December 2017

Lincoln's growth continues in China; 100,000th vehicle delivered

(December 7, 2017) SHANGHAI, China — Lincoln on Wednesday celebrated the delivery of its 100,000th vehicle, a new milestone by one of the fastest growing luxury brands in China after just three years in the Chinese market. Lincoln is the first luxury automaker to accomplish this feat within in this timeframe.

The 100,000th vehicle, the Lincoln Continental, was presented to customer Mr. Pan in a celebration with senior executives. The celebration took place at Shanghai Yongda Lincoln, the first Lincoln store to open in China.

Rinspeed Snap —The sum of its parts is greater than the whole

(December 7, 2017) Self-driving cars, stuffed full of short-lived IT components, will help solve the transport problems in urban areas in the foreseeable future. To this end, Swiss powerhouse of ideas Rinspeed has designed an elaborate and unparalleled mobility ecosystem in its latest concept car, the “Snap.” It will be displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas Jan. 5-8.

2005 Ford GT tops Mecum's Kansas City auction

(December 6, 2017) WALWORTH, Wis. — Mecum Auctions’ collector-car auction in Kansas City, Mo., held Nov. 30 through Dec. 2, was a success as 391 vehicles hammered sold for an overall total of $8.2 million in sales.

The biannual auction is one of Mecum’s most consistent events and a personal favorite for many Mecum employees and customers alike. Sales at the December auction were topped by a 2005 Ford GT with just 3,600 miles that gaveled for $265,000. Other top sellers included an attractive 1968 Ford Mustang Resto Mod and a 36,000-mile 1986 Ferrari Testarossa.

Cadillac global sales up 3.7% in November; down 12.8% in U.S.

(December 6, 2017) A resurgent Cadillac sold 32,016 units globally in November, maintaining an 18-month run of consecutive growth. Year-to-date sales are up by 18.5 percent, totaling 321,721 units.

China continues to be a strong market, with sales up by 53.7 percent year over year. Canada, South Korea, the Middle East and Japan also saw sales increases in November.

Hyundai donates six Ioniq Hybrid cars to National Parks Service

(December 6, 2017) FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — To continue its commitment to global sustainability and to support America’s national parks, Hyundai has donated six 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrids to the National Park Service for use by staff in three national parks. Two Ioniqs were given to each park—Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California, and National Capital Parks (East) in Washington, D.C.

MOIA introduces world's first electric ride sharing car

(December 6, 2017) BERLIN — MOIA, the mobility startup from the Volkswagen Group, has introduced its comprehensive ride pooling concept just one year after its inception. The MOIA concept provides new mobility options that will significantly reduce traffic in major cities. The startup will present its ride pooling ecosystem with the mission “One Million Cars off the Road” at TechCrunch in Berlin, where the self-designed MOIA car, that is fully electric and optimized for ride pooling services, will make its debut.

2018 Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicle gets additional safety technology

(December 5, 2017) DETROIT — GM Fleet announced today that Chevrolet is adding new safety features and options to the 2018 Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) for the 2018 model year, including technologies designed to help reduce potential crash speeds or help avoid a crash all together.

“We want to protect our protectors and help them get home safely at the end of every shift,” said Ed Peper, U.S. vice president, GM Fleet. “The safety technologies we are introducing on the Tahoe PPV may serve as a second set of eyes.”

Production of all-new electric Nissan Leaf begins this week

(December 5, 2017) SMYRNA, Tenn. — Production for the all-new 2018 Nissan Leaf is officially underway at the Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in Smyrna, Tenn. The Nissan Leaf will be available at dealerships nationwide starting next month.

"We're committed to vehicle electrification and manufacturing in the United States," said Jeff Younginer, vice president, manufacturing, Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant. "With the Leaf's low starting price and latest suite of Nissan Intelligent Mobility features, we're excited to ramp up production and bring the Leaf to market next month."

GM lets customers order their morning coffee on way to work

(December 5, 2017) DETROIT — Starting today, General Motors is rolling out the automotive industry’s first commerce platform for on-demand reservations and purchases of goods and services. With Marketplace, drivers can now order and pay for their favorite coffee — and much more — on the way to work with a simple tap on the dash.

Lamborghini launches Urus 'Super Sport Utility Vehicle'

(December 5, 2017) Automobili Lamborghini has launched its third model the Lamborghini Urus, the first "Super Sport Utility Vehicle," that creates a new niche in the luxury segment with "benchmarking power, performance and driving dynamics, unparalleled design, luxury and daily usability."