suv
White House Taking Credit For Auto Industry Recovery
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A statement released today by the White House seemed to take credit for the resurgence of the American auto industry, with President Obama’s bailout plan credited as the driving force behind it. “When President Obama took office, the American automobile industry was on the brink of collapse,” said the National Economic Council, in a prepared statement. “Two years…
Future Of Toyota Matrix In Doubt, Even With Strong Sales in Canada
With Matrix sales slumping in the U.S, Toyota may not invest in a next-generation version when the 2013 Corolla hits dealerships. Only 14,592 Toyota Matrix’s were sold last year in the U.S which is down from 66,836 units in 2002. Matrix sales are still doing well in Canada, but Corolla sales are double that of…
eBay Find: Jeep Wrangler Jurassic Park Edition
A Jurassic Park Jeep Sahara Edition Wrangler replica was up for grabs earlier on eBay and it looks pretty sweet. The graphics are painted on, instead of vinyl use, giving it better longevity. There’s even a pretty cool light bar that is still functional with each of the four lights being controlled by individual joysticks mounted to…
2012 Jeep Wrangler to Get More Powerful and Efficient Pentastar V6, 5-Speed Auto
The Jeep Wrangler will finally get the Chrysler 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 for the 2012 model year. Since 2007, the Wrangler has used the 3.8-liter V6 engine, which replaced the bullet proof 4.0-liter inline six. New transmission hardware has also arrived for the Wrangler as it will forgo the ancient four speed automatic for a five-speed…
Toyota Hands Over Development Clout to U.S. Operations
Toyota is taking product development authority away from Japanese bosses and putting it in the hands of North American executives as part of a larger change aimed at fixing quality control issues that hurt the automaker’s reputation last year. Until now, vehicles produced and designed and developed in North America had to be approved by…
Audi To Abandon V12, V8 TDI Diesel Engines
Audi is set to abandon its Q7 V12 TDI due to slow sales and rapidly advancing diesel technology in their smaller displacement motors. The current V12 TDI makes 500 horsepower and 738 lb-ft, and is widely considered to be one of the most impressive SUVs on the market. But with Audi’s V6 TDI making a…
BMW X3M To Debut In 2012, Dubious Rumors Of Electric Turbos Persist
Electric turbochargers are the snake oil of automotive technology. Often times, these contraptions (seen above), which resemble something sold at a boat shop, are peddled on Ebay with dubious claims regarding horsepower and fuel economy gains. But a report out of Britain suggests that BMW‘s upcoming X3M will be powered by a new tri-turbo straight-six…
The Cadillac Escalade Ranked First For Vehicle Satisfaction
The Cadillac Escalade was ranked first among all models in the AutoPacific’s 2011 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards as well as topping the Luxury SUV segment for the fourth consecutive year. 68,000 owners of new cars and light trucks completed a survey in the U.S selecting the Escalade as the top choice. “It’s especially gratifying to be honored by…
As Gas Hits $4 Per Gallon, Demand For Hybrid Cars Soars
With the average price for a gallon of gasoline above $4, many American drivers are looking to dump the family gas-guzzler as quickly as possible and buy a more fuel efficient hybrid. But according to Jeff Bartlett, deputy online automotive editor at Consumer Reports, this is the worst time to do so. With so many…
Jeep Hires Lenny Kravitz To Boost Sales
Jeep has just hired and filmed a commercial with Lenny Kravitz to give the brand a new cool look. The commercial features Lenny Kravitz off- roading in the backwoods in a 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. The commercial also features Lenny Kravitz’s new song from his album “Rock Star City Life”. Check out the video for…
2012 Kia Sorento to Get Optional 2.4L Direct-Injection Engine and UVO Infotainment System
The 2012 Kia Sorento will get an optional 2.4-liter GDI direct-injection four-cylinder engine and the company’s hands-free UVO infotainment system. The company is hoping these two features will appeal to Ford consumers. The Sorento will also have available options including Kia’s YES Essential seat treatment, which makes the seats resistant to stains and static electricity. The…
Feds Investigate Ford Freestyle For Unintended Lunging
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating 170,000 2005 through 2007 model year Ford Freestyle’s after 18 crashes caused by “lunging.” No injuries have been attributed to the abnormal vehicle behavior, however. The Ford Freestyle abnormally lunges forward even when drivers didn’t have their feet on the gas pedal says the reports. Hitting the…
