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Volkswagen Reveals 2012 Up! 5-Door Hatchback
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A showcase of compact, economic, and intelligent cabin design and ergonomics, Volkswagen reveals the 5-door version of its Up! city-car. Other than the addition of two extra doors for easier accessibility and a more conservative side profile that will further enhance rear visibility, the 5-door version is identical in wheelbase and interior dimensions. Power is…
Peel, World’s Smallest Car To Be Revived [Video]
While small cars have had a difficult time catching on in North America, it seems as if cars in the UK market could never be small enough. A group of businessmen in the United Kingdom decided to resurrect the Peel brand and are now taking orders for both the Trident and P50 models. 0-60 times…
Parents Push Teens To Drive Stick to Avoid Distracted Driving
Just when an earlier study suggested that teenagers today prefer owning smartphones and electronic devices over owning a car, a local study by news channel Sacramento News10 revealed that there is a resurgence of manual transmission automobiles for young drivers. Worried about teen drivers texting and driving, parents have started a trend of purchasing stick…
Infiniti JX Named to “Smartest Family Cars of 2012” List by Parenting Magazine
In Parenting Magazine‘s first “Genius” issue, a new magazine committed to helping parents find ways to best help their children unlock their “genius” potential, the all-new Infiniti JX SUV was chosen as one of the “Smartest Family Cars Of 2012.” Editorial Director for the Parenting Group Ana Connery said, “By recognizing today’s smartest cars, Parenting…
NHTSA Closes Chevy Volt Fire Probe
After an extensive two-month investigation into the Chevrolet Volt’s fire related incidents, the U.S. safety regulators of the National Transportation Safety Administration have announced that the case is closed. The conclusion: the Volt’s plug-in hybrid battery pack does not pose a significant fire risk following a crash. According to NHTSA’s statement, the organization “does not…
2013 Nissan GT-R Pricing Announced
Nissan has announced its new U.S. pricing for the revised 2013 GT-R sports car. At $96,820 USD for the GT-R Premium and $106,320 USD for the Black Edition, the new 2013 model year gains a horsepower boost from 530-hp to 545-hp, while torque increases from 448 lb-ft to 463 lb-ft. To handle the increase in…
Volkswagen Up! GT Gets The OK!
Volkswagen has confirmed the development of a production version of the mini hot hatch Up! GT. One of the many variations of the Up! concept that was unveiled at last year’s Frankfurt motor show, Volkswagen emphasized that the Up! GT will drive and perform very closely to the original Golf GTI, which Volkswagen enthusiasts were no doubt happy to…
New Toyota Corolla Could Get Direct Injection Turbo Engine
At the recent Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota motorsports partner GRMN worked with the Japanese auto giant to introduce a turbocharged version of the popular Vitz (Yaris) compact. While the car on exhibit may be a one-off, Toyota is reportedly planning to shift its focus to downsized, turbocharged, direct-injection engines rather than focusing only on gas-electric…
Saab Bankruptcy Endangers Spyker Existence
Bold and ambitious, Victor Muller founded Spyker Swedish exotic sports cars before purchasing Saab, believing in its return to past glory under his leadership. Confident in his abilities, Muller’s gamble on Saab put Spyker in danger as well. Following Saab’s devastating bankruptcy, Swedish Automobile N.V. (Swan for short, formerly Spyker Cars N.V.) have announced that there…
Toyota Prius v Out-Sells Chevy Volt in Just 10 Weeks
Earlier this month a new reports noted that Chevrolet Volt sales were more successful in its first year than the sales numbers of the Toyota Prius hybrid on its first year back in 2000. What little optimism Chevrolet might have had on the Volt’s sales performance were quickly silenced when data revealed that Toyota dealt…
Angry Cayenne Owner Stages Protest At China Porsche Dealer
China is the new land of opportunity as businessmen gain newfound wealth from its booming economy. However, some have learned the hard way that money cannot buy happiness. Last week, a Porsche owner was upset that his Cayenne SUV, worth a reported 2.7 million yuan, suffered a string of problems during the 2 months he…
Peugeot Announces Its Withdrawal From Le Mans Effective Immediately
Peugeot announced its withdrawal from Le Mans effective immediately. While the diesel Peugeot 908 prototype won the 2009 24 hours of Le Mans outright, and has also earned 14 victories out of the 16 races in 2011, Peugeot has decided to terminate its endurance racing program in order to place greater emphasis on its sales…
Second Autoblog Writer Accused of Conflict-of-Interest
