December 2013

Hitting the trifecta: Driving Chevrolet's 'Big Three' performance cars

By Russ Heaps
Clanging Bell

(December 8, 2013) Despite including Chevy products in many of the stories I do for my dot-com financial clients, I am not invited to the bulk of the media programs it throws. Consequently, I was doubly stoked when I received the nod to attend its recent performance-car-driving event in Palm Springs, Calif.

Porsche sells more than 14,000 cars worldwide in November

(December 7, 2013) ATLANTA — In November, Porsche AG sold more than 14,000 vehicles — an increase of 9.5 percent on the same month last year. Between January and November 2013, the sports car manufacturer delivered 147,290 new cars to customers, a figure up 14.2 percent on the same period in 2012.

Audi to show compact sports car crossover concept in Detroit

(December 7, 2013) Sporty, compact and versatile: With these attributes, the new Audi show car is making its debut in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The two-door model with its high ground clearance is a crossover – a car for all roads and tracks, for everyday driving and sporty recreational use.

Acura NSX Supercar Concept to debut in World Of Gran Turismo6 game

(December 7, 2013) TORRANCE, Calif. — The highly anticipated Acura NSX, in concept form, will fire up its twin-turbocharged engine and innovative new three-motor, torque vectoring Sport Hybrid powertrain in Gran Turismo6 (GT6), which released worldwide on Dec. 6.

The "real driving simulator" available exclusively for the PlayStation3 system gives sports car enthusiasts their first opportunity to get behind the wheel of the next generation Acura NSX Concept.

Honda celebrates 3 millionth vehicle built at Alabama plant

(December 6, 2013) LINCOLN, Ala. — Associates at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) celebrated a production milestone this week, completing the 3 millionth Honda vehicle built at the plant in Lincoln. The production of HMA's milestone vehicle comes a little more than 12 years since the start of mass production at the $2 billion facility on Nov. 14, 2001.

McLaren P1 joins exclusive sub-seven minute club at Nurburgring

(December 6, 2013) The McLaren name was born on the racetrack and, 50 years on, is the most successful name in global motorsport. That desire and determination to push for every extra tenth of a second, and obsessive focus on perfection, has seen the final development objective for the now sold out McLaren P1 achieved: a sub-seven minute lap time of the Nürburgring circuit.

Horsepower unleashed motivating all-new Ford Mustang

(December 6, 2013) DEARBORN, Mich. — The all-new Ford Mustang offers a choice of engines available with either manual or automatic transmissions that make it a great all-around performer no matter how you mix and match.

The new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine brings turbocharging to the Mustang powertrain lineup. Designed to meet the needs of drivers looking for outstanding performance and projected best-in-class fuel efficiency, this EcoBoost engine has been developed specifically for Mustang.

GM pulling Chevrolet from Europe in effort to strengthen European brand

(December 6, 2013) DETROIT — General Motors has announced plans to pull Chevrolet from the European market beginning in 2016 in an effort to strengthen the Opel and Vauxhall brands.

"The company’s Chevrolet brand will no longer have a mainstream presence in Western and Eastern Europe, largely due to a challenging business model and the difficult economic situation in Europe," General Motors said in a press release.

Ford shows record November sales in China

(December 6, 2013) SHANGHAI, China — Ford’s November sales in China sprinted to a thunderous, record-setting finish last week. Minutes before unveiling the all-new Mustang in Shanghai, Ford announced its sales in China were up more than 50 percent so far this year, and that November sales set a new record.

'Red Zone' edition Soul inspired by the Wild Track’ster Concept

(December 7, 2013) IRVINE, Calif. — Kia Motors announces its first special edition Soul of 2014 with the “Red Zone” edition. Inspired by the ultra-popular Track’ster concept previously unveiled at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, the “Red Zone” edition Soul is the first special-edition based on the all-new second-generation Soul and is scheduled to go on sale during the first quarter of 2014.