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July 2011

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Friday, July 1, 2011

U.S. Auto Sales June 2011 Still Weak

U.S. Auto Sales June 2011 Still Weak

DETROIT July 1, 2011; Deepa Seetharaman and Ben Klayman writing for Reuters reported that General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and the big Japanese automakers reported weaker-than-expected sales in June as buyers remained cautious due to the weak economy and tight supply of cars. Consumers were faced with higher prices for ... Continue reading

American Suzuki June 2011 Sales Up 12 Percent

American Suzuki June 2011 Sales Up 12 Percent

2011 Suzuki Auto Product Line Suzuki is proud to offer the most affordable all-wheel-drive lineup available in the U.S. and maintains a versatile array of vehicles, including the spirited SX4 Sport sedan, multipurpose five-door SX4 Crossover, SX4 SportBack hot hatch, refined Grand Vitara compact SUV, award-winning Equa ... Continue reading

Toyota Reports A Decrease In June and First-Half Sales

Toyota Reports A Decrease In June and First-Half Sales

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported June 2011 sales results of 110,937 units, a decrease of 24.1 percent compared to the same period last year, on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. On a raw volume basis, unadjusted for 26 selling days in June 2011 compared to 25 selling days in June 2010, TMS sales w ... Continue reading

Porsche Reports Sales Increase

Porsche Reports Sales Increase

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars, Cayenne SUVs and the Panamera four-door sports sedan line-up in the United States, today announced June sales of 2,546 units compared to the same period last year when it sold 2,141, an increase of 19 percent. So far in 2011, the ... Continue reading

American Honda Reports A Decrease In June Sales

American Honda Reports A Decrease In June Sales

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., posted June sales of 83,892 vehicles, a decrease of 24.3 percent, based on the daily selling rate*, the company announced today. American Honda year-to-date sales reached 607,442, an increase of 1.6 percent versus last year, based on the daily selling rate*. Although production limitatio ... Continue reading

Acura Announces June 2011 Sales Results

Acura Announces June 2011 Sales Results

Acura posted June sales of 8,708, a decrease of 22.8 percent compared to June 2010, based on the daily selling rate*. Year-to-date sales totaled 60,680 units, down 1.4 percent. Although production limitations caused by the March 11 earthquake in Japan continued to improve, reduced vehicle supplies adversely affected Ju ... Continue reading

Mercedes-Benz Reports Best June on Record With Sales of 22,563

Mercedes-Benz Reports Best June on Record With Sales of 22,563

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported June sales of 22,563 vehicles, an 18.8% improvement over June 2010, and the company's highest June volume and first half of the year on record. On a year-to-date basis, the 118,021 vehicles sold represent a 10.4% increase. ... Continue reading

Mitsubishi Sales Keep Growing - Up More Than 97% in June

Mitsubishi Sales Keep Growing - Up More Than 97% in June

Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) today reported June 2011 sales of 8,299 units, nearly doubling June 2010 sales with an increase of 97.7 percent. The increase continues a sales surge that, for the first six months of 2011, makes Mitsubishi the fastest growing automaker in the United States. ... Continue reading

Mazda Reports June Sales Up 5.9%

Mazda Reports June Sales Up 5.9%

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported June sales of 19,307 vehicles, up 5.9 percent versus June of 2010. Sales through the first half of the year are up 5.8 percent versus last year with 122,379 vehicles sold. Key June sales notes: Mazda CX-9 recorded its best-ever June with sales of 2,429 vehicles, up ... Continue reading

July 4 Ranks Number One as America's Deadliest Day on Nation's Roadways

July 4 Ranks Number One as America's Deadliest Day on Nation's Roadways

As Americans ready for Independence Day weekend road trips and holiday celebrations, AAA and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS) caution travelers to be extra cautious on the road, particularly on July 4 the deadliest day of the year. According to the AAAFTS' recent analysis of national crash data, between 2 ... Continue reading

Hyundai Motor America Reports June and Mid-Year Sales

Hyundai Motor America Reports June and Mid-Year Sales

Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 59,209 vehicles in June, a 16 percent increase compared with the same period a year ago. This represents an all-time sales record for both the month of June and the first half of the year for Hyundai, breaking the marks set last year. This also marks the sixth consecutive ... Continue reading

BMW Group U.S. Reports June 2011 Sales Up 15.1%

BMW Group U.S. Reports June 2011 Sales Up 15.1%

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported June sales of 26,865 vehicles, an increase of 15.1% from the 23,331 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group is up 18% on sales of 143,521 in the first six months of 2011 compared to 121,585 in the same period in 2010. ... Continue reading

Audi Sets Record for Best June U.S. Sales; Best All-Time Sales of Any Quarter in Brand's History

Audi Sets Record for Best June U.S. Sales; Best All-Time Sales of Any Quarter in Brand's History

