August 2012

Nissan says it designed new Almera strictly for Russian conditions

(August 31, 2012) MOSCOW, Russia — Russian consumer preferences, road and weather conditions, as well as rising standards of living are all factoring into Nissan's country-specific design and engineering of vehicles for the country.

Global Chief Marketability Engineer Jerry Hardcastle detailed at the Moscow International Automobile Salon how Nissan is designing, making and selling vehicles for the growing market, looking at the new Nissan Almera, Juke NISMO, and the X-TRAIL.

Ford reaches 350 millionth vehicle milestone

(August 31, 2012) RAYONG, Thailand —– Ford today celebrated the company’s 350 millionth vehicle — a Ford Focus, which is the world’s best-selling car for the first half of 2012.
 
Ford is celebrating the production milestone at its newest global manufacturing facility located in Rayong, Thailand, approximately120 miles southeast of Bangkok. Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) plant is a $450 million facility, opened in May to produce the new Focus, which also is built in four other countries.

Dancing Kia hamsters are back at 18th century opera house — see video here

(August 31, 2012) IRVINE, Calif. — Kia Motors' music-loving hamsters, the stars of some of the most watched viral videos in the world over the last three years, return this weekend in a new campaign for the wildly popular Soul urban passenger vehicle that brings the 21st century's electronic dance music craze to a stuffy 18th century opera house. 

Volvo to cut car production about 10 percent

(August 31, 2012) STOCKHOLM — Swedish carmaker Volvo will cut car production in Sweden around 10 percent and shed 200-300 jobs due to slower-than-expected sales, a union official said Thursday.

Michael Blohm of the IG Metall blue collar union at Volvo's Torslanda plant in the western city of Gothenburg said management had told staff a slowdown in sales meant production would have to be reduced, Reuters news service reported.

Inspired Performance meets zero emissions in Infiniti LE Concept

(August 31, 2012) ROLLE, Switzerland — Representing a bold next stage in Infiniti's quest for performance luxury motoring in the most sustainable way possible, the Infiniti LE Concept is a true Infiniti with just one thing missing — a tailpipe.

Small city car Fiat Panda to get a four-wheel drive variant

(August 30, 2012) The new Fiat Panda 4x4 — the only four-wheel drive model in the city car A segment — will make its debut at the forthcoming international Paris Motor Show.

"The successor to a bestseller which first appeared almost 30 years ago, today’s third-generation four-wheel drive Panda is a perfect interpretation of the spirit of the times, uniting consolidated off-road capabilities with a refined design and compact, efficient architecture. The Panda 4x4 is the superlative expression of the model’s great versatility, a genuine Super Panda, ready to tackle mountain mule tracks and the urban jungle in the same assured manner," Fiat says in a press release.

No rest for app developers at San Francisco 'hackathon'

(August 30, 2012) DEARBORN, Mich. — To most people, a 24-hour day means three meals, a good night’s sleep, some time in the office and maybe a little relaxation at home before doing it all again. But for app developers at the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon, 24 hours means an opportunity to turn their ideas into reality — and quickly.
 

Buick Encore will be highly fuel-efficient crossover

(August 30, 2012) DETROIT — The 2013 Buick Encore luxury crossover is rated at an EPA-estimated 25 mpg city, 33 mpg highway and a combined 28 mpg fuel economy with a standard six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. It will save an estimated $2,100 in fuel costs over five years of ownership compared to the average new vehicle.

Fisker Karma owners gather in Anaheim for appreciation day

(August 30, 2012) ANAHEIM, Calif. — Fisker Automotive, the leading manufacturer of luxury electric vehicles with extended range, for the first time hosted 28 owners of its Karma sedan at the company's global headquarters in Anaheim over the weekend, during an owner appreciation day organized in cooperation with the world's highest-volume Fisker retailer.

Nissan introduces Almera in Moscow

(August 29, 2012) MOSCOW  — With a significant new model — engineered and built in Russia for Russia — and ambitious plans for the future, Nissan's presence at the 16th Moscow International Auto Show underlines the company's major commitment to the region.

Russia is one of Nissan's key global markets. It's the company's most important market in Europe and its fifth largest globally. Nissan is the largest Japanese brand in Russia, claiming a 5.5 per cent share of an overall market that's growing year on year.