Mini to begin production at former Mitsubishi plant in second half of 2014Nov. 28, 2012 21:26 CET Production of new Mini models at a former Mitsubishi plant in the Netherlands will begin in the second half of 2014, a senior company executive said. Harald Krueger said that the company will decide in the coming months which models it will source from the former NedCar plant in Born, Netherlands.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Fiat bets on 500e to challenge Nissan's Leaf 9:34 am U.S. ET | Nov. 28, 2012  Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is no champion of electric vehicles. But if he must produce one to appease California regulators, he won't mess with an Italian icon. After returning to the U.S. with its 500 subcompact in 2010, Fiat introduced an electric version at the Los Angeles Auto Show today. Chrysler Group will begin selling the battery-powered 500e next year.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Toyota RAV4 slimmed down, simplified for 2013 makeover 12:30 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 28, 2012  The Toyota RAV4, the first compact crossover to arrive in the United States, is getting slimmed down and simplified for the 2013 model year as the automaker strives to gain more ground in a booming segment. After its debut in 1996, the RAV4 quickly established itself as a strong seller. Other automakers have improved the family crossover recipe in recent years and passed Toyota even as overall compact crossover demand continues to rise.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Lentz: Toyota to push hybrids, hydrogen over EVs 3:41 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 28, 2012  Toyota will introduce 21 new or redesigned hybrid vehicles worldwide by the end of 2015 while limiting investment in electric cars, the company's U.S. chief said. Speaking at the Los Angeles Auto Show today, Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., said hybrids currently account for 3.4 percent of industry sales and 14 percent of Toyota sales.... Read More »
Ford to upgrade, extend warranty on MyFord touch-screen system 4:20 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 28, 2012  Ford will upgrade and extend the warranty by two years on its MyFord Touch system following a series of consumer complaints and poor reviews of the automaker's touch-screen entertainment and navigation system. Ford has improved the voice recognition capability and navigation in what it calls "version 3.5" of the software, Mark Fields, Ford's head of the Americas, said on Wednesday. Ford will offer the first wave of updates to some users on Dec. 10.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Acura to offer four-wheel steering on RLX flagship 5:58 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 28, 2012  Acura's redesigned RLX flagship sedan will come with an advanced four-wheel steering system and an optional hybrid powertrain when it arrives in early 2013. The 2014 RLX will replace the RL, which is phasing out as a 2012 model. The RLX will feature Honda Motor's proprietary Precision All-Wheel Steering system, which allows the rear wheels to have independent toe control during cornering.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Kia beefs up Forte sedan for 2014 4:30 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 28, 2012  Kia is beefing up the Forte compact sedan and loading it with upscale features for 2014. The redesigned Forte -- introduced today at the Los Angeles Auto Show -- sits lower, longer and wider than the 2013 version and rides on a new platform.... Read More »
LUCA CIFERRI The not so prophetic story of the Fiat 500L 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 28, 2012  The Fiat 500L small minivan, which has its North American debut today at the Los Angeles auto show, is built in Serbia in a factory that once produced Yugo cars. Unusually for a car-manufacturing nation, only 1 percent of the production will be sold at home. The rest will go to other parts of Europe and to global markets including the United States.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW New Porsche Cayman two-seater is lighter and larger 2:30 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 28, 2012  The renewal of Porsche's sportscar lineup continues with the unveiling today of a larger and lighter second-generation Cayman here at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The mid-engined coupe, which adopts a redesigned platform offering improved weight distribution as well as a series of weight-saving measures, is planned to go on sale in North America next spring.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Hyundai's Veloster-based C3 concept combines a convertible with a utility 12:30 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 28, 2012  Hyundai revealed a Veloster-based concept that is part convertible, part mini-ute today at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Hyundai's designers in the United States created the vehicle, dubbed the C3 concept, by replacing a production Veloster Turbo's roof and rear liftgate with a rear tailgate that connects to a canvas roll top.... Read More »
