The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

October 2012

Select Another Month

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Toyota produces 25 millionth North American-built vehicle

Toyota produces 25 millionth North American-built vehicle

Toyota celebrated the 25 millionth vehicle manufactured in North America today at a ceremony at its Georgetown, Ky. plant coinciding with the start of production for the all-new 2013 Avalon. The milestone vehicle -- a Classic Silver Hybrid Avalon -- represents 26 years of manufacturing, a direct investment of nearly $2 ... Continue reading

Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles will be $1.2 Billion Market in 2020

Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles will be $1.2 Billion Market in 2020

With government policy and investment driving automotive companies toward plug-in vehicles, the technology for delivering electricity to these vehicles will rise to a $1.2 billion market in 2020, according to a Lux Research report. 'It's critical for those invested in charging stations to find the applications where th ... Continue reading

In the Wake of Hurricane Sandy, Edmunds.com Advises How to Spot Flood-Damaged Cars

In the Wake of Hurricane Sandy, Edmunds.com Advises How to Spot Flood-Damaged Cars

Used car shoppers -- including those not on the East Coast -- should be on the lookout for flood-damaged vehicles that often hit the market after a major hurricane, says Edmunds.com. The advisory comes in the wake Hurricane Sandy, which caused massive flooding in several Northeast and Mid-Atlantic cities in the U.S. "E ... Continue reading

Toyota Announces Pricing for 2013 Avalon

Toyota Announces Pricing for 2013 Avalon

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. today announced manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the all-new 2013 Avalon premium mid-size sedan. For 2013, this five passenger flagship sedan is available with gasoline V6 and Hybrid Synergy Drive power. The V6 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid arrive in dealerships a ... Continue reading

Jeep Wrangler Named 'Hottest 4x4 SUV' of 2012 SEMA Show, Mopar and Jeep Brand Create Jeep Performance Parts

Jeep Wrangler Named 'Hottest 4x4 SUV' of 2012 SEMA Show, Mopar and Jeep Brand Create Jeep Performance Parts

Jeep Wrangler recognized as 'Hottest 4x4 SUV' at SEMA More than 300 Mopar performance parts and accessories available for Jeep® Wrangler Mopar and the Jeep brand work together to create Jeep Performance Parts, even more parts to increase off-road performance Mopar's off-road division announces new Mopar 6.4-liter HE ... Continue reading

SAE Webcast Explores Off-Highway and Commercial Vehicle Powertrain Design

SAE Webcast Explores Off-Highway and Commercial Vehicle Powertrain Design

SAE International's Off-Highway Engineering magazine offers a new webcast on powertrain design for commercial vehicle engineers. "Powertrain Design and Validation: Technologies and Techniques for Off-Highway and Commercial Vehicle Engineer" will be held Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at Noon, U.S. EST. The webcast is spo ... Continue reading

Hyundai Reveals Veloster RE:MIX Production Model At SEMA

Hyundai Reveals Veloster RE:MIX Production Model At SEMA

Inspired by Hyundai's successful RE:MIX Lab program, Hyundai introduced a special edition RE:MIX production Veloster to the enthusiast crowd at this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. The special edition production Veloster features an aggressive sporty exterior appearance with a un ... Continue reading

SEAT Invests £650m in New Leon Production

SEAT Invests £650m in New Leon Production

SEAT has started production of the new Leon hatchback at its factory in Martorell, Spain. The all-new model is the result of an overall investment of 800 million euros (c. £650m), primarily in vehicle research and development, and production facilities. The stunning new SEAT Leon, which was unveiled at September's Par ... Continue reading

Dana Showcases Four New Aftermarket Products, Demonstrates Axle Rebuilds, iPad Application at SEMA

Dana Showcases Four New Aftermarket Products, Demonstrates Axle Rebuilds, iPad Application at SEMA

Furthering its commitment to bringing leading technology to the aftermarket, Dana Holding Corporation will introduce four new aftermarket products during the 2012 Specialty Equipment Manufacturing Association (SEMA) Show, Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, in Las Vegas. ... Continue reading

