December 2011

Nissan GT-R gets harder edge with 'Track Pack' for 2012

(December 8, 2011) The 2012 Nissan GT-R may well be one of the fastest cars in the world, but its owners are the most demanding in the world. So Nissan has developed a new version of the GT-R for drivers who want an extra edge on the race track.

Called "Track Pack," this new version of the GT-R offers a harder edge and yet remains fully road legal.

2013 Chevy Malibu racks up 1 million test miles around globe

(December 8, 2011) DETROIT — On the cusp of its global introductions, engineers for the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have rolled past 1 million miles of on-road development testing — accumulated in about 22 months on six continents.

Chevrolet says the extensive road development and validation process helps ensure the new Malibu’s overall ride and handling, comfort, quality and durability are exemplary when production begins, and meets the needs of customers around the world.

Dodge announces new compact sedan, the Dart

(December 8, 2011) AUBURN HILLS Mich. — Dodge announced this week it is developing a new compact car to go head-to-head with the Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus, and has revived a storied name for the new sedan, the Dart.

The original Dart was built from 1960 through 1976 as an economical family car that could easily be transformed into a performance car during the muscle car era.

GM Lansing plant cited for energy efficiency

(December 7, 2011) LANSING, Mich. — General Motors’ Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant is the company’s first in United States to receive an ENERGY STAR certification for superior energy efficiency from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

To qualify, the plant had to perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meet strict energy performance levels set by the EPA from 2010  to 2011.

Making rusty brake rotors a thing of the past

(December 7, 2011) DETROIT — A General Motors’ team of global brake experts is helping to make rusty brake rotors history by changing the chemical makeup of the components using a process that could double the life of rotors and save consumers hundreds of dollars.

The engineers developed an exclusive corrosion protection process that super heats the rotors at 560 degrees Celsius for a day in an oven the size of a tour bus. Inside the nitrogen-rich atmosphere, nitrogen atoms bond to the surface of the steel rotor, hardening and strengthening the rotor.

New Chevrolet Performance catalog arrives

(December 6, 2011) ORLANDO, Fla. — Chevrolet Performance announced its 2012 catalog of high-performance parts and accessories for Chevrolet cars and trucks, as well as crate engines and engine parts.

Featuring the new COPO Camaro concept vehicle on the cover, the catalog contains more than 300 pages of parts for Corvette, Camaro, Cruze, Silverado and other vehicles powered by GM’s LS, small-block and big-block engines — and almost every accessory and part is available for purchase online at gmperformanceparts.com.

Alfa's hot hatch MiTo sets record, breaks 2,738 water balloons

(December 6, 2011) During the last 101 years, Alfa Romeo has been at the forefront of automotive style, innovation and performance. It was with these key values in mind that the marque created its biggest and most adventurous social media campaign to date — The MiTo Aquabatic Challenge — which saw the latest hot hatch Alfa MiTo become a world record holder.

Buick LaCrosse eAssist proves popular

(December 6, 2011) DETROIT — The Buick 2012 LaCrosse eAssist is spending just 14 days on dealer lots nationally before being sold, and the mileage-boosting light-electrification technology is moving quickly in all regions, including import-leaning California.

Steven Radomski is one of those Golden State converts. A former Toyota Prius hybrid owner, Radomski commutes 100 miles a day, 95 percent on the highway where the LaCrosse’s EPA-estimated 36 mpg impressed him most. In mixed driving, he is averaging 30 mpg — between the EPA-estimated 25 mpg city and the highway estimate.

Kentucky-assembled Toyota Camrys headed to South Korea

(December 5, 2011) NEW YORK — Toyota today announced plans to export U.S.-assembled Camry sedans to its distributor in South Korea. Camry exports to South Korea are initially forecasted at approximately 6,000 units annually. These Camry vehicles will be produced at Toyota's manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Ky.

Chinese automaker Geely to enter UK car market by the end of 2012

(December 5, 2011) Chinese automaker Geely made an effort to sell cars in Europe and the United States between 2006 and 2008 and displayed cars at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show and in 2006 at the Detroit Auto Show. But efforts to bring its products to the U.S. have not yielded any returns.

It was announced today that Geely has finally broken into the European marketplace and will begin selling cars in the UK near the end of 2012.