March 2015

Dodge partners with Universal Pictures, Atlanta Records on 'Furious 7'

(March 10, 2015) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Dodge, which has been a part of the blockbuster Fast & Furious franchise since its inception, announced this week a promotional partnership with Universal Pictures for "Furious 7," in theaters April 3, and a first-ever partnership with Atlantic Records on music videos that support the label’s “Furious 7: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack,” available March 17.
 

Chevrolet will unveil all-new Spark in New York, Seoul on April 2

(March 10, 2015) DETROIT —The all-new 2016 Spark will debut on April 2 at the Seoul and New York auto shows, Chevrolet announced today. A sleeker, more aerodynamic profile and a progressive take on Chevrolet’s signature design cues will give the redesigned Spark a more sophisticated aesthetic that reflects the changing tastes of the global minicar market.

New three-row Volkswagen Tiguan to be built in Mexico

(March 10, 2015) Volkswagen de México has announced that a three-row version of the Tiguan crossover will be produced at its plant in Puebla, Mexico. The car will be launched to the markets in 2017. The company will invest $1 billion for the expansion and modernization of its production facilities at the Puebla plant, as well as tooling to produce auto parts at suppliers.

VW Golf family expands with family-friendly SportWagen

(March 9, 2015) — The latest member of Volkswagen’s seventh-generation Golf family, the Golf SportWagen, goes on sale in U.S. dealerships in April, starting at $21,395 for the 1.8T S model with manual transmission. The Volkswagen SportWagen models have long been a top choice for customers who want a versatile and dependable vehicle that provides a sportier driving experience than compact SUVs.

Ford Cleveland Engine Plant begins production of two EcoBoost engines

(March 7, 2015) CLEVELAND — Ford on Friday announced the official production start of the all-new twin-scroll 2.0-liter and 2.3-liter EcoBoost engines for North America at its Cleveland Engine Plant in Ohio. The announcement marks the first time these engines are being produced in the U.S.

The twin-scroll 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine is available in the all-new Ford Edge, launching in first quarter of 2015. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine is available in the all-new Ford Mustang, Explorer and Lincoln MKC.

Elio Motors first start-up to build all-new engine in 60 years

(March 9, 2015) TROY, Mich. — Elio Motors has announced it has unveiled its new 0.9 liter, 3-cylinder engine prototype, completing one of the company’s most important stages of development.

With a goal of up to 84 MPG and a projected top speed of more than 100 mph, the enclosed, three-wheeled Elio requires an engine with a unique blend of power and efficiency that simply doesn’t exist on the market today.

Mercedes-Benz to invest $500 million in new South Carolina van plant

(March 9, 2015) CHARLESTON, S.C. — Mercedes-Benz Vans has announced that it will invest around half a billion dollars to build a new van plant in the United States. Located in Charleston, the facility will supply the North American market with the next-generation Sprinter.

The plant's location was officially announced last week in Charleston by Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, and by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

Not yet planned for the U.S. — Volkswagen's new 'mini' minivan

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(March 9, 2015) Perhaps the reason VW doesn’t bring the Touran MPV to the U.S. is that it is afraid the Golf-based people carrier would steal sales from the just-introduced Golf Sportwagon. For whatever reason, Americans prefer vans to wagons, despite the fact that the latter are sportier, better looking and almost as roomy.

Mitsubishi continues upward sales climb in February

(March 8, 2015) Mitsubishi continued its comback in the U.S. based on sales of its crossover vehicles and its two remaining small cars, with February sales of 7,533 units, a 26 percent sales increase from February 2014. Year-to-date (January through February) sales for the brand are up 29.3 percent from the same period last year.

The American-made Outlander Sport 5-passenger compact crossover — the brand's perennial best-selling vehicle — recorded sales of 2,394 units for its best-ever February sales total.

Subaru records 12th straight month of over 40,000 sales

(March 8, 2014) CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Subaru of America this past week reported record sales for February totaling 41,358 vehicles, an 18.5 percent gain over February 2014. The company also reported year-to-date sales of 82,170, a 21 percent gain over the same period in 2014.