Auto Industry Archives | Page 21 of 592

Video: Nissan recruits Stormtroopers to promote Juke in Japan

Filed under: Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Nissan

Nissan Juke configurator

The Juke is a matter of individual taste, to be sure, but Nissan is keen on making each one even more individual with the launch of the 15RX Personalized Package.

Nissan is promoting the customization available on the Juke in the Japanese Domestic Market with a dedicated website, complete with a rather slick online configurator. And to make the process that much more engaging, it’s included a Stormtrooper that changes in appearance along with the Juke. Which is fitting, seeing as how the quirky crossover looks like it belongs in a Star Wars movie as it is.

The package is being launched together with a new Star Wars-themed publicity campaign that is building an array of web movies, the latest of which you can view below, along with the press release that details the full campaign.

Continue reading Nissan recruits Stormtroopers to promote Juke in Japan

Nissan recruits Stormtroopers to promote Juke in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Edmunds settles with marketing firm accused of faking dealer reviews

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal

Back in July, Edmunds sued a Texas company named Humankind Design Ltd. for fraud and breach of contract. Among other services, Humankind Design claims to be an online reputation management company, but the lawsuit says that the site created 2,200 fake accounts in order to post positive dealerships reviews on Edmunds.com.

Now, Edmunds says that the case has been settled requiring Humankind Design to agree not to register users or submit reviews on Edmunds as well as providing information about the accounts and reviews it fraudulently created; Humankind Design also has to pay Edmunds an undisclosed monetary settlement for legal fees. Edmunds added that it is working with other identified sites – including Google+, Yelp and Foursquare – which Humankind Design may have also created fake reviews for in the past. The press release for the settlement is posted below as is the original release announcing the lawsuit in July.

Continue reading Edmunds settles with marketing firm accused of faking dealer reviews

Edmunds settles with marketing firm accused of faking dealer reviews originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next-gen Toyota Prius aiming for 55 mpg, could arrive in 2015

Filed under: Hybrid, MPG, Toyota

toyota prius family

Twenty years ago, a small group of engineers at Toyota were tasked with the G21 project, a look into the “Global 21st Century” and how Toyota could make vehicles that used less fuel and emit less CO2. You might be able to guess that the result of that project was the Prius, which became an icon and is today the world’s most popular hybrid (in Japan and California, it’s the most popular car, period).

Speaking at the Toyota Hybrid World Tour, a rock ‘n roll-themed media event in Ypsilanti, MI today, one of those engineers, Satoshi Ogiso, who is now Toyota Motor Corporation’s managing officer, gave some hints on the next-gen Prius. The headline number: roughly 55 miles per gallon thanks to a new platform – the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) – and a more thermal efficient engine. The TNGA will provide a lower center of gravity as well as improved ride and handling, Ogiso said, and the new Prius motor will be more power dense as well.

The 55-mpg number is a big deal, but it is in line with the improvements in the model’s history. The first-gen Prius got 41 mpg, the second-gen got 46 and the third got 50. So, there was around a 10-percent improvement each time. “To beat your own record becomes very difficult,” Ogiso said, adding that it becomes all the more rewarding when you manage to reach your goal. The big question, of course, is when this next-gen Prius is due? “It’s a sensitive question,” Ogiso said, but then gave a big hint that 2015 is likely. Once again, he pointed to history. After all, the first-gen was 1997, second-gen was 2003 and third-gen was 2009. It’s always been six years between models he said, laughing.

Continue reading Next-gen Toyota Prius aiming for 55 mpg, could arrive in 2015

Next-gen Toyota Prius aiming for 55 mpg, could arrive in 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: 2014 Chevy Malibu rated at 25/36 mpg, priced from $22,140*

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Chevrolet

2014 Chevrolet Malibu

After a single model year on the market, Chevrolet gave its midsize Malibu a big makeover for 2014, but the changes aren’t all about styling. Although the refreshed sedan isn’t on sale yet, Chevy has released some important numbers for its new ‘Bu: namely its EPA fuel economy figures and MSRP.

Styling included, the biggest improvement for the 2014 Malibu is its fuel economy. For the base models equipped with the 2.5-liter engine, adding stop/start technology, a new transmission and Intake Valve Lift Control (which helps the engine breathe more efficiently) all help the sedan deliver 25 miles per gallon city and 36 mpg highway. That’s up from 22 mpg city and 34 mpg highway for 2013. Not only are these ratings good enough to put Malibu with the top of its of the base-engined midsize class, but they are almost the same as the 2013 Malibu Eco with eAssist (25 city/37 highway).

