Auto News Today
No frills, just the latest news from hundreds of the best sources.
Report: Mini wants to make JCW its BMW M, bring diesel models Stateside
Jan 27, 2012 8:30 pm
Filed under: Performance, Mini, Diesel
As far as the Mini lineup goes, the John Cooper Works models sit at the very top of the performance spectrum. But that's not enough for Mini's (relatively) new chief Kay Segler. The German auto exec came to the post from the M division of parent company... [more]
2013 SRT Viper gets Facebook tease on Monday night
Jan 27, 2012 8:29 pm
The SRT group at Chrysler is doing a little Facebook tease with the 2013 Viper. [more]
Lawmakers Say Camera Tickets Violate Innocent Until Proven Guilty -...
Jan 27, 2012 8:14 pm
Both the state House and Senate last year had unanimously approved legislation making it clear that automated ticketing machines were illegal in the state. [more]
Marchionne: Chrysler C-Segment Hatch Back On, Could Be Called 100
Jan 27, 2012 8:06 pm
The Chrysler product-planning department may want to avoid running for public office, lest they be labeled flip-floppers: After a confirmation followed by a cancellation, a Honda Civic–sized Chrysler is back in the company’s plans. Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat and Chrysler, told the... [more]
New Lingenfelter Packages For Camaro Are Sledgehammer-Subtle
Jan 27, 2012 8:00 pm
Having been on the market for nearly three years now, the Chevy Camaro may have lost some of the wow factor it enjoyed when it was new. If your Camaro is starting to feel a little too ordinary, Lingenfelter is here to help with its Signature Series Performance packages.
The tuner’s line of new... [more]
Report: Rolls-Royce sells out of million-dollar Year of the Dragon edition Phantoms in two months
Jan 27, 2012 7:45 pm
Filed under: Sedan, China, Rolls-Royce, Luxury
Think the "standard" Rolls-Royce Phantom is expensive at $380,000? Try $1.2 million on for size. That's how much the latest special-edition Phantom was going for, but the astronomic price tag hasn't prevented the (*ahem*) Rolls-Royce of automakers... [more]
Report says new Porsche 911 to use triple turbos: Autoweek TV
Jan 27, 2012 7:33 pm
Also in this episode: A sneak peak at the new SRT Viper is coming, Roger Penske is honored with the Keith Crain award and Audi brings on the vampires for a Super Bowl ad. [more]
Honda prices four-cylinder Crosstour
Jan 27, 2012 7:26 pm
Honda has announced pricing for its new four-cylinder Crosstour.
[more]
Report: Hyundai says Elantra sales to slow because factory can't keep up with demand
Jan 27, 2012 7:01 pm
Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Hyundai
Hyundai's Elantra has been on fire, with sales up 41 percent last year. The compact sedan won North American Car of the Year in January, and the icing on the cake will be a new coupe bodystyle that will soon be landing... [more]
Video Find: Suzuki Shows Kizashi is All-Wheel Drive Sled in Super Bowl Ad
Jan 27, 2012 7:00 pm
Suzuki is an oft-overlooked car brand that has spent a lot of time in its competitors’ shadows, but the Japanese automaker is getting back in the limelight and showing off the 2012 Kizashi in its newest Super Bowl commercial.
Driving in the snow can sometimes cause mayhem, but apparently,... [more]
BMW i5 will be Prius v-like hatchback
Jan 27, 2012 7:00 pm
BMW's i5 will actually be an MPV along the lines of the Toyota Prius v.
[more]
Analysts react: 'It will get tougher' to 'Ford can do surprisingly well'
Jan 27, 2012 6:54 pm
Ford reported a lower-than-expected fourth-quarter profit on Friday as operations outside North America fell short of expectations and commodity costs shot up across all regions. [more]
Feds upgrade Jeep Liberty air bag probe
Jan 27, 2012 6:52 pm
Washington- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is upgrading an investigation into nearly 390,000 Jeep Liberty SUVs for reports of inadvertent air bag deployments. [more]
BMW recalls six X5s to replace automatic transmissions
Jan 27, 2012 6:32 pm
The affected vehicles are at risk of rolling away when in "park" unless the parking brake is engaged.
[more]
Video: Matthew Broderick to reprise Ferris Bueller role in Honda Super Bowl ad?