Audi today reported its sixth-straight record-setting month for 2011 with the best June U.S. sales in company history. Last month, demand for Audi luxury vehicles increased 16.9% to 10,051 vehicles sold, from 8,601 vehicles sold in June 2010, marking the fourth-best month in Audi of America history. ... Continue reading

Outlook Stable: Fitch Affirms Chrysler Financial Auto Securitization Trust

Outlook Stable: Fitch Affirms Chrysler Financial Auto Securitization Trust

As part of its ongoing surveillance, Fitch Ratings affirms one class of Chrysler Financial Auto Securitization Trust (CFAST) 2009-A as follows: --Class A-3 at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable. The rating affirmations are based on available credit enhancement and loss performance. The collateral pools continue to perform within ... Continue reading

Nissan North America Reports Sales Up 11.4% in June

Nissan North America Reports Sales Up 11.4% in June

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported June U.S. sales of 71,941 units versus 64,570 units a year earlier, an increase of 11.4 percent. Nissan Division sales increased 16.7 percent for the month at 65,659 units. Sales of Infiniti vehicles decreased 24.3 percent from the prior year, to 6,282 units. ... Continue reading

Kia Motors Announces Record June Sales and Best-Ever Quarter in Company History

Kia Motors Announces Record June Sales and Best-Ever Quarter in Company History

Kia Motors America's (KMA) unprecedented sales growth continues as the brand reports the best quarterly sales performance in company history 140,330 units on the strength of all-time record June sales. The June total of 45,044 vehicles represents a 41.2-percent increase from the same period a year earlier. ... Continue reading

Infiniti Reports A Decrease of 24.3% June 2011 Sales Over a Year Ago

Infiniti Reports A Decrease of 24.3% June 2011 Sales Over a Year Ago

Infiniti today reported U.S. sales of 6,282 units for the month of June, a decrease of 24.3 percent versus 8,304 units a year earlier. Calendar year-to-date Infiniti sales of 47,268 are flat compared to the 47,300 units sold during the same period last year. ... Continue reading

Subaru of America Sales up 5% Y-T-D, June 2011

Subaru of America Sales up 5% Y-T-D, June 2011

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced June 2011 sales of 19,794. The company registered its best June sales for Legacy and Outback as both models continued their 3-year growth in sales. Overall year-to-date sales were up 4.83% continuing positive Subaru sales results in recent times. ... Continue reading

Ford June Sales Up 14 Percent; Cars, Utilities Lead the Way; Fuel-Efficient New Trucks Also Regain Momentum

Ford June Sales Up 14 Percent; Cars, Utilities Lead the Way; Fuel-Efficient New Trucks Also Regain Momentum

Ford's June sales totaled 194,114, up 14 percent versus a year ago Cars up 17 percent, utilities up 15 percent, trucks up 9 percent Ford's new Fiesta and Focus combined for 26,920 sales, up 66 percent Explorer total sales up 56 percent, retail sales up 259 percent F-Series June sales total 49,618, up 7 percent; F-150 V ... Continue reading

Chrysler Group Reports June 2011 U.S. Sales Increased 30 Percent; Best June Sales Since 2007

Chrysler Group Reports June 2011 U.S. Sales Increased 30 Percent; Best June Sales Since 2007

Retail sales surge 46 percent in June compared with same month a year ago; best retail sales month of the year June marks the 15th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains Jeep, Dodge and Ram Truck brands all post year-over-year sales gains New 2011 Chrysler 200 sales up 82 percent compared with sales of its pre ... Continue reading

SAE's "Green" Piece on Nissan Leaf Gets APEX Award

SAE's "Green" Piece on Nissan Leaf Gets APEX Award

SAE International Assistant Editor Matthew Monaghan has won an Award of Excellence as part of the 23rd Annual Awards for Publication Excellence Competition (APEX). Monaghan is being honored in the "Green" Magazines & Journals category for his Nissan Leaf issue of Vehicle Electrification, SAE International's digital mag ... Continue reading

Motorsports Venues - Rachel Gilbert Named F.W. Webb 100 Grand Marshal

Motorsports Venues - Rachel Gilbert Named F.W. Webb 100 Grand Marshal

LOUDON, June 30, 2011: Rachel Gilbert of Laconia, N.H., is continuing her life in the fast lane at New Hampshire Motor Speedway by serving as Grand Marshal for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour F.W. Webb 100 on Saturday, July 16. Gilbert made national headlines when she celebrated her centennial birthday at "The Magic Mi ... Continue reading

ILMC - Porsche Plans To Return To Le Mans In 2014

ILMC - Porsche Plans To Return To Le Mans In 2014

Porsche returns to Le Mans with a works-run LMP1 sports prototype. The first outing of the completely new developed race car is planned for the year 2014. With 16 overall victories, Porsche is the most successful manufacturer in Le Mans. The most recent win was in 1998 with the Porsche 911 GT1.</p> <p>"Motorsport was a ... Continue reading