American Honda Highlights Performance and Personalization at 2012 SEMA Show

American Honda Highlights Performance and Personalization at 2012 SEMA Show

The Honda Factory Performance (HFP) package for the 2013 Accord Coupe makes its world debut today as part of the American Honda display at the 2012 SEMA Show. The all-new 2013 Accord Coupe and Sedan set a new standard for midsize car styling, efficiency and performance, and three modified Accords on display further hig ... Continue reading

Ford Mustang and F-Series Pickup Named 'Hottest Car and Truck' of 2012 SEMA Show

Ford Mustang and F-Series Pickup Named 'Hottest Car and Truck' of 2012 SEMA Show

SEMA Award honors the most popular vehicles chosen by specialty equipment manufacturers to be the best platforms for accessorizing and showcasing this year's hottest products, according to SEMA Ford Mustang officially recognized as "Hottest Car" at the 2012 SEMA show for the first time -- a testament to the strong popu ... Continue reading

Scion FR-S Named Hottest Sport Compact at the 2012 SEMA Show

Scion FR-S Named Hottest Sport Compact at the 2012 SEMA Show

The Scion FR-S earned industry recognition today with the Hottest Sport Compact award on the first day of the 2012 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. The annual SEMA Show brings together specialty-equipment manufacturers and industry leaders to showcase the best in vehicle customization an ... Continue reading

Kia Motors America And DC Entertainment Pull The Silks Off Of Four New Justice League-Inspired Machines At SEMA

Kia Motors America And DC Entertainment Pull The Silks Off Of Four New Justice League-Inspired Machines At SEMA

Kia Motors America (KMA) and DC Entertainment kicked off the 2012 SEMA Show today in superhero style with five radical machines inspired by the members of the Justice League: The Flash Forte Koup, Aquaman Rio 5-door, Cyborg Forte 5-door, Green Lantern Soul and the previously unveiled Batman Optima. Built by West Coast ... Continue reading

2013 Toyota Avalon At SEMA

2013 Toyota Avalon At SEMA

TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 25, 2012 — Toyota's recently introduced 2013 Avalon is set to enter the market this fall with a radically new design that moves the styling needle distinctly toward passion and excitement. To demonstrate the possibilities of the new premium mid-size sedan, the company created two new concept ... Continue reading

Wheelz Launches Service in San Francisco Offering the City's Largest Instantly Accessible Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Fleet

Wheelz Launches Service in San Francisco Offering the City's Largest Instantly Accessible Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Fleet

Wheelz, the first and only peer-to-peer car sharing service that gives you instant access to cars in your neighborhood, announced today its first urban launch in San Francisco. As part of the launch, Wheelz will also host a special “Free Wheelz for a Day" promotion weekend, picking up the tab for new and existing driv ... Continue reading

2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport AWD Rocky Mountain Review By Dan Poler

2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport AWD Rocky Mountain Review By Dan Poler

By Dan Poler Rocky Mountain Bureau The Auto Channel Lexus has long built cars known for their luxury and comfort; adjectives like aggressive and athletic were not typically used to describe them. Enter the new GS 350. Completely redesigned for 2013, the new GS is built clearly with the intention of taking on its German ... Continue reading

Fuel Prices - Fuel Prices - Regular Gas 10.30.2012

Fuel Prices - Fuel Prices - Regular Gas 10.30.2012

<p>Regular Gas</p> <p> Current Avg. $3.810</p> Yesterday Avg.$3.813</p> Week Ago Avg. $3.789</p> Month Ago Avg.$3.858</p> Year Ago Avg. Current Avg. $3.810p ... Continue reading

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 Will Be Showcased at the 2012 SEMA Show

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 Will Be Showcased at the 2012 SEMA Show

The first Mazda to fully incorporate SKYACTIV 1 TECHNOLOGY, the brand's engineering philosophy that strength, safety and performance can still equate to fuel efficiency, the 2013 CX-5 was built completely new, from sketch book to sheet metal. With Mazda North American Operations' (MNAO) Irvine-based Design team behind ... Continue reading

