March 2016

New ergonomic, tech options enhance 2017 Ford Transit lineup

(March 4, 2016) INDIANAPOLIS — Ford is introducing enhancements across its van lineup for the 2017 model year that are designed to make the vehicles even more flexible. Offering a choice of 64 configurations, up from 58 in the previous model year, Ford Transit’s best-in-class flexibility has helped it become America’s best-selling commercial van.

Now, new optional features — from low-profile center consoles to power running boards — are available to help customers tailor Transit even closer to their business needs.

Infiniti sets new global sales record for February, but down in U.S.

(March 4, 2016) HONG KONG — Infiniti continued its sales momentum in February when it sold 16,600 vehicles globally, an increase of 0.2 percent over February 2015. This was the best February result for Infiniti globally as well as the 18th consecutive month with year-on-year growth. Year-to-date, Infiniti sold more than 32,250 vehicles, up 1 percent year over year, and another new record for the company.

Eye-catching Nissan Sentra grows up

By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica

(March 4, 2016) To say the compact Sentra is an important vehicle for Nissan would be a huge understatement. Last year, Nissan sold more than 200,000 Sentras — that’s double sales in just three years. Sentra is Nissan’s third-best-selling vehicle, behind the Altima and Rogue.

Now in its seventh generation, Sentra has been in the U.S. market for 34 years, with more than four million units sold. Nissan says 93 percent of all Sentras are still on the road.

Glow-in-the-dark Nissan Juke, the ultimate street art canvas

(March 4, 2016) MELBOURNE, Australia — The Nissan Juke provided a challenging glowing canvas for two emerging street graffiti artists who battled it out head-to-head on the streets of Melbourne, Australia.

Among Melbourne's White Night celebrations — a dusk 'til dawn celebration of culture and creativity in the city — local artists Snake Hole and Chris Le accepted the challenge to re-imagine the Nissan Juke.

Ford pickup stripped in retirement



This early '90s model Ford F-150 may be gratified that it has been put out to pasture, stripped of most of its necessary parts, after it was horribly desecrated in the last years of its useful road life.
(Photo by Ralph Gable)

Audi unveils what may be the most powerful diesel-engine SUV in the world

(March 4, 2016) INGOLSTADT, Germany — Audi has unveiled what may be the most powerful diesel-engine SUV in the world, the SQ7 TDI.  Tapping into extra accelerative power becomes as quick and easy as flicking a light switch this week as the new 429-horsepower Audi SQ7 TDI joins the range as the world’s first series production car combining turbocharging with an electrically powered compressor bringing breathtakingly immediate response.

Volkswagen introduces Golf SportWagen Limited as value model

(March 3, 2016) HERNDON, Va.  — Volkswagen of America announced today the release of the all-new Golf SportWagen Limited Edition, which is scheduled to arrive in dealerships later this month. Positioned in the sweet spot of the Golf SportWagen lineup, the vehicle will have a starting price of $24,995.

Toyota expands Takata airbag safety recall

(March 3, 2016) TORRANCE, Calif. — Toyota Motor Sales has announced that it is expanding two of its recalls involving Takata front passenger airbag inflators.  This will add model years of certain vehicles previously recalled and will cover all remaining dual-stage front passenger inflators of a particular type, as a precautionary measure.

Approximately 198,000 model year 2008 Corolla and Corolla Matrix and model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC 430 vehicles will be added to the recalls.

Mercedes-Benz unveils rendering of new Atlanta headquarters

(March 3, 2016) ATLANTA — Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has unveiled the first rendering of its new Atlanta headquarters in Sandy Springs. The company plans to break ground this spring, with a target completion date of early 2018.

MBUSA, which moved to a temporary facility in July 2015, will construct a new, state-of-the-art headquarters facility on a greenfield site located at the corner of Abernathy and Barfield road, near the intersection of Georgia 400 and Interstate 285. The 225,000 square feet headquarters will be located on a 12-acre campus at the south side of the 76-acre property formerly owned by Glenridge Hall.

Subaru reports record February sales

(March 3, 2016) CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Subaru of America has reported record sales for February totaling 42,011 vehicles, a 1.6 percent gain over February 2015. The company also reported year-to-date sales of 83,112 vehicles, a 1.2 percent gain over the same period in 2015.

These results build on strong sales from 2015 where Subaru achieved its seventh consecutive year of sales records and exceeded 580,000 annual sales — a first in the company’s history.