FIA MotoGP - Additional Fan Incentives For Red Bull Indianapolis GP

FIA MotoGP - Additional Fan Incentives For Red Bull Indianapolis GP

INDIANAPOLIS, June 30, 2011: More than 50 Yamaha dealers are selling tickets for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 26-28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through an exciting program presented by participating Midwestern Yamaha Dealers and IMS. Participating Yamaha dealers are offering three-day general admission t ... Continue reading

Motorsports Venues - A Cooler Atmosphere In Michigan

Motorsports Venues - A Cooler Atmosphere In Michigan

BROOKLYN, June 30, 2011: At a time when wallets are tight and expendable income is shrinking, why in the world would anyone alienate their guests and potential guests? Michigan International Speedway boss Roger Curtis doesn’t know either and has vowed to never undercut loyal guests of the race track. “Contrar ... Continue reading

Motorsports Venues - Inaugural Kentucky Speedway Sprint Cup Event Sells Out

Motorsports Venues - Inaugural Kentucky Speedway Sprint Cup Event Sells Out

SPARTA, June 30, 2011: Kentucky Speedway announces it has sold out the 107,000 grandstand tickets available for the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Quaker State 400.â€&#65533; Fans who wish to witness NASCAR history July 9 can still take advantage of the speedway’s Pit Road Club that offers an infield v ... Continue reading

America's Road Team & Tennessee Trucking Association Educate Motorists During Annual Safety Break

America's Road Team & Tennessee Trucking Association Educate Motorists During Annual Safety Break

As part of the Tennessee Trucking Association's annual Safety Break, America's Road Team will bring the American Trucking Associations' high-tech Image Trailer to an Athens, Tenn. area rest stop. Captains will be on hand to share with motorists their years of million mile accident-free driving. ... Continue reading

Women: Win A Chance to Design and Ride A Harley-Davidson

Women: Win A Chance to Design and Ride A Harley-Davidson

Learning to ride a motorcycle can be a life changing experience for women the power, the freedom and the empowerment of riding your own Harley-Davidson motorcycle converge to create a feeling that's unlike anything else - and it's an experience that gets even better when you have a friend to share it with. In an effort ... Continue reading

Tire Maintenance Helps Save On Gas

Tire Maintenance Helps Save On Gas

As America's Independence Day weekend approaches, a recent AAA survey reveals high gas prices will impact travel plans for 44 percent of intended travelers, leaving 70 percent looking for other ways to save. ... Continue reading

Volkswagen of America Increases June Sales 35% Over Prior Year

Volkswagen of America Increases June Sales 35% Over Prior Year

June sales total 28,444 units, a 35.1 percent increase over prior year sales Best June and best first-half year since June 2002 Best Jetta month ever with 17,105 units, up 88.3% Strong Golf sales of 1,776 units, up 13.1% Eos up 17.7%, best month since May 2009 High-mileage, clean diesel TDI models account for 21.3 perc ... Continue reading

GM June U.S. Sales Improve 11 Percent on Strong Retail Demand for Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

GM June U.S. Sales Improve 11 Percent on Strong Retail Demand for Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

GM gains market share in first half of 2011, with sales 192,056 units higher June retail sales rise 16 percent year over year, and up 4 percent over May Chevrolet Cruze sales surpass 20,000 third straight month; retail sales up 153 percent June total sales of full-size pickups increased 15 percent compared to May Gener ... Continue reading

June Manufacturing: New Orders, Production and Employment Growing; Supplier Deliveries Slower; Inventories Growing

June Manufacturing: New Orders, Production and Employment Growing; Supplier Deliveries Slower; Inventories Growing

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in June for the 23rd consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 25th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. ... Continue reading

Surprisingly, Indiana Teens Support Anti-Texting Law

Surprisingly, Indiana Teens Support Anti-Texting Law

Project Ignition students emerging as eager and effective supporters of safe driving legislation -- Legislators in favor of stronger safe driving laws are finding great backing among what might seem like an unlikely crowd --teen drivers. While popular opinion might be that this group would be in opposition, the reality ... Continue reading

2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio "Best Small Convertible of the Year"

2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio "Best Small Convertible of the Year"

New Fiat 500c wins honor at first annual convertible competition for Southern Automotive Media Association 2012 Fiat 500c conveys beautiful craftsmanship, confident handling and city-friendly proportions combined with a clever open-top design With a starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $19,500, ... Continue reading