Jan 27, 2012 6:30 pm
Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Honda, Rumormill
To the millions of Gen Xers sitting in cubicles listening to New Wave bands on Spotify, wondering how they ever got to be so out of shape, so gray, so middle-aged and so much like their parents, this little 10-second clip that... [more]
Audi's bloody Super Bowl commercial
Jan 27, 2012 6:23 pm
Am I the only one who loves getting a sneak peek at Super Bowl ads? I think not. Audi has just released a 60-second commercial it plans to air during the big game in one of the prime commercial blocks: the first break after kick-off. [more]
MyFord Mobile App Aims to Electrify EV Owners
Jan 27, 2012 6:14 pm
At CES , Ford demonstrated for Discovery News a beta version of the MyFord Mobile app it hopes will energize and empower Focus Electric drivers, by making ownership easier and more fun. [more]
On a Roll: BMW Recalls Six X5s That Could Roll Away When Parked
Jan 27, 2012 6:00 pm
BMW is recalling certain 2012 BMW X5 SUVs because of concerns that it could roll away if the parking brake is not applied.
The Problem: An error in the transmission may not allow engagement of the parking lock even if the vehicle is put into the parking gear and the “P” is displayed... [more]
Texas ups speed limit on 1,500 miles of interstate
Jan 27, 2012 5:57 pm
Drivers in Texas will soon be able to legally motor across the state a little faster on most roads.
[more]
Review: 2012 Bentley Continental GTC [w/video]
Jan 27, 2012 5:57 pm
Filed under: Convertible, Bentley, LuxuryUpdated Droptop Doesn't Compromise Driving Dynamics For Fresh Air And Sunshine
Few experiences equal the feeling of driving a new 2012 Bentley Continental GTC down a crowded Los Angeles highway - especially when the droptop is prismatic magenta with... [more]
Fiat to revive 500L nameplate for five-door 500
Jan 27, 2012 5:52 pm
Fiat's larger 500 model will be called the 500L.
[more]
Review: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 Coupe
Jan 27, 2012 5:45 pm
A two-door expands Mercedes-Benz's entry-level portfolio for 2012 and it brings with it a new four-cylinder. We check it out.
[more]
2013 Acura ILX Sedan Spy Photos, Including Interior
Jan 27, 2012 5:34 pm
Acura is less than two weeks away from revealing its production-ready ILX compact sedan at the Chicago auto show, but our spy shooters spotted a test vehicle and managed to take a clear picture of the car’s dash. The ILX concept, which appeared in January in Detroit, was an exterior buck... [more]
Video: GM launches ad campaign touting Chevy Volt safety [w/video]
Jan 27, 2012 5:33 pm
Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Safety, Hatchback, Electric
General Motors has launched an advertising campaign touting the safety of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in electric vehicle, just as its CEO testified to Congress that a recent Volt fire that took... [more]
Ford Makes $8.8 Billion Pre-Tax in 2011; $20.3 Billion Net
Jan 27, 2012 5:30 pm
DEARBORN, MICHIGAN – Ford Motor Company made net income of $20.26 billion in 2011 thanks to a one-time “special item” accounting procedure. That comes to $4.94 per share.
Strip that away and the Blue Oval’s ’11 net pre-tax profit was a healthy $8.8 billion. That’s up from $8.3... [more]
National union membership up slightly in 2011
Jan 27, 2012 5:20 pm
Union membership grew slightly last year, giving union leaders hope that a period of steep declines has finally bottomed out. [more]
2011 Toyota Sequoia Limited: Review notes: Surprising refinement for this mondo SUV
Jan 27, 2012 5:05 pm
EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: Unless your tastes run to domestics, this 2011 [more]
Ford heaviest among U.S. brands in fleet sales
Jan 27, 2012 5:02 pm
Ford sells more cars to fleet buyers than any other automaker in North America, a new report reveals.
[more]
Official: Ford reports biggest profits since '98, still fails to meet estimates
Jan 27, 2012 5:02 pm
Filed under: Europe, Ford, Earnings/Financials
Ford has announced the company's single largest profit since 1998, thanks in part to a one-time tax gain. The company drew in a net income of $13.6 billion last quarter and the news marked the automaker's 11th consecutive profitable quarter. For... [more]
Video Find: Is the Hyundai Veloster a Better Golf Cart or Rally Car?
Jan 27, 2012 5:00 pm
So you thought the 500-hp Hyundai Veloster Rally Car was only good for racing, did you? Well, like any other hard worker, the Veloster racer appreciates a relaxing round of golf to bring down the race-induced adrenaline rush.