Production begins for Ram 2500 Compressed Natural Gas Truck; Availability expanded to retail customers

Production begins for Ram 2500 Compressed Natural Gas Truck; Availability expanded to retail customers

The first Ram 2500 Compressed Natural Gas pickup trucks have begun rolling off the line at Chrysler Group's Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant today. The start of Ram CNG production is timed perfectly to support the Company's announcement that the formerly fleet-only vehicle will now be available to retail customers. "We fe ... Continue reading

Subaru of America, Inc. Breaks All-Time Sales Record

Subaru of America, Inc. Breaks All-Time Sales Record

Subaru of America, Inc. has reported it has broken its previous yearly sales record with more than two months of the year still remaining. Sales for 2012 have now surpassed the previous sales record of 266,989 vehicles which was set in 2011 and mark the company's fifth year of sales growth and fourth successive sales r ... Continue reading

NHRA Pro Stock - Coughlin Jr. Knocks Out Anderson Before Bowing To Points Leader Johnson

NHRA Pro Stock - Coughlin Jr. Knocks Out Anderson Before Bowing To Points Leader Johnson

Jeg LAS VEGAS, Oct. 29, 2012: Jeg Coughlin Jr. made it to the second round on Sunday at the Big O Tires NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, ruining an old rival's plans in the process. Coughlin and the JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Avenger were paired with Greg Anderson in the first round. For the last coup ... Continue reading

IndyCar - Andretti Autosport On Bernard Departure

IndyCar - Andretti Autosport On Bernard Departure

Indianapolis, Oct. 29, 2012: Andretti Autosport thanks Randy Bernard for his tireless efforts during his term as CEO of INDYCAR. In recent months, others have spoken on our behalf and until now Andretti Autosport has refrained from comment, but we believe now is an appropriate time to address our company's position reg ... Continue reading

Sprint Cup - Stewart Race Report Martinsville

Sprint Cup - Stewart Race Report Martinsville

Martinsville, Oct. 29, 2012: Relief couldn’t come soon enough for Tony Stewart in the TUMS Fast Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), started seventh but struggled with a tight-hand ... Continue reading

NHRA Top Fuel - Schumacher Makes The Final, Brown Doesn't

NHRA Top Fuel - Schumacher Makes The Final, Brown Doesn't

Las Vegas, Oct. 29, 2012: A good weekend in Las Vegas can sometimes be defined as getting out while you are ahead. For U.S. Army Top Fuel drivers Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher and Antron Brown, getting out of town ahead following the Big O Tires NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was made p ... Continue reading

Chrysler Group Announces New Mopar Performance and Customization Initiatives at SEMA

Chrysler Group Announces New Mopar Performance and Customization Initiatives at SEMA

Announces availability of performance calibrations for select 2011, 2012 and 2013 model-year Chrysler Group vehicles Introduces new emissions-compliant 5.7-liter HEMI crate engine for classic muscle cars and hot rods, a version of the same legendary HEMI in modern Dodge Challenger and Charger R/T models Newly created M ... Continue reading

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE Review By John Heilig

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE Review By John Heilig

MORE INFO Toyota Buyers Guide Perfect New Car Matcher THE AUTO PAGE By JOHN HEILIG Senior Editor The Auto Channel 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE SPECIFICATIONS Model: 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE Engine: 2.4-liter DOHC I4, plus electric motor Horsepower/Torque: 156 hp @ 5,700 rpm/156 lb.-ft. @ 4,500 rpm (plus 105 kw @ 4, ... Continue reading

Change Your Clocks; Check Your Lights and Wipers

Change Your Clocks; Check Your Lights and Wipers

As you turn back the clocks, check your vehicle's lights and wipers, as the chance of an accident increases if you can't see or be seen, says the Car Care Council. "Turning back the clocks means fewer hours of daylight, so it's even more important that your vehicle's lights and wipers are working properly so you can be ... Continue reading