Toyota Dealer Pays More for Used Prius Than It Was Sold For New

Toyota Dealer Pays More for Used Prius Than It Was Sold For New

Washington DC July 1, 2011; The AIADA newsletter asked is the Prius really so valuable? According to Auto Remarketing, a Toyota dealership recently announced it bought one of these used models back from a customer after more than a year for $1,500 more than it was originally sold for. Is this the result of high gas pri ... Continue reading

2011 Nissan Quest Road Test and Review

2011 Nissan Quest Road Test and Review

THE AUTO PAGE By John Heilig Senior Editor The Auto Channel SPECIFICATIONS – 2011 Nissan Quest Model: 2011 Nissan Quest 3.5 SV Engine: 3.5-liter DOHC V6 Horsepower/Torque: 260 hp @ 6,000 rpm/240 lb.-ft. @ 4,400 rpm Transmission: CVT Wheelbase: 118.1 in. Length/Width/Height: 200.8 x 77.6 x 71.5 in. Tires: P225/65R1 ... Continue reading

Australian International Motor Show 2011

Australian International Motor Show 2011

Committed to delivering products that provide freedom and mobility, Honda's Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) stand will showcase the all-new CR-Z, due for release in Australia in late 2011; as well as recently upgraded models; Accord, Accord Euro and Jazz. ... Continue reading

Navistar Receives 2011 J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Award

Navistar Receives 2011 J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Award

WARRENVILLE, Ill.--Navistar Inc.International® brand trucks rank highest in customer satisfaction among Class 8 truck owners in the Pickup and Delivery segment, commonly known throughout the industry as regional haul, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Heavy-Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study (S ... Continue reading

AP Reports US Auto Sales Expected To Show Increase in June

AP Reports US Auto Sales Expected To Show Increase in June

US auto sales expected to rise around 13 percent in June as gas prices fall, deals come back The AP reported that U.S. car and truck sales were expected to rise in June as lower gas prices and more incentives brought buyers back to the market. Analysts expected automakers to sell around 1.1 million vehicles in June, up ... Continue reading

Two Wheels Good, Four Wheels Better

Two Wheels Good, Four Wheels Better

Suzuki has drawn inspiration from its championship dominating GSX-R superbike range for a high performance concept version of its stunning new Kizashi sedan. ... Continue reading

Fluidic Design at 2011 AIMS

Fluidic Design at 2011 AIMS

Hyundai Motor Company Australia has again joined forces with Australian fashion designer Charlie Brown, one of Australia's leading fashion labels, at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show. ... Continue reading

Revolutionary Kia Rio To Make Melbourne Motor Show Debut

Revolutionary Kia Rio To Make Melbourne Motor Show Debut

Kia's fourth-generation Rio, to be revealed to the Australian public at the 2011 Melbourne Motor Show, boasts a bold and distinctive personality, bringing the latest model into line with the rest of Kia's striking design-led product range. ... Continue reading

Mitsubishi's i-MiEV Electric Vehicle at the Melbourne International Motor Show

Mitsubishi's i-MiEV Electric Vehicle at the Melbourne International Motor Show

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited's (MMAL) ground-breaking all electric vehicle, the i-MiEV, will take pride of place on the Mitsubishi Motors stand at this year's Melbourne International Motor Show, ahead of its public sale debut in August. ... Continue reading

Audi Magazine Australia Goes Digital On iPad

Audi Magazine Australia Goes Digital On iPad

Audi Australia adds a new chapter to the Vorsprung durch Technik credo in Melbourne with a special preview of the iPad version of Audi Magazine Australia. ... Continue reading

The Arrival Of The Yeti Is Getting Closer

The Arrival Of The Yeti Is Getting Closer

The Yeti takes SKODA's experience of more than 100 years of car development and sets new standards in the compact SUV segment. ... Continue reading

New Volkswagen Touareg

New Volkswagen Touareg

The most technically innovative and economical Touareg in Volkswagen's history ... Continue reading

2011 Australian International Motor Show: Enthusiasts Get Behind Ford's Mad Max Interceptors

2011 Australian International Motor Show: Enthusiasts Get Behind Ford's Mad Max Interceptors

Almost 10,000 car enthusiasts have voted to choose the next Mad Max Interceptor. ... Continue reading

Local Stars Light Up Holden Stand At 2011 Melbourne Motor Show

Local Stars Light Up Holden Stand At 2011 Melbourne Motor Show

Holden's talented design team is lighting up the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne with a host of locally-inspired creations soon to hit public roads. ... Continue reading

Irv Gordon and his Miracle Volvo Are Back in the News Again

Irv Gordon and his Miracle Volvo Are Back in the News Again

NEW YORK - July 1, 2011: Retired school teacher Irv Gordon owns a special Volvo. What makes the vehicle so special is that it keeps breaking world-wide longevity records. Now, Irv's 1966 P1800 is getting close to hitting the 3 million miles mark. Yes, that's right, 3 million miles driven. The Auto Channel has been cove ... Continue reading

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