Factoring in this fuel economy jump, the 2014 Malibu’s new base price $22,140 (*not including $825 for destination, which itself has risen by $15) is an increase of $145, but it is also about $1,000 lower than the 2013 Malibu Eco – removing the premium for optimal fuel economy. We’re still waiting to get behind the wheel of the refreshed sedan, but Chevy is definitely righting some wrongs on its eighth-gen Malibu to make it more competitive in the segment. Scroll down for more information in Chevy’s official press release.

Continue reading 2014 Chevy Malibu rated at 25/36 mpg, priced from $22,140*

2014 Chevy Malibu rated at 25/36 mpg, priced from $22,140* originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riding along in Ford’s bonkers Fiesta ST Global RallyCross car [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Racing

The Mountune-worked Fiesta ST GRC does 0-to-60 mph in 1.9 seconds.

On any given day, and every single weekend, there’s at least one parking in the country invaded by manufacturer and team trucks. The be-chromed beasts and their 53-foot trailers are slotted into rows, men and women decorate the lot with orange cones to mark the invisible tracery of a temporary track, cars get unloaded, crews fret over them. The ritual can be as beautiful as the sunrise to those with enthusiast hearts, but it’s just as common.

Unless you happened to be in the parking lot in Fontana, California where Ford, OlsbergsMSE and Mountune were showing off the Fiesta ST built for Global RallyCross. Ford’s latest global performance car is an experiment on our shores that aims to find out if we – Americans – are ready to support a B-segment hot hatch with a European pedigree.

The Fiesta ST GRC, though, isn’t an experiment. It is proof that you can frappe your brain and cudgel your internal organs with nothing more than a few orange cones and a 90-second ride-along with a GRC champion.

Continue reading Riding along in Ford’s bonkers Fiesta ST Global RallyCross car [w/video]

Riding along in Ford’s bonkers Fiesta ST Global RallyCross car [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: 2014 Kia Soul priced from $14,700*

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Crossover, Kia

2014 Kia Soul

Kia has announced pricing on the refreshed 2014 Soul. At $14,700 (*plus a destination charge of $795), the new funky crossover undercuts its two primary competitors, the Scion xB and Nissan Cube, by $2,850 and $2,060, respectively. That base model includes 16-inch alloys, cruise control, wheel-mounted audio controls and a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine with 130 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque.

The mid-range model, the Soul Plus, demands $18,200 and adds a spate of exterior items, like 17-inch wheels and chrome trim, to class up the Soul’s look, not to mention a 164-horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. Plus customers also have access to a number of option packages, including a $400 pack that adds Kia’s UVO infotainment system and a backup camera. A $1,400 Audio Package adds navigation, an eight-inch display, an Infinity stereo and automatic temperature controls. A $3,000 Primo Package adds a few notable luxury items, like a panoramic sunroof, heated leather seats, and push-button start. Finally, a $400 Eco Package adds stop-start technology and replaces the 17-inch wheels with 16s shod in low-rolling-resistance tires.

The top-of-the-line Soul Exclaim starts at $20,300 and comes with LED running lights, LED taillights, 18-inch wheels and the Plus’s UVO Package as standard. Buyers can opt for The Whole Shebang, a $2,500 option pack that apes the Primo Package from the Plus. Weirdly, the Audio Package from the Soul Plus is an extra $1,200 on the Exclaim, and has been rebranded the Sun and Sand Package. Feel free to peruse the press release below for more.

Continue reading 2014 Kia Soul priced from $14,700*

2014 Kia Soul priced from $14,700* originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Cadillac CTS Vsport laps the Nürburgring in 8:14.10 [w/video]

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, Cadillac

Cadillac CTS Vsport at the Nürburgring

You don’t have to be German to test your car at the Nürburging. You just have to be serious about beating the Germans on their own home turf. That’s why Nissan tests its GT-R at the Nordschleife to challenge the Porsche 911, and why Cadillac – which is no less serious about putting up a fight to German performance sedans – has returned to the ‘Ring once again with its latest.

