News archive

September 2011

Let's buggy up! for a day at the beach in VW concept

Tags:



(September 28, 2011) Amid the raft of new car concepts at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month, one of the head-turners was Volkswagen’s bright orange ray of sunshine, the buggy up! concept.

Aston Martin named 'coolest brand' in UK

Tags:

(September 28, 2011) Aston Martin has been awarded the prize of the United Kingdom's coolest brand, winning the accolade for an unprecedented fifth time in six years.

Once again, Aston Martin has topped a poll which comprises an array of leading international contemporary design-driven brands, including Apple and Bang & Olufsen, as well as other leading automotive brands. Aston Martin was also voted the top automotive brand surpassing a host of other luxury and specialist manufacturers to complete a double success.

OnStar reverses decision to collect information from cancelled subscribers

Tags:

(September 27, 2011) DETROIT — OnStar announced today it is reversing its proposed terms and conditions policy changes and will not keep a data connection to customers' vehicles after the OnStar service is canceled.

OnStar recently sent e-mails to customers telling them that effective Dec. 1, their service would change so that data from a customer vehicle would continue to be transmitted to OnStar after service was canceled — unless the customer asked for it to be shut off.

BMW of North America Announces New Vice President, Corporate Communications

Tags:
(September 27,  2011) WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ — Today, the BMW Group announced a change in its North America senior management team effective October 1, the same day that Ludwig Willisch becomes President and CEO, BMW of North America LLC. 

Dodge Viiper comes to life with new Nurburgring track record

Tags:

(September 27, 2011) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team made history on Sept. 14 at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife as their ultimate, street-legal, track-ready car — the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR — recaptured the production car lap record with a 7:12.13 elapsed time.

Copses to head 'Customer Experience' at GM

Tags:

(September 27, 2011) DETROIT — Will General Motors' customers soon find it easier to deal with the automaker over issues with their vehicles? That appears to be GM's goal by developing a new Customer Experience division.

Paul Copses today was named the first U.S. vice president of Customer Experience at General Motors, charged with leading efforts to win and keep customers for Chevrolet, Buick GMC and Cadillac.

Chrysler faces California New Motor Vehicle Board today

Tags:
(September 27, 2011) LOS ANGELES — Although the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the New Motor Vehicle Board continue their actions including a meeting today on the charges that Chrysler improperly operated a factory owned store, Chrysler Group has reached an agreement to sell its factory-owned dealership in Los Angeles.
 
Motor Village Los Angeles held its grand opening last November, just prior to the LA Auto Show as a showcase for its vehicles including the first Fiat store in the U.S. after a 27-year absence.

West Haven puts 35 natural gas Transit Connect taxis into service

Tags:

(September 27, 2011) DEARBORN, Mich. — The global footprint of a New England cab company is a few sizes smaller after it put 35 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered Ford Transit Connect Taxis into service.

Metro Taxi of West Haven, Conn. added 35 Ford Transit Connect Taxis to its fleet as part of its efforts to reduce reliance on gasoline and greenhouse gas emissions. The cabs are the first CNG-powered Transit Connect Taxis in New England.

Chevrolet customers in Korea create world's largest car logo

Tags:

(September 27, 2011) SEOUL — GM Korea got a jump start on the Nov. 3 celebration of the centennial of Chevrolet, as 1,143 of its customers gathered in Pyeongchang, Gangwon, to create the largest Chevrolet bow tie and set a new Guinness World Record. The online Chevrolet Biggest Bow Tie Challenge was created by GM Korea to thank its loyal customers.

Ford Explorer reinvented in LEGO bricks

Tags:

(September 26, 2011) CHICAGO — A Ford Explorer rolling off the line today at Chicago Assembly Plant is unique. This Ford Explorer is created from more than 380,000 LEGO bricks and marks the beginning of a long-term alliance between Ford and LEGOLAND Florida theme park.

The bright red LEGOLAND Florida edition Explorer, created by 22 designers, weighs 2,654 pounds and is supported by a 768-pound interior aluminum base.