December 2015

Toyota leads IIHS top safety picks with nine vehicles qualifying

(December 10, 2015) WASHINGTON — The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has announced its top safety picks for 2016 and Toyota topped the list of Top Safety Pick+ with nine winners, which included the Camry, the best-selling U.S. car.

Forty-eight vehicles met tougher criteria for 2016 to take home the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick+ award, earning good ratings in all five IIHS crashworthiness evaluations and an advanced or higher rating for front crash prevention. An additional 13 models qualified for Top Safety Pick.

Subaru breaks ground on new U.S. headquarters in Camden, N.J.

(December 10, 2015) CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Subaru of America on Wednesday broke ground on its future home in Camden, N.J. The company plans to develop an all-new $118 million corporate headquarters in the city, and in doing so, maintain its corporate headquarters in New Jersey as it has for nearly 50 years.
 

Porsche’s mid-engine sports cars to receive new name

(December 10, 2015) ATLANTA — The mid-engine sports cars from Porsche will be named 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman, respectively, when the models are introduced over the course of 2016. The 718 designation is a reference to the ground-breaking sports car Porsche introduced back in 1957, which achieved great success in a number of renowned car races.

Lotus reveals light and fast Exige Sport 350 — but not for U.S.

(December 10, 2015) As the ultimate incarnation of the world famous Exige, Lotus has revealed the Sport 350, the latest version of the class-leading and award winning sports car, that’s lighter and faster than ever before. The Exige weighs in at just 2,480 pounds and can sprint to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. Unfortunately it will not be sold in the U.S.

Big Jaguar rests in retirement



The Jaguar XJ series was begun in 1968 with the second generation Series 2 produced from 1973-1979. This second-generation Jaguar, with a 5.3-liter V-12 according to the emblem on the rear, was found in retirement in North Carolina. The big engine — making 265 horsepower — was first used in 1972 with a top speed of 140 mph. It was billed as the "fastest full four-seater available in the world."
(Photo by Ralph Gable)

Finalists named for North American Car and Truck of the Year awards

(December 9, 2015) Five of the six finalists announced Tuesday for the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards are made by foreign-owned automakers. The only domestic nameplate among the six is the Chevrolet Malibu. The annual awards will be announced on Jan. 11 at the Detroit auto show.

GM invests $127 million in Indiana casting plant creating 127 new jobs

(December 9, 2015) BEDFORD, Ind. — General Motors will invest $127.4 million in powertrain and structural components to support production of new aluminum engine blocks and components at its Bedford Casting Operations, creating approximately 127 future jobs.

The plant currently has approximately 700 employees on three shifts and produces transmission casings, converter housings, heads, and small gas engine blocks used in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles.

Ford's China sales up 9 percent in November, near 1 million mark for 2015

(December 9, 2015) Ford is nearing the 1 million mark for sales in China, selling 106,283 vehicles in November to bring the year-to-date total to 990,356. November performance was up 9 percent compared to 2014.

Changan Ford Automobile (CAF), Ford’s passenger car joint venture, sold 84,546 vehicles during the month, a 22-percent increase compared to 2014. CAF year-to-date sales totaled 739,465, up three percent compared to last year.

Mercedes-Benz displays 'interior firsts' with new E-class sedan

(December 9, 2015) STUTTGART — The redesigned Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan that goes on sale next year will feature interior design elements that the automaker calls industry firsts. The interior of the next-generation E-Class, unveiled Tuesday by the automaker, draws from the Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile design concept that Mercedes-Benz unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show in September.

Want to design an ad for Times Square? Ford is offering opportunity

(December 8, 2015) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford’s newest billboards won’t be designed by the company, but by its consumers. As part of the company’s new By Design car advertising campaign, Ford is encouraging consumers to design artwork for digital billboards that will go up in major cities across the country, from Times Square to the San Francisco Bay Bridge.