News archive

June 2016

Mecum's first collector car auction in Portland has sales of $9.3 million

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(June 24, 2016) WALWORTH, Wis.— With 300 vehicles hammered sold on the auction block in just two days, Mecum’s inaugural Portland auction at the Portland Expo Center was a pronounced success. Held June 17 and and18, the auction attracted vehicles from 17 states across the country and attendees from even more with total sales reaching more than $9.3 million.

The city was electric and the buzz about Mecum’s arrival in Portland was inescapable in the days leading up to the auction. The local enthusiasm coupled with the event’s national reach resulted in a packed house both auction days.

GM and U.S. Navy collaborating on fuel cell-powered underwater vehicles

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(June 24, 2016) WASHINGTON, D.C. — General Motors, the Office of Naval Research and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory are cooperating to incorporate automotive hydrogen fuel cell systems into the next generation of Navy unmanned undersea vehicles, or UUVs.

Hydrogen fuel cells convert high-energy hydrogen efficiently into electricity, resulting in vehicles with greater range and endurance than those powered with batteries. Under the ONR’s Innovative Naval Prototype program for Large Displacement UUVs, energy is a core technology in the Navy’s goals for vehicles with more than 60 days endurance.

Nissan creates GT-R Drone: 0-62 mph in just 1.3 seconds

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(June 24, 2016) GOODWOOD, UK — Nissan today unveiled the GT-R Drone — one of the fastest accelerating FPV (First Person View) racing drones in the world. Built to be able to keep up with the new 2017 Nissan GT-R while filming on the track, the drone features the very latest in performance-enhancing technology, just like its automotive equivalent.

Custom designed by World Drone Prix Champions, Tornado XBlades Racing, the GT-R Drone uses a special race tuned configuration and low-drag canopy to reach 100kph (62 mph) from a standstill in just 1.3 seconds.

Volvo rolls first V90 off the line only weeks after first S90 was built

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(June 23, 2016) Volvo Cars started production of the new V90 premium estate at its manufacturing plant in Torslanda, Sweden this week. The first customer-bound V90 rolled off the production line only weeks after the first S90 premium sedan was built. This means all new models in the top-of-the-line 90 series, based on Volvo’s in-house developed modular vehicle architecture SPA, are now being produced in Sweden.

Acura refreshes 2017 MDX with new styling, premium features

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(June 23, 2016) TORRANCE, Calif. — The restyled and refreshed 2017 Acura MDX, the best-selling three-row luxury SUV of all time, went on sale this week at Acura dealerships nationwide with a starting MSRP of $43,950.

The 2017 Acura MDX raises its game with new exterior styling, larger wheel and tire options and an expanded complement of premium features and technologies, including the AcuraWatch suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies, now offered as standard equipment on all 2017 MDX models, a first in the luxury SUV segment.

Fiat Chrysler eliminates use of Takata airbag inflators

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(June 22, 2016) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — FCA US will cease NAFTA-market production of vehicles equipped with non-desiccated ammonium-nitrate Takata air-bag inflators, by next week. Global production is expected to end by mid-September.

Most inflators used in FCA US vehicles employ alternate propellants. Others use desiccant-enhanced ammonium nitrate. Neither is associated with any inflator ruptures of the kind attributed to certain non-desiccated ammonium-nitrate inflators.

Next phase of 'Dad Brand' Pacifica spots launches over weekend

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(June 22, 2016)  AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Chrysler brand’s next phase of its all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica “Dad Brand” campaign featuring actor/comedian/writer/producer Jim Gaffigan launched over Father’s Day weekend.

Two new 30-second television spots — “Exhausted” and “See Everything” — broke across TV over this past weekend. Three additional videos — "Soccer" (:60), "Earn It" (:30) and "Kids" (:30) — made their debut on the Chrysler brand’s YouTube channel.

Barrett-Jackson's Northeast Auction to feature iconic GM cars

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(June 21, 2016) UNCASVILLE, Conn. —  Barrett-Jackson will feature exceptional GM diversity and style at the inaugural Northeast Auction on June 23-25 at Mohegan Sun. Among the highlighted GM vehicles are a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 and two 1969 Chevrolet Camaros — one a matching-numbers Z/28, the other a full-on Pro-Touring custom.

Volkswagen de Mexico builds first test body of new long-wheelbase Tiguan

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(June 22, 2016) PUEBLA, Mexico — Volkswagen de México has reached an early production milestone with the assembly of the first test body-in-white for the upcoming Tiguan Long Wheel Base crossover SUV scheduled to begin its production during the first quarter of 2017.

After the construction of the new building for the body shop was concluded at the end of 2015, equipment and machinery installation is now nearing completion. The first test body was built on on June 10 to check the calibration of body shop equipment and processes.

All-new 2017 Honda Ridgeline launches nationwide this week

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(June 21, 2016) TORRANCE, Calif. — The completely redesigned 2017 Honda Ridgeline powered into the U.S. mid-size pickup market this week with a long list of new features and improvements to deliver a combination of cargo- and people-hauling capability and sophistication in the midsize pickup class.