January 2013

Iconic red double-decker bus goes on auction block

(January 6, 2013) LONDON — Arguably one of Britain’s most iconic vehicles — a 1962 Leyland Routemaster red double-decker bus — is just the ticket for another successful Silverstone Auctions sale.

Estimated at between £20,000 to £28,000, the example being offered at the Race Retro & Classic Car Sale at Stoneleigh on Feb. 23 saw service for well beyond its active life expectancy clearly demonstrating what a reliable, and well-loved, workhorse it is.

Visteon offers vision of future mobility at International CES

(January 6, 2013) LAS VEGAS — Representing Visteon Corporation's vision of mobility in the year 2020, the e-Bee vehicle concept is designed to explore new and alternative ways of using a vehicle, including car-sharing, private ownership and short-term rental.

The concept will make its North American debut at this week's International CES (Computer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas.

Mini X-raid team defending Rally Dakar title

(January 6, 2013) LIMA, Peru — The Monster Energy X-raid Team and its quartet of Mini ALL4 Racing cars are competing over the next two weeks in the 35th Rally Dakar, which got underway in Lima on Saturday. Every member of the X-raid team is determined to repeat the squad’s 2012 triumph.

Nissan trucks — Mud and flight

(January 5, 2013) FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Off-Roading is life for Nissan drivers #1 Carl Renezeder and #2 Casey Currie. The Firebird raceway at the Lucas Oil off-road series is as good as it gets. Check out the video to get a taste of driving — and flying — in the mud.

Cadillac concept cars to star at Amelia Concours d'Elegance

(January 5, 2013) There are limited production cars, there are rare cars and there are concept cars that never find their way to the showroom. A fleet of Cadillac's rare and mythic Motorama and Detroit Auto Show Concept Cars will take to the field at the 18th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, March 10.

2013 Fiat 500e offers 108 highway MPGe rating

(January 5, 2013) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rated the stylish Fiat 500e's highway-cycle performance at 108 MPGe, which is unsurpassed by any electric vehicle (EV) on the U.S. market.

MPGe is the EPA-devised measure for determining how many miles an EV can travel on a quantity of battery-generated electricity that has same energy content as a gallon of gasoline.

Ford sells portion of former Wixom Assembly Plant

(January 5, 2013) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford has sold 239 acres of the former Wixom Assembly Plant to Trident Barrow Management, a unit of Barrow Development.
 
“We’re very pleased with the sale of the property and look forward to watching new development in the Wixom area,” said Donna Inch, Ford Land chairman and CEO. “Both the mayor and city officials have been diligent and steadfast on assisting with repurposing the property and working with the new owners on demolition permitting.”

Range Rover shows its capability by towing an Airstream to Africa — and back

(January 5, 2013) In order to demonstrate the class-leading towing ability of the all-new Range Rover, Land Rover teamed up with an American icon to take part in the ultimate road-trip to one of the highest points in Africa.

With a newly-launched Airstream 684 Series 2 aluminum travel trailer hitched to its electrically-deployable tow bar, a Range Rover Autobiography with the 334-horsepower V8 engine was chosen for the challenge — to drive from Airstream's European home in the English Lake District, UK, to the top of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco — and back.

London real estate agency changes its sales fleet to Fiat 500s

(January 4, 2013) LONDON — A leading real estate agency has decided to switch its entire fleet of sales consultants’ vehicles to Fiat 500 city cars. Orchards of London, a specialist estate agency with offices in Ealing and Chiswick, West London, took delivery this week of 15 new Fiat 500s.

GM recalling nearly 55,000 pickups, SUVs over shifter issue

(January 4, 2012) General Motors is recalling nearly 55,000 pickup trucks, SUVs and vans because they can roll away unexpectedly. The recall affects certain 2013 models of the Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Avalanche and Express. Also included are the GMC Sierra, Savana and Yukon as well as the Cadillac Escalade.