american cars
Chrysler is America’s Fastest Growing Full Line Automaker
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Since Fiat restored Chrysler after its humbling bankruptcy, the third American automaker has been reinvigorated, and boasts industry leading statistics in growth. Chrysler Group ended 2011 with U.S. sales in December amounting to 138,019 units, an increase of 37 percent over the same period last year. What’s more, December also marks Chrysler’s 21st consecutive month…
Car Review Videos, Monthly Wrap-Up: Scion FR-S, Mercedes SLK350, Dodge Charger R/T
Easily the highlight of this month’s video car reviews is our test drive of the Scion FR-S, the U.S.-spec version of the highly anticipated Toyota GT 86. In addition, we reviewed the V8-powered Dodge Charger R/T, as well as the Mercedes SLK350. Read the AutoGuide new car reviews here and see all our video reviews…
Cadillac CTS, SRX Earn 5-Star Crash Safety Rating [Video]
Last week, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety announced that 2012 earned a record number of “top safety picks,” but the automotive industry is looking to set the record number even higher. Cadillac‘s 2012 SRX crossover and CTS sports sedan and wagon models received a crash safety rating of 5-star overall. According to the National…
Chevrolet Captiva Recalled Over Fire Risk
If Chevrolet isn’t careful they may start to be known as the “Burning Bow-Tie Brand” to some of their customers. General Motors is recalling 15,627 Chevrolet Captiva crossovers from the 2011-12 model years because there is a chance the cars may catch fire on the road. The issue stems from power steering fluid overheating under…
Chevrolet Achieves All-Time High Sales Record
Despite the recent supply shortage that plagued its Cruze production, Chevrolet‘s performance for 2011 set an all-time high sales record for the one hundred year old American automaker. Having sold 4.8 million vehicles worldwide this year through the month of November, December is projected to perform just as well. Overall, Chevrolet gained an additional half…
1967 Ford Mustang Body Shell Now Available From Ford
Keeping vintage Ford Mustang enthusiasts happy, Ford have added a new full classic Mustang body shell to its Ford Restoration Parts catalog. Along with the 1969 Mustang Fastback and the 1965 Mustang Convertible, the addition of the 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible body shell should be extremely popular. Featuring pronounced character lines, the 1967 body style…
Chevy Cruze Production Halt Continues Due To Supply Shortage
Problems with a parts supplier have caused the GM assembly plant of the Chevrolet Cruze and its identical brother, Buick Verano, to experiences stoppages in the past 3 weeks, one of which was a one-week planned shutdown and another one that wasn’t planned at all. According to GM spokesman Tom Mock, GM’s Lordtown, Ohio assembly…
Chevrolet Corvette the Number One Car Deal this Holiday Season
Those who feel especially generous this holiday season can get a bargain on what’s probably the best Christmas gift anyone could ever ask for. According to Kelley Blue Book, the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette earned the #1 spot for the best new car deal of the holiday season. For the last couple of months, GM offered…
Ford F-series Pickup Trucks Recalled For Automatic Transmission Defect
An automatic transmission defect initiated a recall for 2011 Ford F-150, 2012 F-250, F-350,F-450 and F-550 pickup trucks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 16,091 examples of Ford trucks may suffer a problematic brake shift interlock switch. This defect may allow the transmission to shift out of park without the need of…
2013 Ford Escape To Drop Hybrid, C-Max To Spearhead Hybrid Market
The Ford Kuga based 2013 Ford Escape will be available next year, promising to be a significant improvement to the outgoing model. However, Ford has announced that it will drop the Escape hybrid powertrain. Outgoing Ford Escape Hybrid sales through Novembers have fallen to only 9,009 units, a 13 percent drop from November of last…
2012 Ford Focus ST-R Priced at $98,995
With an illustrious past in motorsports, Ford expands its racing activity by introducing the Ford Focus ST-R, a turn-key race version of its popular hot hatch. Right out the box, the ST-R will be eligible to race in a selection of professional series including the Grand Am ST Class, World Challenge ST Class, Canadian Touring…
Cadillac ATS Confirmed With 270-HP 2.0T 4-Cylinder [Video]
GM has announced the official debut of the anticipated Cadillac ATS at the upcoming 2012 Detroit Auto Show. According to GM, the Cadillac ATS will be available in three different engine trims. A new 3.6-liter V6, a 2.5-liter four cylinder, and a new-generation 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec four. While a relaxed, naturally aspirated V6 and a…
Ford Focus Electric Targets 100 MPGe, Besting Nissan Leaf
Ford will significantly expand its lineup of 40 mpg or better models in 2012, launching not only the new C-Max Hybrid and Energi plug-in hybrid, but also the new Focus Electric. The Focus EV, says Ford, is expected to achieve a miles per gallon equivalent (mpge) rating of 100, besting the Nissan Leaf by a…
Ford C-Max Hybrid, C-Max Energi Plug-in Hybrid to Best Toyota Prius Rivals in Fuel Economy
Ford has announced it expects its upcoming C-Max Hybrid multi-activity vehicle to achieve an average fuel economy rating of over 42 mpg, exceeding the rating of the recently released Toyota Prius v. In addition, the C-Max Energie electric vehicle will top the Prius plug-in hybrid’s electric only mode rating of 87-mpge (miles per gallon equivalent)….
