August 2017

Genesis Virtual Guide provides access to vehicle capabilities

(August 7, 2017) FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — Augmented reality (AR) has come to your luxury car. The Genesis Augmented Reality Manual (Genesis Virtual Guide) is now available for the 2017 Genesis G80 and Genesis G90 as a free download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Genesis Virtual Guide is a modern take on the traditional owner's manual, allowing consumers to use their smartphone or tablet to get how-to information for repairs, maintenance and vehicle features.

Cadillac global sales up 23.1 percent year-to-date

(August 7, 2017) Cadillac globally sold 25,231 units in July 2017, maintaining a 14 month run of year over year growth.  China sales were up by 37.1 percent, accompanied by significant gains in Canada and South Korea. 

The XT5 luxury crossover continues to lead sales for the brand with 75,659 units delivered worldwide in 2017 and achieved its second-best month in the United States with 5,504 sold. Globally, sales of the CT6 model grew 62.6 percent for the month, driven by market share gains in the USA and China, while ATS rose 7.9 percent for the month.

car2go carsharing service shows growth in North America

(August 7, 2017) AUSTIN, Texas — car2go, North America's largest flexible one-way carsharing service, saw a significant increase in use of its service during the first six months of 2017 increasing by 40 percent year-over-year in the first half of 2017 compared to the first half of 2016 across all 11 of the service's North American locations, with more than 4.5 million trips taken so far this year.

New Rolls-Royce Phantom built on 'Architecture of Luxury'

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 7, 2017) The eighth generation Rolls-Royce Phantom — the second generation under BMW ownership — has been unveiled. Built on a new, unique to Rolls-Royce aluminum spaceframe that can be sized for the requirements of any new model, the new Phantom is built on what Rolls-Royce calls an “Architecture of Luxury” optimized for varied but small-volume production. 

Honda goes back to its roots eliminating V-6 engine in new Accord

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 6, 2017) Over the past nine generations, Honda’s Accord has gone from a 68-horsepower hatchback that weighed about 2,000 pounds and cost $3,500, to the flagship sedan for the brand. That first car, which added a 72-horsepower sedan variant in 1977, had a five-speed manual or two-speed (upgraded to three speeds in 1980) automatic transmission, and — for the time — a generous list of standard equipment.

Video shows special Subaru WRX STI in sub-seven minute Nurburgring lap

(August 5, 2017) CHERRY HILL, N.J.  — Subaru of America has released a new video of the Subaru WRX STI Type RA NBR Special with driver Richie Stanaway setting a new lap record for a four-door sedan at the famous 12.8-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife race track, achieving a time of 6:57.5. The time was recorded using the Nürburgring timing equipment and was verified by track officials.

Chevrolet takes electric cars to the moon and back

By Casey Williams
MyCarData

(August 4, 2017) I know, many Tesla owners are over the moon with their high-priced, yet expeditiously quick, electric cars.  They should be — by all accounts, they’re excellent cars.  While Tesla’s founder, Elon Musk, shoots rockets to the space station, he has so far not shot an electric car to the moon.  General Motors already did it…45 years ago.

2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI — Close to perfection

By Russ Heaps
Clanging Bell

(August 4, 2017) Those of us who don't spend our day kicking around Volkswagen for its diesel fuel-economy-cheating scandal, put that time to good use celebrating its gasoline-fueled cars. High on the list of the cars worthy of praise is the Golf, and high on the list of Golf iterations is the 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Infiniti QX60 impresses with style, handling and high-tech options

By Peter Hubbard


MotorwayAmerica.com

(August 4, 2017) Step into the “Way Back” time machine with me, and return if you will to 1990.  It’s a wild and crazy time for the Japanese automakers, as Toyota, Honda and Nissan have all decided that in order to keep the aging and increasingly affluent Baby Boomers coming back for more, they need to start new luxury channels.