Category: Auto Industry

New York state legislature fails to address anti-Tesla EV bill

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, Legislation and Policy

Tesla Motors service bay with Model S in red and white

A surprise pair of bills in the New York State Assembly that would have narrowly targeted Tesla Motors and its direct-to-customer sales model has been put in neutral. The State Assembly ended the 2013 legislative session Friday without taking action on the bill and, since the lawmakers will not reconvene until January, it is effectively dormant for now.

Tesla said that had the bill passed, it would have had to close its stores and stop operations in New York, which is why Tesla CEO Elon Musk took a personal interest in the situation when it hit the headlines late last week. Once the bill was stopped, Musk tweeted, “The kill Tesla bill in NY was stopped in the 11th hour due to public outcry. Am super grateful to everyone who helped.”

Behind the scenes, Automotive News reports that there were attempts at dealmaking that Tesla turned down. The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association said it would allow Tesla’s existing New York stores (all three of them) to keep operating but would not allow new stores to open. Tesla turned down the deal. A Republican sponsor of the bill also offered to put in a Tesla exception, so as not to “adversely impact any business operating in the state of New York,” Senator Lee Zeldin told AN.

The president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, Mark Schienberg, told AN that Tesla should just set up dealers like other automakers (something Musk has explained is a bad idea) and that Musk has “just chosen that he’d rather not follow any of the rules and regulations and standards that each state has, and that’s why there’s a pushback right now.”

The “pushback” here was started when the New York dealers association filed a suit against Tesla in late 2012. The NY State Supreme Court ruled this year that they did not have a claim to file suit. With this case and more pushback in Texas and Massachusetts and other states, we wouldn’t be at all surprised if this issue goes national at some point.

New York state legislature fails to address anti-Tesla EV bill originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Cadillac prices 410-hp XTS Vsport from $63,020*

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, Cadillac, Luxury

2014 Cadillac XTS in black - dynamic drive image

Cadillac has officially released pricing for the 2014 XTS Vsport. Buyers can expect to pay $63,020 for the fleet four-door, including destination and handling fees. That kind of coin will snag you a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 good for 410 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. As you likely already know, engineers have done a lot more than simply bolt a pair of turbos onto the company’s tried and true naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6. The engine uses an all-new block, strengthened connecting rods and domed aluminum pistons and is fed through a revised direct-injection fuel system. Combined, the tweaks allow the V6 to suck down 12 psi of boost.

The price tag puts the 2014 Cadillac XTS Vsport well under potential (if ambitious) competitors like the Audi S6 at $71,900, plus destination fees. A base BMW 550i will set you back $62,700, excluding destination charges, but throwing options at the German sedan will quickly see that number climb higher. You can check out the full press release below for more information.

Continue reading Cadillac prices 410-hp XTS Vsport from $63,020*

Cadillac prices 410-hp XTS Vsport from $63,020* originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Never-was Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar driven by Autocar

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Jaguar, UK, Electric

Jaguar C-X75 - Autocar drive video screencap

There’s lucky, and then there’s “I got to drive the Jaguar C-X75.” The crew from Autocar is among the handful of souls who can honestly make the latter statement. Jaguar invited the publication down for a little time in both the passenger and driver seats around the automaker’s proving grounds. While there’s no end to the jealousy oozing from our pores, the good news is that there were a few cameras on hand to capture the experience. As you may recollect, the C-X75 Concept was a unique hybrid supercar concept built to duke it out with the likes of the Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918 and the McLaren P1. The British automaker put it on track for production, but unfortunately stopped the project about six months ago.

With a twincharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine capable of revving to 10,000 rpm, the C-X75 concept yields 502 horsepower and gets partnered with four electric motors – one at each wheels. A 19kWh lithium-ion battery pack serves up 300kW of power, and combined, the motors and battery are capable of yielding an additional 194 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Combined, the driveline is good for more than 850 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Said another way, the C-X75 will do the 0-60 miles per hour dance in under three seconds.

And Autocar got to drive it. You can watch the video for yourself by scrolling below.