This time it’s the turn of the new CTS Vsport, the sportier version of Cadillac’s new mid-range sedan that aims to bridge the gap until the arrival of the next CTS-V. So how’d it fare? At the end of what we’re sure was an exhaustive test session, the new CTS Vsport clocked a time of 8:14.10.

To put that into context, General Motors points out that the time places the new sedan six seconds ahead of the first-gen CTS-V, whose 400-horsepower V8 engine was actually less potent than the Vsport’s new 410hp 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6. That’s still a good fifteen seconds slower than the outgoing CTS-V that clocked a 7:59 in 2009 with its 556hp supercharged V8, but only a second behind the E60-generation BMW M5 with its high-revving 500hp V10.

That’s mighty impressive indeed, and we can’t wait to see what the next CTS-V can manage. The four-door crown currently belongs to the Porsche Panamera Turbo S that set a 7:52.20 in 2011. Just sayin’. Scope out the video clip and press release below.

Continue reading Cadillac CTS Vsport laps the Nürburgring in 8:14.10 [w/video]

Cadillac CTS Vsport laps the Nürburgring in 8:14.10 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Google self-driving cars should have data recorders, says US official

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Technology

Driverless Cars from Google

Fears over domestic spying operations and privacy concerns have been splattered across the headlines with alarming frequency, and now it appears that even the auto industry isn’t immune. According to a report from The Huffington Post, the chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, Deborah Hersman, has argued that black boxes should be mandatory in self-driving cars, like those that Google and Nissan have been working on.

“Data capture is going to help you understand if there is a vehicle problem, or if it’s a human factors issue,” Hersman told the Post. The fear behind black boxing cars, though, has always been one of individual privacy being compromised. That isn’t likely to change regardless of whether a car is controlled by man or machine, as evidenced by an Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers survey, which claimed that nearly three-quarters of participants were worried about driverless cars recording personal information. Adding to that, 70 percent of respondents feared their info being accessed by the government, according to the HuffPo report.

Those arguments aren’t enough for Hersman, though. “When you have a driverless car, you have to demonstrate on the front end that you have the data that shows it’s safe. But we would also say, you need to make sure you have good data recording capabilities, so when there is an event, you can understand what happened.”

Google self-driving cars should have data recorders, says US official originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Nissan applies for ‘R-Hybrid’ trademark, but what is it for?

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Nissan, Design/Style, Racing

Patent and trademark filings are sort of like tasseography for those of us in the auto industry. If you know where and how to look at something, there’s a lot to be figured out. Take this trademark filing from Nissan – it’s similar to the Pure Drive badge found on a Versa or Sentra, but the bottom half sports the phrase “R-Hybrid.” This wouldn’t be remarkable if the “R” in R-Hybrid weren’t the same style as the “R” in the Nissan GT-R’s badge, right down to the serifs.

While it’s easy to see this as grasping at straws, it makes a fair degree of sense. The R35 GT-R may be a dominant performance machine, but it’s been around since 2008, which is donkey years in the automotive industry. And based on the recent crop of hybridized hypercars and racecars, a hybrid GT-R doesn’t seem like such a stretch.

As Car And Driver points out, figuring out that the GT-R will go hybrid isn’t hard – figuring out when it will arrive, is. The buff book rightly points out that a new GT-R isn’t expected until 2017, but that designing and trademarking a badge four years ahead of time is a bit odd. Car and Driver speculates that we could see a mildly hybridized R35, although the chances do seem remarkably low. Head over to C/D for a more thorough rundown on why this just might be a GT-R badge, including comparisons with other R-badged Nissans.

Nissan applies for ‘R-Hybrid’ trademark, but what is it for? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Toyota releases its Le Mans recap, ‘The Ultimate Endurance Race’

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Toyota, Racing

Two weeks ago, Audi released its short video about this years 24 Hours of Le Mans, and now Toyota has put the experience into its own words and pictures. Called The Ultimate Endurance Race, the clip and accompanying press release focus on how hybrid power helped Toyota claim second and fourth places with the TS030 Hybrid in just its second year competing at Le Mans.

There are some brief scenes of the battles had this year, like when Lucas di Grassi in the Toyota almost kissed Allan McNish in the Audi above, but the best part might be when Toyota promises it will be back. Next year, it’s gonna be good. You’ll find the relevant words and the images just below.

Continue reading Toyota releases its Le Mans recap, ‘The Ultimate Endurance Race’

Toyota releases its Le Mans recap, ‘The Ultimate Endurance Race’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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