News archive

January 2012

Harley-Davidson motorcycle sales up 5.9 percent in 2011

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(January 24, 2012) MILWAUKEE — Harley-Davidson reported a strong finish to 2011, with improved fourth-quarter performance capping a year of earnings and dealer retail sales growth. Harley-Davidson motorcycle retail sales rose 5.9 percent worldwide and 5.8  percent in the U.S. in 2011.

Retail sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles grew 10.9 percent worldwide in the fourth quarter compared to the prior-year period, including an 11.8 percent increase in the U.S.

Volkswagen up! city car gets two more doors

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(January 23, 2012) Getting into Volkswagen’s award-winning up! city car is now easier than ever, with the introduction of the new five-door model. The five-door up! has many of the same virtues as its three-door sibling: a 95-inch long wheelbase that makes for impressive interior space, 8.85 cubic feet of cargo space, an efficient three-cylinder engine, new-to-the-class safety features and an innovative infotainment system.

2013 Corvette 427 convertible sells for $600,000 at Barrett-Jackson

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(January 23, 2012) SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The first 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition — the fastest and most capable convertible in Corvette’s history — sold for $600,000 in the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale collector car auction Saturday.

The Corvette 427 Convertible, which arrives at U.S. Chevrolet dealers this summer, blends elements of the Z06 and ZR1 models. The Vehicle Identification Number ending in 001 was sold in the auction.

Kia recalls vehicles over airbag issue

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(January 22, 2012) Kia is recalling 145,000 vehicles to fix faulty airbags. The Korean automaker said it is recalling 95,569 model year 2006-08 Optima cars and 50,186 model year 2007-08 Rondo crossovers.

Kia said the clock spring contact assembly for the driver's airbag supplemental restraint system may become damaged through usage over time. The condition will cause the airbag warning lamp on the instrument panel to illuminate, notifying the driver that the airbag system requires service, and may cause the driver's airbag to not deploy in a crash.

Volkswagen Golf top-selling model in Europe in 2011

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(January 22, 2012) Volkswagen has  released European sales figures for 2011 that show the Volkswagen Golf, a model that will soon get a complete makeover, was the top seller with 484,457 units sold. Even though that figure is more than 7,000 less than 2010, the Golf beat out its stablemate, the Polo, which finished second, by 128,000 sales.

First electric Honda Fit arrives in Torrance

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(January 21, 2012) TORRANCE, Calif. — Honda delivered a 2013 Fit EV battery-electric vehicle to the city of Torrance Friday as one of the first major steps in the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program, a prelude to the retail market launch of the Fit EV with customers in California and Oregon this summer.

2013 Chevy Malibu Eco begins arriving in U.S. dealerships

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(January 21, 2012) KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Chevrolet continued its global rollout of the all-new 2013 Malibu midsize sedan this week with the first shipment of its most fuel-efficient Malibu ever — the Malibu Eco —to dealers across the United States. 

The Malibu Eco is the first model of the all-new 2013 Malibu lineup to reach dealer showrooms in North America.

Lexus raises price of LX 570 by nearly $1,500

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(January 20, 2012) TORRANCE, Calif. — Lexus has announced that the 2013 LX 570 luxury utility vehicle, which will arrive at dealerships in early February with the new Lexus styling features, interior enhancements, and updated technology will carry an MSRP of $81,606 including destination charge, an increase of 1.9 percent or $1,475.

Celebrating 100 years of garbage collection

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(January 20, 2012) DETROIT — Ice cream trucks bring treats, and fire trucks have sirens and hoses, but only one beloved vehicle arrives every week — like clockwork — and delivers with it such size, delightful noise and trash-smashing power.

That's why Waste & Recycling News will celebrate the garbage truck and its road to greatness with a commemorative issue, "100 Years of the Garbage Truck." The issue publishes Oct. 15, 2012. WRN's award-winning editorial staff will take readers on 100 "stops" of the garbage truck's storied journey to cultural icon.

Kia's Red Cube showrooms to go global over next three years

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(January 20, 2012) The first of Kia’s new global standard Red Cube showrooms has opened in the United Kingdom at Arnold Clark Northwich in Cheshire — bringing a strong new design-led image to the brand’s growing network.

Kia says the Red Cube concept has been created to deliver the most complete visual representation of Kia’s design-focused brand strategy and while the new showrooms will only open at major new-build sites many of the concept’s elements will soon be found at all Kia showrooms in the UK.