EV Charging Stations Make Good Old-Fashioned Horse Sense

EV Charging Stations Make Good Old-Fashioned Horse Sense

Electric vehicle (EV) owners traveling in and around Houston can get a charge at four Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations. High-powered rapid charging eVgoSM Freedom Station® sites were recently installed by eVgo, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. at Cracker Barrel® stores in Kingwood, League City, Pearland a ... Continue reading

Goodyear Provides Timely Advice for Wet-Weather Driving

Goodyear Provides Timely Advice for Wet-Weather Driving

One of the biggest challenges for motorists is driving in constantly changing weather conditions -- when road surfaces quickly transition from dry to wet, to areas of standing water, or even to snow and ice. And this week, weather developments in the eastern part of the U.S. make that likelihood very possible. ( The Go ... Continue reading

2013 Subaru WRX And WRX STI Special Editions Debut At SEMA Show

2013 Subaru WRX And WRX STI Special Editions Debut At SEMA Show

Subaru of America, Inc. reveals 2013 Subaru WRX and WRX STI Special Editions at the 2013 SEMA Show. The new models are in keeping with a long tradition of customized Subaru SEMA show cars -- and just in time for Halloween. The Special Edition WRX and WRX STI models feature an "Orange and Black" custom paint scheme, wit ... Continue reading

Subaru Gives Its Customers Winter Health Check - Free Of Charge

Subaru Gives Its Customers Winter Health Check - Free Of Charge

Subaru UK has today launched a free winter vehicle level check and top-up of essential fluids for all Subaru models at its nationwide dealer network. ... Continue reading

Seductive Design: Concept Speedboat By Jaguar Cars

Seductive Design: Concept Speedboat By Jaguar Cars

Jaguar Cars has today unveiled an exciting and unique styling concept at the international driving debut of the new Jaguar XF Sportbrake ... Continue reading

Vauxhall On Red Alert For Driving School Fleet Deal

Vauxhall On Red Alert For Driving School Fleet Deal

Vauxhall has signed a new deal with RED, the UK's second largest driving school, which will see more than 1,000 cars supplied on an annual basis. ... Continue reading

Jaguar F-Type To Make UK Dynamic Debut With Jessica Ennis In London Lord Mayor's Show 2012

Jaguar F-Type To Make UK Dynamic Debut With Jessica Ennis In London Lord Mayor's Show 2012

The all-new Jaguar F-TYPE, unveiled for the first time globally at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, will be driven by Jaguar Academy of Sport Ambassador Jessica Ennis in this year's Lord Mayor's Show on November 10th. The car will make its UK dynamic debut alongside two famous E-Types. ... Continue reading

Lexus Storms Las Vegas With Custom Specials

Lexus Storms Las Vegas With Custom Specials

Lexus has a high-impact presence at the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas this week, its contribution to the world-famous customisation show led by a no-holds-barred interpretation of the new LS 460 F Sport by the Five Axis design studio. Also on show will be VIP Auto Salon's interpretation of a Supercharged GS 350 F Sport. ... Continue reading

Twizy Wraps Up For British Winter

Twizy Wraps Up For British Winter

Renault Twizy drivers can stay looking cool in the cold this winter thanks to a nifty new window system which has hit the UK market before the big freeze kicks in. ... Continue reading

Honda Australia Appoints Public Relations Assistant Manager

Honda Australia Appoints Public Relations Assistant Manager

Honda Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Naomi Rebeschini as Public Relations Assistant Manager. ... Continue reading

SL Wins EuroCarBody Award 2012

SL Wins EuroCarBody Award 2012

The Mercedes-Benz SL has secured a first place for itself by picking up the EuroCarBody Award 2012. This highest of vehicle body awards is presented each year by Automotive Circle International in recognition of outstanding developments in the body construction industry. ... Continue reading

Search The Auto Channel

The Auto Channel content library (since 1996) has grown to become the world’s most extensive and complete interactive archive of automotive centric news, articles, reviews and intense event coverage, presented to viewers as Text, Video and Images.

The Auto Channel Content by Topic

Vehicle manufacturers and alt fuels.