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February 2012

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Hertz First to Trial Wireless EV Recharging

Hertz First to Trial Wireless EV Recharging

The Hertz Corporation and Hertz Global EV are implementing the first wireless charging system for electric vehicles (EVs) in the car rental industry. Hertz has the most diverse fleet of EVs for both rental and carshare. "Hertz is committed to its Global EV program, introducing electric vehicles into our rental fleet on ... Continue reading

Ram Launches New Luxury Model Laramie Limited at Chicago Auto Show +VIDEO

Ram Launches New Luxury Model Laramie Limited at Chicago Auto Show +VIDEO

CHICAGO - February 8, 2012: For 2012, Ram Truck will expand its model lineup by adding the new, top-of-the-line Ram Laramie Limited. "The Ram Truck brand's greatest strengths are our commitment to listen to customers and to understand what motivates them," said Fred Diaz, President and CEO, Ram Truck Brand - Chrysler ... Continue reading

Ford eNews -- Feb. 8, 2012

Ford eNews -- Feb. 8, 2012

Shelby GT500 convertible blasts into the Windy City in celebration of SVT The official launch of SVT came at the 1992 Chicago Auto Show with the unveiling of the 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra and SVT F-150 Lightning. Now, Ford returns to Chicago to celebrate the past and look to the future with the 2013 Shelby GT500 convertib ... Continue reading

All-New 2013 Mazda CX-5 Named Best Small Utility Vehicle by MotorWeek

All-New 2013 Mazda CX-5 Named Best Small Utility Vehicle by MotorWeek

The latest arrival to the Zoom-Zoom family and the first to fully incorporate the full suite of SKYACTIV technologies, the all-new 2013 CX-5 has earned Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) its 16th overall Drivers' Choice Award, as announced by MotorWeek at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. Expected to go on sale in early ... Continue reading

2012 Dodge Durango Receives MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award at the Chicago Auto Show

2012 Dodge Durango Receives MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award at the Chicago Auto Show

2012 Dodge Durango earns MotorWeek Drivers' Choice award (shared with Jeep Grand Cherokee) Dodge brand January 2012 sales increase 29 percent; best January since 2008 Dodge Durango January 2012 sales jump 152 percent The year may be young, but Dodge brand vehicles are continuing to gain momentum, earning recognition fr ... Continue reading

Subaru Impreza Wins 2012 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award for Best Compact Car

Subaru Impreza Wins 2012 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award for Best Compact Car

Subaru of America, Inc. was awarded the 2012 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award for Best Compact Car at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The award comes on the heels of strong sales results from Subaru. The brand set a sales record in 2011 and has started 2012 with sales up 21% over the previous year. ... Continue reading

Jeep Vehicles Earn Four More Awards

Jeep Vehicles Earn Four More Awards

2012 Jeep Wrangler wins "Total Cost of Ownership" award from Kelley Blue Book and "Best Resale" award from Kiplinger's Personal Finance 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee captures MotorWeek Drivers' Choice award (shared with Dodge Durango), as well as recognition from Kiplinger's Personal Finance Grand Cherokee sales up 40 perce ... Continue reading

Nissan NV200 Compact Cargo Van and 2013 Nissan 370Z Debut at Chicago Auto Show

Nissan NV200 Compact Cargo Van and 2013 Nissan 370Z Debut at Chicago Auto Show

Three key future Nissan vehicles -- the all-new 2013 Nissan NV200 compact cargo van, the revised 2013 Nissan 370Z sports car and the Pathfinder Concept, a preview of the re-imagined 2013 Nissan Pathfinder -- share the spotlight at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, which runs Feb. 10 -- 19 at McCormick Place. "The Chicago Met ... Continue reading

2012 Chicago Auto Show Keynote Speeches +VIDEO

2012 Chicago Auto Show Keynote Speeches +VIDEO

CHICAGO – February 8, 2012: The Chicago Auto Show's Media Day featured two keynote speeches. The first was presented by during the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) Breakfast Meeting. The second presentation was made by during The Economic Club of Chicago's Luncheon. You can watch the complete keynotes a ... Continue reading

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 - MotorWeek's 2012 Drivers' Choice Best of the Year

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 - MotorWeek's 2012 Drivers' Choice Best of the Year

A thoroughly modern muscle car that remains true to its legendary heritage, the Ford Mustang Boss 302 roars past the competition, capturing MotorWeek's "Best of the Year" 2012 Drivers' Choice Award. MotorWeek, television's longest running automotive series, has presented its Drivers' Choice Awards annually since 1983. ... Continue reading

