June 2012

Nissan Juke turned into 'Juke Box"

(June 15, 2012) LONDON — Get out the ear plugs. Nissan has and Ministry of Sound have created the Juke Box, an ear-splitting sound system for the Nissan Juke.

They have created the world's ultimate mobile sound system — louder than a jumbo jet in take-off. The technical know-how for the Juke Box comes from sound experts Martin Audio, who designed and built the current system in the infamous "Bo" — the main room in Ministry of Sound's London home.

Ford cuts energy use 22 percent according to sustainability report

(June 15, 2012) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford announced today in its annual Sustainability Report that it has reduced the amount of energy required to produce each vehicle in its manufacturing facilities by 22 percent in the last six years. The company also announced plans to reduce usage another 25 percent on a per-vehicle basis by 2016.
 

Mini rolls out its Rocketman concept for the London Olympics

(June 14, 2012) This summer the best athletes from some 200 countries will gather in London for the London 2012 Olympic Games – the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet. The games are about more than outstanding sporting achievement alone. The event plays a particularly important role as a platform for cultures to interact. And for London itself, there is the opportunity to once again put its best foot forward as host city.

GM Design, 85 years old, focuses on the future

(June 14, 2012) WARREN, Mich. — As GM Design celebrates its 85th birthday this month, the 1,900 men and women in GM’s 10 global design centers are focused on the future, united in their vision to entice consumers to fall in love and see vehicles as they do: art that moves you.

Ford adding 1,300 more jobs to build new Escape

(June 13, 2012) LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Ford Motor Company, its employees, dealers and suppliers today celebrated production of the all-new Ford Escape at the company’s transformed Louisville Assembly Plant, one of several U.S. manufacturing sites where Ford is adding jobs to meet strong customer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
 

New Saab owners target 2014 for launch of 9-3 electric

(June 13, 2012) TROLLHATTEN, Sweden — The first vehicle from the new owners of Saab Automobile will be an electric car based on the company's 9-3. The car will go on sale early in 2014, said Saab purchaser National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB and the automaker's bankruptcy administrators today in a joint statement.

The parties agreed not to disclose the transaction price for Saab.

Honda issues recall for 50,000 2012 Civics for driveshaft problem

(June 13, 2012) TORRANCE, Calif. — Honda will voluntarily recall approximately 50,000 model-year 2012 Civic vehicles in the United States to inspect and, if necessary, replace the left driveshaft.

Chinese-Swedish group agrees to buy Saab, to build electric vehicles

(June 13, 2012) According to several news service reports this morning, a Chinese-Swedish investment group with Japanese backing has agreed to buy bankrupt automaker Saab Automobile. The new company and plans to build electric vehicles the administrator of the bankruptcy process said.

Kia hitting the road as sponsor of Vans Warped Tour

(June 13, 2012) IRVINE, Calif. — Kia Motors America is hitting the road as the "Official Vehicle of the 2012 Vans Warped Tour" and for a fifth straight year will entertain concertgoers in nearly 40 U.S. cities with live music performances from today's biggest rock and indie bands and a variety of interactive activities and events at the Kia Soul Lounge. 

2013 Buick Verano Turbo debuts with 250 horsepower

(June 12, 2012) DETROIT — Buick today announced the 2013 Verano Turbo luxury sedan will be powered by an Ecotec 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing that produces 250 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,000 rpm. Acceleration from 0-60 mph is an estimated 6.2 seconds.

The Verano Turbo goes on sale later this year.