Ford Explorer Selling Briskly Despite Criticism
Car enthusiasts may have lamented its switch from a truck to a car platform, and magazines like Motor Trend and Consumer Reports have slammed it, but consumers have really taken to the Ford Explorer. While sales figures weren’t available at the time of publication, Ford reports that 43.5 percent of Explorer sales are conquests, and…
Audi Q5 RS Mule Spied
The Audi Q5 crossover seems like an unlikely candidate for the “RS” treatment, but this mule, spotted wearing some big wheels and a faux TDI badge, seems to suggest that Audi is getting serious with the idea of a rapid version of the Q5. The vehicle’s cover was blown by the quad exhaust pipes, which…
Toyota To Donate Cars To 100 Non-Profit Groups Via Facebook Vote
Toyota is launching its “100 Cars for Good” program, where the company will donate 100 cars to various non-profit groups. Facebook users will choose which groups will receive the vehicles via a voting process. The winning organizations will get to choose from a selection of vehicles, including the Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Highlander Hybrid, Sienna or Sienna Mobility. The…
GMC To Move Further Upscale
General Motors has done a commendable job differentiating GMC and Chevrolet even though they share many of the same designs. As proof, one could compare the Terrain to the Equinox or the Acadia to the Traverse and see they share the same underpinnings yet each has a distinctive look. Mark Reuss, GM President in North…
Land Rover Defender EV Built For Safari Driving
Land Rover South Africa has taken the brand’s iconic Defender off-roader and converted one to run on fully electric power, with an 80 horsepower motor good for 63 miles of silent, emissions free driving at speeds of up to 37 mph. The Defender EV also retains a full four-wheel drive system despite its electric drivetrain….
Dartz ‘Prombron Iron Diamond’ SUV Built Exclusively for Women
Ladies, don’t you hate it when you show up to your kid’s soccer game in the same SUV that all the other moms are driving? And are you tired of always being shot at as you run your daily errands? Dartz has heard your concerns and has come up with a solution – the Prombron…
Toyota Canada Warns Dealers Of Chaotic Summer Due To Tight Supplies
Toyota Canada has cut its sales projections by a third and warned dealers that the supply of new vehicles is starting to be choked off as the company feels the effects of the March 11th earthquake that rocked northern Japan. While Toyota sent two memos to dealers regarding the revised sales forecast, the company refused…
856,000 GM SUVs Under Investigation For Faulty Fuel Gauges
Federal regulators are investigating 865,000 General Motors SUVs, including the 2005-’07 Chevrolet Trailblazer and Buick Rainier,for faulty fuel gauges that are inaccurate. The 2005-’06 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT, the 2005-’07 GMC Envoy, the 2005-’06 GMC Envoy XL and the 2005-’07 Saab 9-7X are also affected vehicles being investigated. 668 complaints regarding the vehicles having defective fuel gauge readings…
Two Special Edition Mercedes- Benz G-Class Models Announced
Two new special editions of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class have been announced. The “Edition Select” is a $9,513 trim package for the long-wheelbase mode. It is recognizable by a two-tone paint scheme, a sporty AMG exhaust and black 18-inch alloy rims. The interior features two-tone Designo leather and piano black wood trim. The second special edition…
2012 Honda CR-V Delayed, Civic To See Limited Production
Honda will delay the launch of their next generation CR-V crossover due to continued production delays, and supplies of their 2012 Civic will also be delayed as Honda’s North American production continues to run at well below capacity amid the after effects of Japan’s natural disasters. In a letter to Honda’s dealers, U.S. executive vice-president…
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 Exhaust Note Revealed [Video]
Our friends over at Left Lane News have grabbed the first video of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 clearing its pipes, and just like the last version, it sounds downright mean. Unveiled at the 2011 New York Auto Show, the fastest Jeep packs a 6.4L Hemi V8 with 465 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of…
NHTSA Investigating Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner For Shattering Glass
NHTSA is investigating the 2010-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner for a rear window that could potentially shatter. So far, the government agency has received 18 complaints regarding the rear window shattering when the tailgate is opened or closed. 200,000 Escape and Mariner vehicles will now be investigated, and Ford has issued a service bulletin regarding the…