In the following video, driver Rhys Millen and team take a Hyundai... [more]
Project Car Hell, Basket Cases Down Under Edition: Leyland P76 Targa Florio or Holden Kingswood HG?
Jan 27, 2012 5:00 pm
Last week, we made things a little too easy, with a couple of dead-simple 1960s Japanese pickups that needed just a truckload of cash, sweat and [more]
Price set for four-cylinder Honda Crosstour
Jan 27, 2012 4:52 pm
Honda on Friday announced pricing for the 2012 Honda Crosstour. [more]
Audi Super Bowl spot casts car headlights as vampire slayer
Jan 27, 2012 4:49 pm
Audi on Thursday released its Super Bowl spots from Venables, Bell and Partners, San Francisco. In it, the car's signature headlights kill a bunch of camping vampires. [more]
UAW workers authorize GM strike in Kansas
Jan 27, 2012 4:42 pm
Workers at a General Motors assembly plant in Kansas have voted in favor of authorizing a strike. [more]
Official: Honda Crosstour four-cylinder to start at $27,655*
Jan 27, 2012 4:36 pm
Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Honda
Back when Honda launched the Crosstour in 2010, it fielded questions from the media asking why it chose to forego a four-cylinder model. At the time, officials indicated that a four-cylinder would result in minimal fuel economy improvements, noting that... [more]
Russia’s Lada to build Renault-based sedan
Jan 27, 2012 4:33 pm
Russian automaker AvtoVAZ will reportedly start production of a new Renault-based sedan next month. The four-door will be sold under AvtoVAZ’s Lada brand. The development is just the latest in a growing relationship between Renault-Nissan and AvtoVAZ – Russia’s largest automaker.... [more]
This Land Rover Packs Heat: Meet The Defender Blaser Edition
Jan 27, 2012 4:30 pm
Knowing that many of its customers enjoy hunting in the great outdoors, Land Rover’s German wing has teamed up with German gun manufacturer Blaser to build a special-edition of the Defender SUV. The Land Rover Defender Blaser Edition is a special model limited to 60 examples.
The Blaser is... [more]
Next Porsche 911 Turbo to boost power, efficiency with tri-turbo setup
Jan 27, 2012 4:19 pm
Recent patent applications reveal that the next 911 Turbo will use three turbochargers.
[more]
Mulally quotes chronicle Ford's long road back
Jan 27, 2012 4:08 pm
Ford CEO Alan Mulally joined the automaker in September 2006 as the company was sliding towards a $12.6 billion loss for the year. Since then, it's been two more annual losses followed by three straight years of profit. That includes $20. [more]
We Hear: Audi Q5 TDI to Aim for Performance with Turbodiesel V-6
Jan 27, 2012 4:00 pm
With tough new CAFE standards hitting in just four short years automakers are gearing up to bring up their corporate fuel economy averages. One way that’s proven popular with German automakers is incorporating small and efficient diesel engines throughout their lineups. That’s why it’s... [more]
Report: BMW planning to slot i5 minivan into new range
Jan 27, 2012 4:00 pm
Filed under: Minivan/Van, BMW, Electric, Luxury
Imagine you're an auto exec launching a new line of cars. One's a sportscar, the other a city car - pretty much opposite extremes on the spectrum of automotive bodystyles. Do you give them alphanumeric nameplates close to one another? Of course... [more]
Grand National Roadster Show rides again
Jan 27, 2012 3:49 pm
So many great roadsters, only three days to ogle them. [more]
Ford struggles in Q4 but registers strong 2011
Jan 27, 2012 3:45 pm
Despite troubles in the European and Asian regions, Ford recorded a strong 2011.
[more]
Kia gunning for big sales boost in Europe, U.S. to offset sluggish market
Jan 27, 2012 3:44 pm
Kia is hoping that it will realize big gains in Europe.
[more]
Study: J.D. Power: More car buyers base purchases on brand reputation than ratings and reviews
Jan 27, 2012 3:29 pm
Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising
Reputation is everything, according to a new survey by J.D. Power and Associates. The 2012 Avoider Study found that 43 percent of buyers who steer clear of a particular model due to quality concerns do so merely because of common knowledge. Ratings... [more]
Fiat launches redesigned car-based Strada pickup
Jan 27, 2012 3:28 pm
The Strada gets a new look and a new engine for 2012.