Journalists understand the severity of consequences if an article somehow breaches public accountability. Former CBC and current Al Jazeera editor Tony Burman once said, “Every news organization has only its credibility and reputation to rely on.” However, Autoblog has encountered criticism lately after publishing an article where a writer received third party payment for their…
Fiat 500 Wagon Slated for U.S. Market In 2013
It’s no surprise that the 500’s return to North America did not make the splash that Fiat expected. Having sold less than 20,000 vehicles in its first model year in the United States, the 500 only did half as well as the company initially forecasted. The success of the 500 is essential to the Italian…
Audi Traffic Jam Assistant Handles the Stop-and-Go
In between moments of fun, spirited, and recreational driving, there are some boring moments spent queuing behind crawling traffic. At this year’s CES (Consumer Electronics Show), Audi introduced a new system that can alleviate this inconvenience with the push of a button, using a device known simply as the Traffic Jam Assistant. Audi’s Traffic Jam…
Lotus-Parent Proton Sold to Private Conglomerate DRB-Hicom
In a deal eclipsing $410 million, DRB-Hicom purchased a 43 percent stake in Proton, a Malaysian automaker better known for its ownership of the famous British sports car brand, Lotus. Originally, the stake belonged to Malaysia’s state-owned Khazanah Nasional Bhd. However, as Proton has not made a profit in the last two years, multiple prospective…
2012 Audi A6 Allroad Will Not be Coming to U.S. Market
Well, it was nice while it lasted, but Audi has decided to drop the new 2012 Audi A6 Allroad from the U.S. market. The original Audi Allroad was introduced in 1999. Debuting at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show, the all-new A6 Allroad features an extra 2.3 inches of ground clearance than the standard A6, and…
NHTSA To Take Crash-Assessment Testing High Tech
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering at length the changes that could be made to its 5-star crash-assessment testing. Rather than concentrate only on crash-worthiness, the NHTSA is looking into new technologies that put an emphasis on accident-avoidance. NHTSA Administrator David Strickland says, “Crash-worthiness has been the guiding star for NHTSA. But…
Ohio and Missouri Governors Visit NAIAS to Talk Investment With Manufacturers
Ohio Governor John Kasich and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon made a visit to Detroit this week during the North American International Auto Show in an effort to bring U.S. automotive manufacturing to their respective states. John Kasich said, “Contrary to popular opinion, the auto industry is getting stronger.” Ohio currently possesses the second-largest automotive industry…
Camilo Pardo Reveals the Merkury 4
From 2005-2006, Ford created its halo car in the form inspired by the legendary GT40. Penned by the brilliantly talented Camilo Pardo, the beautiful American supercar remains as beautiful to behold as ever. The boys from the specialist aftermarket firm, GT Guy LLC, couldn’t agree more and have asked Pardo to create a one-of-a-kind chrome…
IBM Develops Next Generation Lithium-Air Electric Battery
Electric powered vehicles have long faced challenges in battery cell packaging and the difficulties of maximizing range optimizing weight and placement. In the past, nickel-metal hydride cells failed to store enough energy to propel an EV any more than 100 miles and required a lengthy recharge after the battery depletes. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) does improve the…
Consumers Do Not Find Hybrids Appealing
For the last number of years, automakers have been pushing gas-electric products at auto shows across the world. However, according to researcher LMC Automotive, hybrid sales in the United States have slowed last year to 2.2 percent compared to 2.4 percent in 2010. Mike Jackson, chief executive of auto retail chain AutoNation Inc., said that…
NHTSA Closes Honda Accord Hybrid, Kia Sorento Investigations
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that investigations of the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Kia Sorento have both ended. The NHTSA first looked into Accord Hybrid models after initial investigations linked unintended acceleration to a fatal accident. After a thorough investigation, the agency found no evidence of defect within the Accord Hybrid. No…
Honda Previews Tokyo Auto Salon Lineup
Honda has announced its lineup of vehicles for the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon, the automotive aftermarket expo of Japan. The Honda exhibit will feature a variety of models including automobiles, motorcycles, power products, racing vehicles and other highlights in order to convey the joy of mobility and motorsport excitement. Honda Access Corp., manufacturer of genuine…