Opel Ampera Deliveries Halted Amid Chevrolet Volt Fire Investigations
Last month, GM and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the Chevy Volt’s fire hazards after the electric vehicle suffered collision. As investigations continue, GM’s Opel react by announcing the delay of Ampera deliveries throughout Europe until a solution to the defect is found. An Opel spokesman explains that Opel is, “not currently delivering the cars…
Ford Recalling 128,616 Fusions, Mercury Milans, For Wheel Defect
After encountering 30 incidents involving cracked wheel studs and steel wheels separating from the vehicles, Ford will be recalling 128,616 2010 and 2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans to fix the issue. An investigation by NHTSA led to the recall, though no injuries have been reported. Ford will notify owners of the affected vehicles, inspect them…
Buick Crossover To Debut At 2012 Detroit Auto Show
Amid news of an introduction for both the Cadillac ATS and Chevrolet Sonic RS at this year’s 2012 North American International Auto Show comes news of a third vehicle – a Buick crossover – that will also make its debut. The crossover will reportedly be based on a platform that underpins the Opel Meriva (above)…
GM Working On A Low-Cost Fix For Volt Battery
The Chevrolet Volt was a big part of the restructuring deal General Motors had with the Obama Administration, when it applied for bail-out money. Now that the vehicle is here, it is not without its problems. Sales of this plug-in hybrid have not been great, and these days, everyone is talking about the recent crash-related…
Car and Driver Announces The 10Best Cars of 2012
Car and Driver’s annual 10Best Cars awards are back and while other publications focus on the best new cars of the year, what makes Car And Driver’s 10Best unique is its consideration of all vehicles that are currently on sale. The rules of the 10Best list state that winners from the previous year get an…
Zipcar Launches Zipvan to Take On U-Haul
Zipcar’s growing success in the rental car business has encouraged the company to expand to cargo van rental services. Aiming its sights at van rental companies, U-Haul and Budget, Zipvan will have a pilot release in the San Francisco and Oakland area, beginning with a fleet of only six Ford E-150 vans in three San…
Cadillac ELR Electric Car Could Be Rear Drive
An article in Automotive News suggests that the Cadillac ELR, which will share major driveline components with the Chevrolet Volt, will actually be rear-wheel drive. The report states that the ELR has been dubbed a 2+2, meaning two small seats in the rear, similar to a Porsche 911. The Volt uses a t-shaped battery pack…
Maserati Will Launch Three Products In Quick Succession – Sergio Marchionne
Sergio Marchionne revealed Maserati‘s big plan to introduce three new products in quick succession during a recent interview at the CBI business conference held in London. The three new vehicles are a replacement luxury sedan for the Quattroporte, a smaller Maserati four-door based on the Chrysler 300, and the Maserati Kubang SUV based on the…
2012 Chevrolet Suburban Rolls Over During NHTSA Side-Impact Crash Test
s While there are merits to the safety benefits from riding in a taller, heavier vehicle, there are disadvantages as well. According to safety evaluations from NHTSA, the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban suffered a rollover during a side-impact crash test. Simulating a passenger car striking the driver’s side at 38 miles an hour, the inertia caused…
Chevrolet Move N300 Van Gets Exported To Egypt As Chinese Kit Car
GM’s Chinese-market passenger van, the Chevrolet Move N300, is suffering from slow commercial sales. Seeing a potential market for export, the ever-so-resourceful American automaker has decided to deliver 5,000 of these Chinese complete-knock-down van kits to Egypt. While Egyptian import duties has made building vehicles in North America difficult, CKD kits (Complete Knock Down) provides…
