April 2016

All-new Fiat 124 Spider will start at $25,900

(April 30, 2016) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Fiat brand this week announced that pricing for its all-new 2017 124 Spider lineup will start at $25,900 including destination charge. Fiat’s all-new roadster is the lowest-priced turbocharged convertible in America. The 2017 Fiat 124 Spider revives the storied nameplate, bringing its classic Italian styling and performance to a new generation of vehicles and buyers.

GM to invest additional $788 million in Spring Hill plant

(April 29, 2016) SPRING HILL, Tenn. — General Motors will invest $788.7 million for an all-new, high-efficiency engine program, as well as projects to modernize the vehicle programs at its Spring Hill Manufacturing Plant, creating 792 and retaining 16 jobs. At the same time, GM announced a $118 million investment at its Bay City Powertrain facility, creating 29 and retaining 67 jobs.

Brembo celebrates first pour at all-new foundry in Michigan

(April 29, 2016) DETROIT — Brembo, the world leader and acknowledged innovator of brake technology, conducted the first pour at its all-new cast iron foundry recently completed in Homer, Mich. The first pour is a preliminary test of the facility that ensures all systems are functioning properly and is the first step before production ramp up begins.

During this test, the foundry’s furnaces were charged and the molten raw material from these furnaces was poured into a mold for the first time. All systems in Brembo’s new cast iron foundry performed as expected.

Ford posts best quarterly profits in its history

(April 29, 2016) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford on Thursday posted the highest quarterly pretax profit in its 113-year history and its best-ever results in North America, driven by higher sales of the redesigned F-150 and a retooled lineup of SUVs. Ford executives said they believe the strong quarter sets the company up to best last year’s record pretax profit of $10.8 billion.

Mercury Cyclone reaches end of the road



This 1968 Mercury Cyclone has been stripped of all its important parts, some of which have probably been transplanted in other Cyclones of the same age. The Cyclone started life in 1964 as a sporty option for the Mercury Comet. In 1968 the Comet name was dropped, and the Cyclone gained several engine options including the high-performance 427 cubic inch V-8 with four-barrel carburetor generating as much as 425 horsepower used mainly for drag racing, according to How Stuff Works. (Photos by Ralph Gable)

The common cupholder — Ford studies the ubiquitous automobile convenience

(April 29, 2016) DEARBORN, Mich. — At Ford, every detail matters, and customer experiences matter most. That’s why, in designing the new 2017 Ford Fusion, the automaker set out in search of what makes cupholders — a seemingly small convenience — so important to customers. In the end, customer feedback drove substantial changes to the refreshed Fusion console design, including a new take on the common cupholder that customers will surely appreciate.

All-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivans on way to Michigan-area dealers

(April 28, 2016) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Hundreds of Michigan-area dealers gathered at The Palace of Auburn Hills to drive away more than 200 of the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivans and bring them back to their dealerships in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. This is the largest ever “drive away” hosted by FCA US.

Almost as good as the real thing

By Christopher A Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(April 28, 2016) Here’s something you don’t see everyday. Silverstone Auctions is hosting Denmark’s Classic Race Aarhus Auction May 28-29, and will be selling a recreation of the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR. It is best recognized as the car that took Stirling Moss and Dennis Jenkinson to victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia, and Mercedes built nine in period, of which only six still exist. This makes these cars extremely rare, and recreations quite valuable.

Volvo to launch most ambitious autonomous driving trial in UK

(April 27, 2016) LONDON  — Volvo Cars is set to begin the UK's most ambitious autonomous driving trial next year to speed up the introduction of a technology that promises to massively reduce car accidents as well as free up congested roads and save drivers valuable time.

Land Rover Discovery Sport adds Dynamic Design Package for 2017

(April 27, 2016) MAHWAH, N.J. — Land Rover has announced a number of design additions to the 2017 Discovery Sport including a new Dynamic Design Pack and the availability of the advanced Land Rover InControl Touch Pro infotainment system with 10.2-inch touch-screen. The 2017 Discovery Sport will go on sale in the U.S. in August with a starting price of $37,695.