August 2013

Kia announces $14,700 starting price for all-new 2014 Soul

(August 29, 2013) IRVINE, Calif. — Kia Motors America has announced pricing for its iconic urban passenger vehicle, the all-new 2014 Soul. When it goes on sale during the fourth quarter, the Soul will be offered in three trim levels: Base, Plus and Exclaim, with the Base trim starting $14,700, not including destination charges of $795.

Chevrolet Malibu gets stop/start technology, improved mileage

(August 29, 2013) DETROIT — The 2014 Chevrolet Malibu arriving in dealerships this fall will be the first midsize sedan sold in the U.S. to offer fuel-saving stop/start technology standard on its 2.5L base model.

The Malibu has an EPA-estimated 25 city and 36 highway mpg — a 14 percent improvement in city fuel economy — at a starting price of $22,965 that Chevrolet hopes will jump start Malibu sales, which have been sagging against the mid-size sedan competition.

Honda demonstrates advanced vehicle-to-pedestrian technologies

(August 28, 2013) DETROIT — Honda today demonstrated two experimental safety technologies aimed at reducing the potential for collisions between automobiles and pedestrians and between automobiles and motorcycles.

Nissan announces autonomous drive benchmarks

(August 28, 2013) IRVINE, Calif. — Nissan has announced that the company will be ready with multiple, commercially viable Autonomous Drive vehicles by 2020. Nissan announced that the company's engineers have been carrying out intensive research on the technology for years, alongside teams from the world's top universities, including MIT, Stanford, Oxford, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Tokyo.

Volkswagen to show electrification of two high-volume models in Europe

(August 28, 2013) WOLFSBURG — In a double world premiere, Volkswagen will be presenting two new and efficient electric cars at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt beginning Sept. 10: the e-up! and e-Golf.

Infiniti releases first image of Q30 Concept to be shown in Frankfurt

(August 27, 2013) Infiniti has provided a first look at the Q30 Concept which will have its world premiere at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show as the next step in Infiniti's foray into new premium segments. The Infiniti Q30 Concept signals the contemporary design vision for a compact Infiniti vehicle which will target a new generation of premium customers. 

Ford helps businesses design ultimate ‘billboard on wheels’

(August 27, 2013) DEARBORN — Entrepreneurs and businesses that want to develop the ultimate “billboard on wheels” now have access to Ford’s redesigned custom vehicle graphics site. Improvements to the Ford Commercial Graphics tool have made the process of creating, ordering and purchasing vehicle wraps simpler than ever.

Chevrolet Silverado signs with Texas Longhorns

(August 26, 2013) AUSTIN, Texas — Chevrolet, the University of Texas Athletics program, IMG College and the Ex-Students’ Association of the University of Texas (the Texas Exes) announced a multi-year sponsorship agreement today, designating Silverado as the Official Truck of the Texas Longhorns and of the Texas Exes. Silverado also is now the Official Truck of Bevo, the Texas Longhorns’ live mascot.

105-year-old woman surprised with new car from anonymous fan

(August 26, 2013) SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — California's oldest driver, 105-year-old Edythe Kirchmaier, received a big surprise when she was gifted a brand new car from an anonymous fan. Kirchmaier has a perfect 86-year driving record with no accidents, parking, or moving violations. She renewed her driver's license this January after passing her test with flying colors.

New York's 'Taxi of Tomorrow' moves closer to the 'Taxi of Today'

(August 26, 2013) IRVINE, Calif. — Production of the Nissan NV200 Taxi — New York's "Taxi of Tomorrow" — is now underway at the company's assembly plant in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Nissan developed the new taxi, which is based on the NV200 compact cargo vehicle, to suit the specific demands of the more than 600,000 people who ride in New York City taxicabs every day.