February 2016

Nissan unleashes trio of aggressive 'Winter Warrior' concepts

(February 10, 2016) CHICAGO — There's winter, then there's Warrior Winter. Snowfall, ice, drifts — conditions that challenge even the most capable of all-wheel drive vehicles. But not these aggressive Nissan models. In celebration of the Chicago Auto Show, Nissan is giving three of its popular crossovers a little competitive edge — creating one-off versions of its popular Pathfinder, Murano and Rogue equipped with sets of heavy-duty snow tracks.

Dodge Viper named to Hagerty’s Hot List of future collectibles

(February 9, 2016) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Since its inception in 1992, the Dodge Viper has proven to be a truly exotic and distinctive American supercar, proudly carrying its title as the flagship high-performance machine of the Dodge brand.

Ford to premiere new vehicle, unveil technology at Mobile World Congress

(February 9, 2016) COLOGNE, Germany — Ford will introduce a new vehicle for Europe, unveil new advanced in-car technology and detail the latest progress on the Ford Smart Mobility plan at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Ford President and CEO Mark Fields will announce the news in a keynote speech at on Feb. 22.

BMW introduces all-new 2017 Alpina B7 xDrive in U.S.

(February 9, 2016) WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — BMW of North America today announced the all-new 2017 BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive, the third generation of ALPINA automobiles based on the BMW 7 Series offered in the US. The all-new BMW ALPINA B7 xDrive stands for luxury paired with precision dynamics, effortless performance and comfort at the highest level.

The 2017 BMW ALPINA B7 will be available in September at selected dealerships. Price will be announced closer to market launch.

Hyundai's 'First Date' Super Bowl spot wins USA Today Ad Meter crown

(February 9, 2016) FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — Hyundai became the first automotive company to win USA TODAY’s coveted Ad Meter when its spot “First Date” beat out 63 other Super Bowl 50 commercials. Hyundai’s impressive performance also included a fifth and sixth place finish for “Ryanville” and “The Chase” respectively, meaning Hyundai finished with three of the top six highest rated ads.

Cadillac's global sales grow 2.2 percent in January

(February 8, 2016) Cadillac’s global expansion continued in January, with total sales of 20,625 marking a 2.2 percent increase following the 7.5 percent growth of 2015. Cadillac now enters a period of key product launches which are planned to further accelerate the sales and reinforce the rising stature of the brand.

Cadillac launches the all-new CT6 flagship sedan in the first quarter of 2016, followed closely by the first-ever XT5 luxury crossover which enters the luxury market’s strongest segment.

A unique car — Ferrari GTC4Lusso 4-seater to debut at Geneva show

(February 8, 2016) MARANELLO, Italy — Ferrari has announced the addition of a four-seater to its range of the Ferrari GTC4Lusso. Ferrari says this hails a major evolution of the sporting Grand Tourer concept by integrating rear-wheel steering with four-wheel drive for the first time.

This is a car designed for clients wanting to experience the pleasure of driving a Ferrari anywhere, anytime, be it on short spins or long journeys, snowy mountain roads or city streets, alone or in the company of three lucky passengers.

Ford, Pivotal collaborate on software platform for FordPass

(February 8, 2016) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford is working with cloud-based software technology leader Pivotal to build a software platform supporting FordPass that will enable the company to rapidly innovate and iterate on new applications and mobility solutions for consumers.

FordPass — a free digital, physical and personal platform — features four benefits for members: Marketplace includes mobility services such as parking and sharing; FordGuides help consumers move more efficiently; Appreciation, where members are recognized for their loyalty; and FordHubs, where consumers can experience Ford’s latest innovations.

Audi brand scores highest among Super Bowl 50 commercials at kkb.com

(February 8, 2016) IRVINE, Calif. — The Audi R8 increased 7,780 percent in new-car searches on KBB.com following its commercial, the most of any advertised model during Super Bowl 50, according to Kelley Blue Book kbb.com. Rounding out the top three advertised models, the Kia Optima's creative use of Christopher Walken and socks, and the Hyundai Genesis spiked in consumer traffic, gaining 496 percent and 400 percent, respectively.

Sweet Pea — The story of a beloved Datsun truck

(February 7, 2016) NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Marvin Askew bought his Datsun 1600 truck on Nov. 30, 1971, at Hippodrome Datsun in Nashville for about $2000.

"This was his baby," said Dan Tito, the second owner of the Datsun truck. "Marvin didn't have a name for it, but we named it 'Sweet Pea' obviously because of its color. This man can stand here and talk about this truck hour upon hour upon hour. When you have something for 42 years and you take this good care of it, obviously it meant a lot to him."