display new design language for the entire Toyota hybrid fleet.
The NS4 Plug-In Hybrid Concept will debut next week, along with the company’s Prius C; a -sized hybrid with better fuel economy figures than the current Prius. While the model has received an unveil at the , we’ve yet to see the vehicle on American soil. to check out the NS4 Concept teaser video for yourself.
Which were the best-performing brands and automakers in 2011? We’ll tell you, and the answers may be surprising. The top two best-performing brands surprised us. led the pack with a 44.04-percent sales increase for the year, followed by , whose sales jumped 40.07 percent.