Toyota Announces Pricing for 2012 Prius c

Toyota Announces Pricing for 2012 Prius c

TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 8, 2012 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. today announced manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the all-new 2012 Prius c which extends Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive to the subcompact segment. This dynamically styled, five-door hatchback will arrive at Toyota deal ... Continue reading

Toyota to Increase Highlander Output, Including Hybrid and Exports, in Indiana

Toyota to Increase Highlander Output, Including Hybrid and Exports, in Indiana

ERLANGER, Ky. (Feb. 8, 2012) – Toyota will increase production of the Highlander mid-size SUV in late 2013 at the company’s Princeton, Ind. plant. Hybrid and export versions will be included. ... Continue reading

Midwest Automotive Media Association Names Volkswagen Passat 2012 Family Vehicle of the Year +VIDEO

Midwest Automotive Media Association Names Volkswagen Passat 2012 Family Vehicle of the Year +VIDEO

Chicago, Illinois February 8, 2011; The Midwest Automotive Media Association announced today that the 2012 Volkswagen Passat has been named the winner of its second annual Family Vehicle of the Year award. The Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), a nonprofit group of automotive journalists and public relations ... Continue reading

Yoshimi Inaba, President of Toyota USA: It's A Good Time To Be In The Auto Business

Yoshimi Inaba, President of Toyota USA: It's A Good Time To Be In The Auto Business

An ebullient and eloquent Yoshimi Inaba, President of Toyota Motor North America said during his luncheon speech at The Economic Club of Chicago, held at the 2012 Chicago Auto show in McCormick Place, “its a good time to be in the auto business”. His positive remarks included Toyota's announcement that produc ... Continue reading

Nissan NV200 Compact Cargo Van Offers a Large Cargo Space Within a Small Footprint +VIDEO

Nissan NV200 Compact Cargo Van Offers a Large Cargo Space Within a Small Footprint +VIDEO

The all-new Nissan NV200 Compact Cargo Van, which makes its North American debut at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, is set to join the growing lineup of Nissan Commercial Vehicles in early 2013 at 300 Nissan Commercial Vehicle dealerships nationwide. The NV200 follows the full-size Nissan NV Cargo, introduced in spring 201 ... Continue reading

New 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible Roars into Chicago Auto Show +VIDEO

New 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible Roars into Chicago Auto Show +VIDEO

New Ford Shelby GT500 convertible makes its debut at the Chicago Auto Show, serving as the celebratory vehicle of the 20th anniversary of Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) The newest Shelby GT500 convertible with the optional Performance Package is nearly 3.5 seconds faster than the outgoing model at Sebring Inter ... Continue reading

Kia Reveals Track'ster Concept Car at 2012 Chicago Auto Show +VIDEO

Kia Reveals Track'ster Concept Car at 2012 Chicago Auto Show +VIDEO

CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2012 -- What happens when a dream becomes reality? In the case of the Kia Track'ster concept unveiled at today's Chicago Auto Show, car enthusiasts begin to salivate. Amid the driving rhythm of heavy-metal music, smoke and blinding lights, Kia Motors America (KMA) took the wraps off a performance-orien ... Continue reading

Kia Announces Production Schedule for New Optima SX Limited at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Kia Announces Production Schedule for New Optima SX Limited at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

The ultra-popular midsize Kia Optima sedan again turned heads today at the Chicago Auto Show when Kia Motors America (KMA) revealed production plans for a new range-topping Limited. The Limited, which will begin production at Kia's U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia[1] later this month, builds on the Optim ... Continue reading

Audi Named Best Luxury Brand for Total Cost of Ownership by Kelley Blue Book

Audi Named Best Luxury Brand for Total Cost of Ownership by Kelley Blue Book

Audi today announced that it is the recipient of three inaugural Total Cost of Ownership awardsfrom Kelley Blue Book's, including Best Luxury Brand overall. The 2012 Total Cost of Ownership Awards honors the vehicles and brands with the projected lowest average Total Cost of Ownership during the initial five-year owner ... Continue reading

Honda Delivers 2013 Fit EV to Google and Stanford University

Honda Delivers 2013 Fit EV to Google and Stanford University

Honda recently delivered 2013 Fit EV battery-electric vehicles to Google Inc. and Stanford University as a part of the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program. Along with the city of Torrance, Calif., each participant is now conducting general testing as well as providing specific feedback related to the future in ... Continue reading