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Never-was Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar driven by Autocar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2013 Infiniti QX56 [w/video]

Filed under: SUV, Infiniti, New Car Reviews, Luxury

Promising, And Delivering, Bigness

2013 Infiniti QX56 - front three-quarter view

Some things appear much smaller in pictures than they do in person. The Eiffel Tower, Space Shuttle orbiters and the statue of Abraham Lincoln in the National Mall come immediately to mind. The 2013 Infiniti QX56, however, isn’t one of those things.

The Infiniti flagship sport utility looks massive in pictures, and it grows to simply colossal when you are standing next to it.

Even at an arm’s distance, the QX56 has the physical presence of a Clydesdale horse – its styling cues project power and strength, says the automaker, and the designers apparently made no attempt to downplay the full-size SUV’s massive V8 engine and cavernous eight-passenger cabin. There are other passenger vehicles on the road that are physically larger, but none visually cast their mass as well as Infiniti’s traditional body-on-frame QX.

We recently spent a week with the heavyweight in an effort to determine whether three tons of substance is overkill or handy to have around. In a nutshell, does bigger always equate to better?

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2013 Infiniti QX56 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM sales chief Batey to be named global head of Chevrolet

Filed under: Europe, Chevrolet, GM, Middle East, Russia, South America

Alan Batey, General Motors executiveThe Wall Street Journal is reporting that General Motors is on the verge of naming current US sales chief, Alan Batey, as the new global head of the Chevrolet brand. Batey has been accruing relevant international experience with GM for quite some time now, holding executive management positions in Europe, Korea, the Middle East and the US before getting this latest nod as Chevy’s global leader.

It was Batey who helped to launch the automaker’s “Find New Roads” campaign in February during his stint as Chevy’s interim marketing chief. That tag line, chosen in part for its ease of translation into multiple languages, is currently being rolled out globally.

Batey’s appointment also comes in front of a major product offensive for Chevy, both at home and abroad. The automaker has plans to launch some 13 new or updated vehicles in the US this year, along with 12 more in global markets. Escalating sales in China, Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America have helped to cement a need for Batey’s new gig. According to the WSJ, Batey has decried the regional-based strategy that Chevy has used across the world so far, saying, “That’s over. From now on we will operate as one.”

Bringing cohesion to Chevy models, technology and dealers across the world will be no mean feat, we’re certain. High on the list of Batey’s tasks will be right-sizing the relationship between Chevy and the slightly upmarket Opel brand in Europe, as well as expanding the company’s reach in booming markets like China, Russia and Thailand.

GM sales chief Batey to be named global head of Chevrolet originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Hyundai NA CEO Krafcik awarded Automotive Executive of the Year

Filed under: Etc., Hyundai

Hyundai North America CEO John Krafcik

Hyundai North America CEO John Krafcik is this year’s Automotive Executive of the Year. DNV Business Assurance presents the award each year, and this year, Robert Djurovic, executive director of the award program, said Krafcik won the nod because he “reshaped the way Hyundai approaches the market with consumer focus, compelling design and enduring value.” While speaking at the award ceremony, Krafcik said that he was humbled by the recognition and that he accepted the accolade on behalf of Hyundai team members, dealers and suppliers.

Krafcik joined Hyundai in 2004 as the vice president of product development and took on duties as chief executive in 2008. Since then, the automaker has seen a flurry of new products and a substantial jump in market share. His efforts have also helmed Hyundai to two North American Car of the Year awards in 2009 and 2012 for the Genesis and Elantra, respectively. Krafcik also helped Hyundai navigate through the company’s fuel economy debacle that began late last year, in which the automaker admitted it overstated the efficiency ratings of many of its automobiles.

The Automotive Executive of the Year Award has been recognizing industry leaders since 1964. You can read the full press release below for more information.

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Hyundai NA CEO Krafcik awarded Automotive Executive of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorsports: 24 Hours of Le Mans an on-and-off love affair

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Aston Martin, Audi, Chevrolet, Nissan, Porsche, Ferrari, Racing

There was little usual about this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans – intermittent rain in the weeks before the race meant cars didn’t get on track as much as they wanted, and intermittent rain during the race meant cars went off track a lot more than they wanted. The race started with a wet track, and one of the records broken because of the random downpours was the number of times the safety car led the field – 11 times this year – although the record of two hours and 53 minutes of lapping behind the safety car, set in 2011, was not eclipsed.