[more]
Penske honored with Keith Crain award at Washington auto show
Jan 27, 2012 3:14 pm
Roger Penske, left, and Keith Crain on Thursday evening when Penske received the Keith Crain/Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award at the Washington auto show. [more]
Blaser outfits special edition Land Rover Defender for hunting
Jan 27, 2012 2:59 pm
Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Land Rover, Off-Road
The Land Rover Defender may be nearing the end of its line, but over the course of its lifetime it has become the go-to vehicle for any number of off-road applications. They're used on safaris and expeditions, by military forces and... [more]
Chevy Volt Hearings, Super Bowl Ads, 2013 Viper Teaser: Car News Headlines
Jan 27, 2012 2:55 pm
Today at High Gear Media, Lexus has revealed performance parts for the new 2013 GS 350, and we summarize the Chevrolet Volt hearings. Audi and Suzuki have released their Super Bowl ads while AAA talks about spare tires. All this and more in today's car news, right here on The Car Connection. Jeep... [more]
Penske honored with Keith Crain award at Washington auto show
Jan 27, 2012 2:38 pm
Racing and dealer magnate Roger Penske was given the Keith Crain/Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday evening at the Washington auto show. [more]
Feed Summary
- Report: Mini wants to make JCW its BMW M, bring diesel models Stateside
- 2013 SRT Viper gets Facebook tease on Monday night
- Lawmakers Say Camera Tickets Violate Innocent Until Proven Guilty -...
- Marchionne: Chrysler C-Segment Hatch Back On, Could Be Called 100
- New Lingenfelter Packages For Camaro Are Sledgehammer-Subtle
- Report: Rolls-Royce sells out of million-dollar Year of the Dragon edition Phantoms in two months
- Report says new Porsche 911 to use triple turbos: Autoweek TV
- Honda prices four-cylinder Crosstour
- Report: Hyundai says Elantra sales to slow because factory can't keep up with demand
- Video Find: Suzuki Shows Kizashi is All-Wheel Drive Sled in Super Bowl Ad
- BMW i5 will be Prius v-like hatchback
- Analysts react: 'It will get tougher' to 'Ford can do surprisingly well'
- Feds upgrade Jeep Liberty air bag probe
- BMW recalls six X5s to replace automatic transmissions
- Video: Matthew Broderick to reprise Ferris Bueller role in Honda Super Bowl ad?
- Audi's bloody Super Bowl commercial
- MyFord Mobile App Aims to Electrify EV Owners
- On a Roll: BMW Recalls Six X5s That Could Roll Away When Parked
- Texas ups speed limit on 1,500 miles of interstate
- Review: 2012 Bentley Continental GTC [w/video]
- Fiat to revive 500L nameplate for five-door 500
- Review: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 Coupe
- 2013 Acura ILX Sedan Spy Photos, Including Interior
- Video: GM launches ad campaign touting Chevy Volt safety [w/video]
- Ford Makes $8.8 Billion Pre-Tax in 2011; $20.3 Billion Net
- National union membership up slightly in 2011
- 2011 Toyota Sequoia Limited: Review notes: Surprising refinement for this mondo SUV
- Ford heaviest among U.S. brands in fleet sales
- Official: Ford reports biggest profits since '98, still fails to meet estimates
- Video Find: Is the Hyundai Veloster a Better Golf Cart or Rally Car?
- Project Car Hell, Basket Cases Down Under Edition: Leyland P76 Targa Florio or Holden Kingswood HG?
- Price set for four-cylinder Honda Crosstour
- Audi Super Bowl spot casts car headlights as vampire slayer
- UAW workers authorize GM strike in Kansas
- Official: Honda Crosstour four-cylinder to start at $27,655*
- Russia’s Lada to build Renault-based sedan
- This Land Rover Packs Heat: Meet The Defender Blaser Edition
- Next Porsche 911 Turbo to boost power, efficiency with tri-turbo setup
- Mulally quotes chronicle Ford's long road back
- We Hear: Audi Q5 TDI to Aim for Performance with Turbodiesel V-6
- Report: BMW planning to slot i5 minivan into new range
- Grand National Roadster Show rides again
- Ford struggles in Q4 but registers strong 2011
- Kia gunning for big sales boost in Europe, U.S. to offset sluggish market
- Study: J.D. Power: More car buyers base purchases on brand reputation than ratings and reviews
- Fiat launches redesigned car-based Strada pickup
- Penske honored with Keith Crain award at Washington auto show
- Blaser outfits special edition Land Rover Defender for hunting
- Chevy Volt Hearings, Super Bowl Ads, 2013 Viper Teaser: Car News Headlines
- Penske honored with Keith Crain award at Washington auto show