Monster Jam Roars Into Chicago, Expecting Sell-Out Crowds

Monster Jam Roars Into Chicago, Expecting Sell-Out Crowds

Feb. 8 WHAT: The world's most famous monster trucks, mammoth custom-designed machines with names like Grave Digger®, El Toro Logo®, and Monster Mutt®, averaging 12 feet tall by 12 feet wide, capable of short, high-powered bursts of speed up to 100 miles per hour and flights 35 feet in the air. WHEN/WHERE: 9:00 - 1 ... Continue reading

Motor Trend YouTube Channel Debuts With Eight Original Automotive Programs

Motor Trend YouTube Channel Debuts With Eight Original Automotive Programs

Source Interlink Media (SIM) announced today the launch of the Motor Trend YouTube Channel making original and compelling automotive content available to online audiences immediately. The Motor Trend Channel is part of YouTube's rollout of around 100 new original content channels throughout the year. 'Though a common t ... Continue reading

Kia Motors achieves 3.3 percent global sales growth in January

Kia Motors achieves 3.3 percent global sales growth in January

Kia Motors records 3.3% global sales growth in January - 185,284 Kia vehicles sold globally in January for 3.3% year-on- year growth - January sales in Europe and North America post year-on-year sales growth of 33.2% and 27.4%, respectively (SEOUL) February 8, 2012 -- Kia Motors Corporation announced today its global s ... Continue reading

Walter P. Chrysler Museum Launches New Web Site

Walter P. Chrysler Museum Launches New Web Site

The nonprofit Walter P. Chrysler Museum, in Auburn Hills, Mich., has launched a bold, new Web site at www.wpchryslermuseum.org. The site features significantly improved navigation, beginning with home page tabs and links from which all Museum programs, exhibitions and events, as well as Chrysler's rich heritage, are di ... Continue reading

New 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible Helps SVT Mark Its 20th Anniversary

New 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible Helps SVT Mark Its 20th Anniversary

New Ford Shelby GT500 convertible makes its debut at the Chicago Auto Show, serving as the celebratory vehicle of the 20th anniversary of Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) The newest Shelby GT500 convertible with the optional Performance Package is nearly 3.5 seconds faster than the outgoing model at Sebring Internatio ... Continue reading

2013 GMC Acadia Three-Row Crossover Unveiled at Chicago Auto Show +VIDEO

2013 GMC Acadia Three-Row Crossover Unveiled at Chicago Auto Show +VIDEO

New exterior design highlighted by signature LED lighting Refined interior with soft-touch materials, accent stitching and ambient lighting Rear vision camera standard; industry-exclusive front center air bag available CHICAGO - February 8, 2012: GMC today unveiled the new 2013 Acadia and Acadia Denali at the Chicago A ... Continue reading

Second Shift Added to Toyota's Mississippi, U.S. Plant

Second Shift Added to Toyota's Mississippi, U.S. Plant

Toyota City, Japan Feb 7, 2012; Toyota Motor Corporation announces that Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS), its vehicle manufacturing plant in Mississippi, United States, added a second shift to its production operations on February 6 (local time). The two-shift operations bring TMMMS to the planned ... Continue reading

Toyota Announces Financial Results for Nine Months

Toyota Announces Financial Results for Nine Months

Tokyo, Feb 7, 2012; Toyota Motor Corporation announced financial results for the nine months ended December 31, 2011. On a consolidated basis, net revenues for the nine months totaled 12,881.1 billion yen, a decrease of 10.2 percent compared to the same period last fiscal year. Operating income decreased from 422.1 bil ... Continue reading

Suzuki in Fuel Cell Tie-up with Britain's Intelligent Energy

Suzuki in Fuel Cell Tie-up with Britain's Intelligent Energy

Tokyo, Feb 7, 2012; Suzuki Motor Corporation will establish a joint venture company, SMILE FC System Corporation, for developing and manufacturing fuel cell systems with Intelligent Energy Holdings PLC (IEH) of the UK, a company which retains an affiliate company, Intelligent Energy Ltd. (IE), that develops the fuel ce ... Continue reading

Hyundai Adds Sport Coupe Variant to its Award-Winning Elantra Line-Up

Hyundai Adds Sport Coupe Variant to its Award-Winning Elantra Line-Up

CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2012 -- Hyundai today introduced a new sport coupe variant to its industry-leading Elantra line-up at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. This two-door coupe model of the Elantra sedan, available this spring, will attract even more buyers to the Elantra line-up, further expanding its appeal to savvy consumers. ... Continue reading