None of that served to dampen the action. With little more than an hour left in the race there were cars still only a few seconds apart fighting for position, leads still changing because of pit stops and everyone drafting anyone they could.

Things didn’t go the usual way up front, either – well, not exactly…

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24 Hours of Le Mans an on-and-off love affair originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drayson will shoot for FIA electric-vehicle land-speed record on June 25

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, UK, Racing

Drayson Racing's EV

It’s pretty impressive when an automotive speed record stands for almost four decades, but UK-based Drayson Racing Technologies will take a shot at one next week. The company, led by Lord Paul Drayson (whose company is partnering with Michelin on the effort), will look to break the FIA World Electric Land Speed Record on June 25 at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire, England.

Mr. Drayson himself will be driving a modified 2,200-pound Lola B19 69/EV down a nearly two-mile runway during his attempt. The car gets 850 horsepower from its 30 kWh battery. Drayson is looking to break the 1974 record of 175 miles per hour by Battery Box General Electric.

BBC posted a video in March on Drayson and his team, and Formula E Holdings earlier this year tapped Drayson Racing as its first team for an all-electric racing tour set to start next year in Rome.

Check out Drayson’s press release below.

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Drayson will shoot for FIA electric-vehicle land-speed record on June 25 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch this Jeep Willys return to its birthplace after 70 years

Filed under: Classics, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Jeep, Military

Earlier this month, a very significant Jeep was celebrated at the Toledo North Assembly plant. No, it wasn’t the upcoming reincarnation of the Jeep Cherokee, but instead it was a 1943 Willys MB that visited the Toledo grounds where it had been built exactly 70 years ago to the day.

Of course, the actual building where the MBs rolled off the assembly line before heading to Europe for World War II no longer exists, but that didn’t stop Italian owner Vittorio Argento from having the vehicle shipped to the US to make its trek back to its birth place. According to Chrysler, Argento’s MB is still 95-percent original and it drove 1,000 miles from New Jersey to Toledo.

The whole adventure was chronicled on a blog aptly named A Jeep Comes Home. Scroll down for a brief video from Chrysler and for some photos of the Toledo visit and be sure to read more at Argento’s blog.

Continue reading Watch this Jeep Willys return to its birthplace after 70 years

Watch this Jeep Willys return to its birthplace after 70 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Jun 2013 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ETC: Buick celebrates 110 years by naming most significant model of each decade

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Buick, Design/Style

1963 Buick Riviera

In May of 1903, Buick began work on its first vehicle, the 1904 Model B, the first example of which was sold to a doctor in Flint, Michigan. That first sale was appropriate since later on, Buick became known as a “doctor’s car.” The Model B is the first of 11 cars chosen by Buick to highlight each decade of the company’s 110-year history.

The 1916 D-45 Touring with a six-cylinder engine was Buick’s highest seller that year, and helped push overall sales past six figures for the first time, making Buick the top-selling automotive brand. In 1931, Series 50 got an eight-cylinder engine, which helped the company survive the Great Depression. The 1936 Century was the first Buick that could hit 100 miles per hour, the 1949 Roadmaster had a supporting role in Rain Man, the 1953 Skylark had Italian wire wheels and the owner’s name engraved on its steering wheel.

Then we have the iconic 1963 Riviera, the V6-powered 1975 Regal, and in 1987, the legendary GNX. With a turbocharged, intercooled V6 pumping out 276-horsepower it could hit 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. In 1999 Buick built the first car in China, the Century, and that country remains the brand’s largest market.

To represent the current decade, Buick chose the 2008 Enclave because it introduced the company’s current design language and brand focus to the market. You can see photos of all these memorable Buicks in the gallery and read more of the brand’s history in the press release below.

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Buick celebrates 110 years by naming most significant model of each decade originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Jun 2013 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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