News archive

November 2010

Affordability index shows cost of buying new car drops slightly

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(November 17, 2010) The average total cost of buying and financing a new car dropped by $300 to $27,600 in the third quarter of 2010, a 1.4 percent decrease from the second quarter, according to Comerica Bank's Auto Affordability Index.

In paycheck terms, it took families an average of 23.8 weeks of their income to pay for a new vehicle. This change in affordability was due, in part, to the fact that median family income grew by 0.2 percent in the third quarter, the bank reported.

Automobile magazine, Motor Trend name Chevy Volt 'Car of Year'

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(November 17, 2010) The Chevrolet Volt won coveted Car of the Year awards Tuesday from Motor Trend magazine and Automobile magazine.

The double recognition, said Chevrolet marketing Vice President Chris Perry, "reinforces the fact that this is a breakthrough vehicle."

New Ford Focus engine to get 40 mpg, make 160 HP

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(November 17, 2010) LOS ANGELES – The 2.0-liter engine coming early next year to Ford’s new 2012 Focus will be one of the first on the market to combine the technology of gasoline direct injection (DI) with twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) and E85 flex fuel capability.

Kia Sedona minivan gets more horsepower for 2011

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(November 16, 2010) IRVINE, Calif. -- Kia announced today that the 2011 Sedona minivan will come with a new 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 271 horsepower -- an increase of 27 horsepower -- while still getting better fuel economy than last year's engine. Pricing for the 2011 Sedona will start at $24,595 for the LX model (plus $795 destination charge),an increase of $400 over the 2010 model.

GM has been designing cars in Los Angeles studio for 10 years

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(November 16, 2010) LOS ANGELES -- GM is marking 10 years of automotive design at its North Hollywood Advanced Design Center, a milestone that honors GM’s rich California heritage and celebrates the innovative spirit of the designers who are creating the vehicles of the future.

Fifty percent of heavy duty pickups sold in U.S. are Ford F-Series

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(November 15, 2010) DEARBORN,Mich -- One of every two heavy-duty pickups sold in the United States in the first nine months of the year is a Ford F-Series Super Duty. 

The new Super Duty dominates the heavy-duty pickup segment with 50 percent of total heavy-duty sales, an increase in market share of 5 percentage points over the same period last year – its highest share since 2001. This is according to a Ford analysis of recently released registration data by R.L. Polk.

Chevy to compete in IndyCar Series with twin-turbo V-6

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(November 15, 2010) INDIANAPOLIS — Chevrolet will compete in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series with a new twin-turbocharged, direct-injected V-6 racing engine powered by renewable E85 ethanol fuel. The new purpose-built Chevy IndyCar engine will be developed jointly by General Motors and Ilmor Engineering.

Honda breaks ground for second joint venture plant in China

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(November 14, 2010) WUHAN, China — The world's automkers are rushing to increase sales and production in China, the world's biggest auto market.

And Honda last week took another step to increase its Chinese production. Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., a Honda automobile production and sales joint venture in China, held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of its second auto plant in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

Ford Focus global test drive in Madrid

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(November 14, 2010) DEARBORN, Mich. — Consumers ready to join the Ford Focus Global Test Drive should get ready to start something more in Madrid, Spain.

Ford has selected the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA), near Madrid, as the home base for the Focus Global Test Drive.

Volkswagen to offer media opportunity to drive electric vehicle

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(November 13, 2010) HERNDON, Va. — Next week during the Los Angeles Auto Show, Volkswagen will offer U.S. media their first chance to get behind the wheel of the Golf blue-e-motion zero-emissions electric vehicle. Drivers will experience the pure electrically powered version of the most successful European car ever built, the Golf.