Hyundai Elantra GT Makes North American Debut at 2012 Chicago Auto Show +VIDEO

Hyundai Elantra GT Makes North American Debut at 2012 Chicago Auto Show +VIDEO

CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2012 -- Hyundai Motor America today introduced the all-new 2013 Elantra GT in a North American debut at the Chicago Auto Show. Elantra GT brings five-door functionality and European driving dynamics to the expanding Elantra lineup and is slated to hit dealerships this summer. The lineup now includes El ... Continue reading

Aveo The Star Of The Show At Euro NCAP

Aveo The Star Of The Show At Euro NCAP

A Chevrolet has always been a safe investment for cost-conscious car buyers, but the latest line-up offers safety in more ways than one. ... Continue reading

Vauxhall Reveals Geneva Show Stars

Vauxhall Reveals Geneva Show Stars

Vauxhall is to unveil a brace of stunning new models and a groundbreaking concept car at this year's Geneva Show, which opens to press on March 6. ... Continue reading

Kia Unveils Three and Four-Door Siblings to Five-Door

Kia Unveils Three and Four-Door Siblings to Five-Door

The all-new fourth generation Kia Rio 5-door which landed on showroom floors throughout Australia in September 2011, is being joined by its 3 and 4-door siblings. ... Continue reading

Sledgehammer Time: The New BMW M5

Sledgehammer Time: The New BMW M5

For more than 25 years the BMW M5 Sedan has defined the high-performance Sedan segment, in the process becoming the most successful car of its type in the world. Now a new fifth-generation model raises the concept of the premium executive Sedan combining track-car dynamics and supreme touring comfort to an even higher ... Continue reading

Kelley Blue Book Announces Inaugural Total Cost of Ownership

Kelley Blue Book Announces Inaugural Total Cost of Ownership

COMPARE: Total Cost of Ownership SEE ALSO:Kelley Blue Book Can Make Buyers Blue and The Dealer Green (With Your Cash) Top 2012 Models, Brands Honored for Lowest Projected Costs during Initial Five-Year Ownership Period IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 8, 2012 -- Kelley Blue Book, www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new and used v ... Continue reading

GMC Press Conference at 2012 Chicago Auto Show 10:15AM EST - LIVE VIDEO

GMC Press Conference at 2012 Chicago Auto Show 10:15AM EST - LIVE VIDEO

Watch it right here on The Auto Channel CHICAGO - February 8, 2012: The GMC Press Conference will be broadcast live today at 10:15AM New York time, 7:15 Los Angeles time. An archived version of the video presentation will then be available for on-demand playback shortly after the conclusion of the live event. ... Continue reading

Chrysler Relaunches Brand In The UK With £10 Million Advertising Campaign

Chrysler Relaunches Brand In The UK With £10 Million Advertising Campaign

Chrysler UK is preparing to relaunch the brand in this country with a powerful new series of advertisements that draw upon its gritty, urban reputation. ... Continue reading

Special Valentine's Day Collection - Damiani For Maserati

Special Valentine's Day Collection - Damiani For Maserati

For Valentine's Day Maserati has teamed up, for the second time, with leading Italian jeweller Damiani, to develop three new collections which perfectly combine style and technology, core values of both brands ... Continue reading

The New Fiat Panda - Yours For Under £9000

The New Fiat Panda - Yours For Under £9000

Fiat Group Automobiles UK Ltd has just announced prices of the eagerly awaited new Fiat Panda, which goes on sale here at the end of this month (February). ... Continue reading

BMW Group Reveals Winning Design For Olympic Pavilion

BMW Group Reveals Winning Design For Olympic Pavilion

BMW Group, Official Automotive Partner to the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, today revealed the winning design for its pavilion at the Olympic Park. ... Continue reading

Pick Up In Demand Sees Isuzu UK Top European Sales Charts

Pick Up In Demand Sees Isuzu UK Top European Sales Charts

Sales of Isuzu pick-up vehicles in the UK rose by 11 per cent last year, putting the UK market firmly at the top of the brand's European sales chart. ... Continue reading

Vauxhall Special Vehicles Goes Nordic

Vauxhall Special Vehicles Goes Nordic

Vauxhall Special Vehicles accompanied the Association of Chief Police Officers Intelligent Transport Systems (ACPO ITS) to the Norwegian Police Conference in Oslo in January to demonstrate the Single Vehicle Architecture fitted to its Astra and Insignia models. ... Continue reading

John Hayes, MP Meets Ferrari North Europe Apprentices At SMMT Apprenticeship Week Reception

John Hayes, MP Meets Ferrari North Europe Apprentices At SMMT Apprenticeship Week Reception

Ferrari North Europe supported the SMMT reception to mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week, which was attended by Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, John Hayes, MP. ... Continue reading

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