Inside the Industry

Fiat announces launch of 2014 Abarth Track Experience

(February 14, 2014) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The 2014 Abarth Track Experience kicks off this month, giving Fiat 500 Abarth owners the opportunity to develop their driving skills in a one-day performance adventure.
 
Drivers will pilot cars from a fleet of Abarths provided and put their skills to the test through four driving modules: autocross, head-to-head challenge, driving dynamics and performance drive. Drivers will end their day by riding shotgun as professional drivers push the track-tuned Abarth vehicles to the limit.

Chevrolet to oversee restoration of historic Corvettes at museum

(February 14, 2014) DETROIT — To help the National Corvette Museum recover from the massive sinkhole that opened under the facility this week, Chevrolet will oversee restoration of the Corvettes damaged. General Motors Design in Warren, Mich., will lead the project.

Ford selects Canadian plant to build all-new global utility vehicle for export

(February 14, 2014) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford of Canada’s Oakville Assembly plant will build the all-new Ford Edge global utility vehicle, shipping it from Canada to more than 60 countries as demand for utility vehicles grows worldwide. The Ford Edge Concept is pictured above.

Flying Spur stars at Bentley Power on Ice event in Finland

(February 13, 2014) NORTHERN FINLAND — Bentley’s new Flying Spur is proving to be one of the star attractions at this year’s Power on Ice 2014 event in Finland. Guests and the four-time World Rally champion Juha Kankkunen alike are enjoying the opportunity to put the 6.0-liter W12 luxury sedan to the test on a range of challenging circuits carved into the frozen lakes.

Fiat to debut 500L ad campaign featuring Sean 'Diddy' Combs

(February 13, 2014) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Fiat North America will launch a new global advertising campaign featuring entertainment powerhouse Sean “Diddy” Combs this week entitled “Mirage.”  The advertising campaign, which debuts across television beginning today, introduces the new Fiat 500L tagline, “Unbelievably Big.” 

Kia pioneers energy-saving ventilation systems for Soul EV

(February 13, 2014) Kia’s Soul EV electric vehicle is undergoing a comprehensive winter testing program in northern Sweden to test its innovative new drivetrain and on-board technologies ahead of going on sale in the UK and North America late in 2014.

All-new compact Mercedes-Benz GLA250 arrives in showrooms this fall

(February 13, 2014) MONTVALE, N.J. — Progressive design, serene day-to-day driving and offroad capability: easily handling various automotive applications, the all- new Mercedes-Benz GLA impressively reinterprets the compact SUV segment. It effortlessly masters day-to-day driving and is also robust enough for off-road excursions. The 2015 GLA will arrive in U.S. showrooms in the fall of 2014.

Honda Civic Type R Concept set for worldwide debut at Geneva

(February 13, 2014) — Honda has revealed its 2014 Geneva Motor Show line-up, including the worldwide debut of the Civic Type R Concept model, the European debut of the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Concept, the powertrain layout of the new NSX and the 2014 Civic World Touring Car Championship race car.

Ferrari California T to be unveiled at Geneva with new V8

(February 12, 2014) MARANELLO, Italy — The Ferrari California T epitomizes elegance, sportiness, versatility and exclusivity: characteristics that have distinguished every California model since the 1950s. It will be unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in March.

The California T boasts striking standards of innovation while retaining signature features such as the successful 2+ concept, a refined cabin and, of course, the retractable hard top which transforms it from a chic coupé into a sleekly sophisticated spider in a mere 14 seconds.

Toyota recalling 713,000 Prius cars in North America for software fix

(February 12, 2014) Toyota dealers will reprogram software in about 713,000 Toyota Prius cars in North America that are being recalled to fix a hybrid control unit glitch that can cause the cars to automatically shut down and enter a limp-home failsafe mode. The software update also affects 997,000 cars in Japan and another 130,000 in Europe.