LUCA CIFERRI The not so prophetic story of the Fiat 500L 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 28, 2012  The Fiat 500L small minivan, which has its North American debut today at the Los Angeles auto show, is built in Serbia in a factory that once produced Yugo cars. Unusually for a car-manufacturing nation, only 1 percent of the production will be sold at home. The rest will go to other parts of Europe and to global markets including the United States.... Read More »
BMW's EV boss says i3 is no 'niche' modelNov. 28, 2012 11:07 CET  BMW unveiled the i3 coupe concept, another variant of its i electric car subbrand, at the Los Angeles auto show today. The BMW executive in charge of the i subbrand, Ulrich Kranz, spoke about why the i3 is not a niche product and about the use of lightweight, expensive carbon fiber as a construction material.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW BMW expands i-brand lineup with 3-door conceptNov. 28, 2012 06:01 CET  BMW has provided the clearest hint yet that its lineup of i-brand electric vehicles will expand beyond the three models already confirmed for production with the unveiling of a three-door version of the i3 at the Los Angeles auto show.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Nissan hawks a hotter GT-R 2:28 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 27, 2012  Nissan has re-engineered the 2014 GT-R in a bid to restoke U.S. sales of the high-end sports car -- but also with an eye toward improving its lap times at Germany's Nurburgring racetrack next spring.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW BMW expands i-brand lineup with 3-door concept 3:06 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 27, 2012  BMW has provided the clearest hint yet that its lineup of i-brand electric vehicles will expand beyond the three models already confirmed for production with the unveiling of a three-door version of the i3 for the Los Angeles Auto Show.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Automakers tout safety technology with Web campaign 2:43 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 27, 2012  To go along with the glitzy debuts of the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, the largest trade group for automakers in the United States has started an online campaign touting high-tech features aimed at helping drivers avoid crashes.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Chrysler's new minivan goes upscale 1:03 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 27, 2012  Chrysler Group, which popularized the minivan nearly 30 years ago, will showcase an upscale version of its Chrysler Town & Country family minivan at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW 2014 Chevrolet Impala to use new MyLink 12:40 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 27, 2012  The redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Impala sedan will be the first vehicle to use the brand's second-generation version of the MyLink infotainment system, complete with new software and user interface.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Ford adds options, refinement to 2014 Fiesta 11:16 am U.S. ET | Nov. 27, 2012  Believing that customers increasingly want sophistication even in the smallest cars, Ford will offer the 2014 Fiesta with more refinement and more options in powertrains and infotainment than the 2013 version.... Read More »
Fiat has no plans to sell 500 electric car in EuropeNov. 27, 2012 10:46 CET  Fiat will not sell its 500e electric car in Europe, Fiat global brand boss Olivier Francois said.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW GM touts Spark EV as fun for urban driving -- not as regulatory check mark 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 27, 2012  GM is launching an electric version of its Chevrolet Spark minicar as a green, fun-to-drive option for urban dwellers -- not to “check a regulatory box,” GM product chief Mary Barra insists.... Read More »
L.A. Auto Show Preview 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 26, 2012  Honda's Civic redo, Ford's people-mover version of the Transit Connect and a redesigned Subaru Forester will be among the attention-getters at the Los Angeles Auto Show that begins this week. And most of that attention will focus on their passenger compartments.... Read More »
Honda Civic's interior makeover debuts in L.A. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 19, 2012  Eighteen months after the redesigned 2012 Civic's interior layout and materials were greeted with a chorus of boos, Honda engineers are back with the fix.... Read More »
2012 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Mercedes Ener-G-Force: The shape of SUVs to come? 1:47 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 15, 2012  The Mercedes Energ-G-Force, which will debut at the Los Angeles auto show, could be the shape of Mercedes SUVs to come.... Read More »
L.A. AUTO SHOW Ford aims anti-minivan at the under-30 crowd 6:10 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 13, 2012  Ford is planning a seven-passenger vehicle aimed at young families that features sliding doors and enough interior space to hold some 465 soccer balls. But don't call it a minivan.... Read More »
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