June 2011

Cadillac rolls out new showroom design

(June 10, 2011) DETROIT — Cadillac is rolling out a new, modern design for its dealerships as part of the brand’s “Defining Moments” customer service initiative.

Designed by Gensler architects and Cadillac designers, the new showroom layout features open, well-lit displays allowing customers to interact with the cars and dealership staff, and relax in a customer lounge with a coffee bar with custom-designed art and designer furniture.

Chevy dealers nationwide begin taking orders for Volt

(June 10, 2011) DETROIT — Chevrolet dealers in all 50 states will begin taking orders for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt electric car today. The suggested retail price for theVolt will start at $39,995 (or $32,495 assuming a full federal tax credit of $7,500, which is subject to the customer’s eligibility).

Ford going green with North American version of C-MAX

(June 11, 2011) STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — Ford has announced it is tripling production capacity of its electrified vehicle lineup through 2013, further boosting volumes of its all-new C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, which begins production next year.

Daimler Trucks plans to increase production, add jobs at three U.S. plants

(June 9, 2011) PORTLAND, Ore. (PRNewswire) — Daimler Trucks North America today announced that it plans to increase production and employment levels at its Mt. Holly, N.C. and Portland, Ore., truck manufacturing plants and a Gastonia, N.C., parts plant during the last half of 2011.

Subaru WRX STI sets road-car lap record at Isle of Man TT circuit

(June 9, 2011) The long-standing road-car lap record for the Isle of Man TT circuit has been comprehensively smashed in a production-spec Subaru WRX STI sedan.  In his very first run around the challenging 37.8-mile course, former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins posted a blistering lap time of 19 minutes and 56.7 seconds, translating to an average speed of 113 mph.  The peak speed achieved during the lap was 162 mph.

Mercedes unveils third-generation M-Class

(June 9, 2011) MONTVALE, N.J. (PRNewswire) — Mercedes-Benz announced today the all-new third-generation M-Class SUV. The all-wheel-drive SUV debuts with more contemporary styling and includes LED daytime running lights and taillights, chrome roof rails and optional panorama sunroof.

Corvette returns to tackle Nurburgring

(June 9, 2011) DETROIT – Corvette returned to the world’s most-demanding testing ground – Germany’s famed Nurburgring — and recorded lap times that rank among the fastest recorded for a production car.

As detailed on video the 2012 Corvette ZR1 recorded a lap time of 7:19.63, more than six seconds faster than the previous Corvette-best recorded in 2008. A lap video featuring the Corvette Z06 will be released soon.

Study finds SUVs now safer in crashes than cars

(June 9, 2011) Drivers of sport-utility vehicles, who used to be the most likely to die in crashes because of rollovers, are now among those with the highest probability of survival, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said in a report released today.

SUVs in the 2006-09 model years had a driver fatality rate half that of cars, the IIHS reported. This is due in great part to electronic stability control.

Ford's goal — 8 million vehicles a year by mid-decade

(June 9, 2011) NEW YORK — Ford this week said it expects its worldwide sales to increase by approximately 50 percent by mid-decade to about 8 million vehicles a year — with improved operating margins — as the company continues its One Ford plan to accelerate product introductions and expand quickly in growth markets.

Trucking groups call for truck crashworthiness standards

(June 8, 2011) ARLINGTON, Va. (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — American Trucking Associations and the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association together have called on the federal government to begin researching how standards for crashworthiness for heavy trucks.

"NHTSA has continuously developed crashworthiness standards for automobiles and light trucks, but to date has generally not applied crashworthiness standards to commercial trucks," the two groups wrote in a June 6 letter to David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.