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Official: 2014 Scion FR-S gets price increase, knee cushions [w/video]

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Scion

2013 Scion FR-S - front three-quarter view

There’s not a lot of breathing room between the Scion FR-S and the Subaru BRZ – the two rear-drive coupes are about as close to badge-engineered as the auto industry gets in this day and age. In this case, that’s not a terrible thing, though, since they’re both so engaging to drive, but it does make for interesting comparisons when it comes to pricing and model year updates.

Late last month, Subaru announced pricing for its 2014 BRZ, which didn’t get much more than the inclusion of Aha internet radio compatibility and a $25,595 starting price – just $100 more than the 2013 model’s MSRP. A modest $25 increase in destination charges ($795) means that it starts at $26,390. For its part, Scion will ask $24,600 for a base 2014 FRS, plus $755 for delivery, for a total of $25,355. That means the Subaru is more still expensive, but it has more available equipment as well.

The 2014 Scion FR-S isn’t getting many tweaks, but a couple of small changes – knee pads on both the transmission tunnel and the door panels around the speaker grilles and a new standard 6.1-inch touchscreen audio system – are appreciated. (Note: 2013 model shown above).

If you’ve ever wondered what each and every little difference is between the two models, Driving Vancouver has an excellent new video that shows off all of the (2013) differences, right down to the trunk liners. Check it out by scrolling below.

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2014 Scion FR-S gets price increase, knee cushions [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: 2014 Scion FR-S gets price increase, knee cushions [w/video]

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Scion

2013 Scion FR-S - front three-quarter view

Continue reading 2014 Scion FR-S gets price increase, knee cushions [w/video]

2014 Scion FR-S gets price increase, knee cushions [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: 2014 Subaru BRZ gets exceedingly modest price increase

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Subaru

2014 Subaru BRZ

Subaru has announced pricing for the 2014 BRZ, and with a $25,595 MSRP, it starts at just $100 more than the 2013 model. The destination charge adds $795 – a $25 increase over 2013 – bringing the total to $26,390.

Aside from the very modest price increase, the 2014 BRZ is essentially the same as its 2013 predecessor. The one notable change for 2014 is that Aha infotainment smartphone integration now comes with the standard navigation system. Subaru is one of the first automakers to include this feature, which delivers smartphone activity such as live news, podcasts and social media news feeds to drivers through the radio.

The rear-wheel-drive BRZ’s other features remain the same, and we certainly don’t have any complaints about that. It still comes with a 200-horsepower boxer engine, manufacturer-estimated fuel economy of 34 miles per gallon on the highway, 2+2 seating, and options such as dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats. Scroll down to get all the 2014 model year details in Subaru’s press release.

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2014 Subaru BRZ gets exceedingly modest price increase originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Aug 2013 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla Model S gets new options, price increase on things like XM Radio

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk at Teslive 2013

During the Teslive town hall with Tesla fans in July, company CEO Elon Musk was his usual interesting, informative self, and he even dropped some news about changes coming to the Model S. The big ones are a valet parking mode (to limit performance so those punk kids don’t go tear things up with your EV), a better navigation system (so that north is always facing up, for example, and a way to download maps for offline use) and a way to use your phone’s data connection instead of the built-in cell network receiver in the Model S. You can see an hour-long video of Musk’s talk below.

Even more recently, the Model S order page was updated with new options like parking sensors and a Subzero Weather Package for $750. That package, recommended for buyers who live wherever it regularly drops below freezing, adds three-zone rear seat heaters, wiper blade defrosters and washer nozzle heaters. The company has also raised the price of some of previously existing features. Adding XM satellite radio, for example, used to cost $950, but it’s now part of the $2,500 Ultra High Fidelity Sound package option.

On the Tesla Motors forum page, some customers and potential customers are expressing their displeasure with the price increases and the lack of a grace period for people who wanted the “old” version and prices. It’s impossible to know exactly how hard these increases will hit individual buyers, but some commenters are comparing the prices today with what they bought their Model S EVs for a few months ago and are finding that the increases add around 8-9 percent to the overall cost of the car.

Continue reading Tesla Model S gets new options, price increase on things like XM Radio

Tesla Model S gets new options, price increase on things like XM Radio originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Toyota reports huge quarterly profit increase, raises forecast for the year

Filed under: Toyota, Earnings/Financials

2014 Toyota Tundra Grille

Toyota isn’t just the world’s largest automaker – so far its the biggest winner for quarterly profits. With an enormous $5.5 billion take during Q2, Toyota took advantage of the weak Japanese yen and strong US demand to record a 94-percent improvement in profit over the same period from last year. So far, Toyota brought in larger profits than Ford and General Motors combined.

Toyota is showing no signs of slowing down either, as it has bumped up its forecast for full-year global production, going from 9.94 million to 10.12 million vehicles, on the back of a 13-percent drop in the buying power of the Japanese yen versus the US dollar. That strong exchange rate is largely responsible for Toyota’s big jump in profits, although it also managed to shift 1.3 million vehicles in the US market this year. Strong Camry sales have also helped. But while Toyota is raking in the cash, it actually saw a small drop in market share, down 0.1 percent to 14.3 percent of the US market.

As is the case with most automakers, Toyota seems flummoxed by Europe, where it recorded less than one percent of its revenue. Still, as Automotive News points out, Toyota only maintains a 4.5-percent market share in Europe and is far less dependent on the continent than other manufacturers. Toyota also struggled at home, much like Honda. With 525,777 units sold, JDM sales were down almost 51,000 units, although Toyota still saw its operating profit jump from $3.5 billion to $4.6 billion.

Scroll down for Toyota’s official press release.

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Toyota reports huge quarterly profit increase, raises forecast for the year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Aug 2013 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Ford is using Google’s Prediction API to increase efficiency

Filed under: Hybrid, Technology, Ford, Electric

Ford uses Google’s Prediction API to increase efficiency – Click above to watch the video after the break

Yesterday we got word that Ford was tapping Google’s new Prediction API to provide location and routing services for its fleet of plug-in hybrids and full EVs. Today, Ford’s engineers are speaking at the Google I/O developers summit and they’ve released a video explaining how the system works and how they plan to implement it.

You can get the full details in our previous post, but the short-and-sweet version is this: Ford drivers can opt-in for the service, which tracks their daily driving routine, and, after building a database of destinations and waypoints, the system provides drivers with more efficient routing to optimize their powertrain, reduce range anxiety and decrease commute times. We’ve snagged a handful of slides from Ford’s presentation and you can check out the full video after the jump.

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How Ford is using Google’s Prediction API to increase efficiency originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Piech says Alfa Romeo sales could increase fourfold under VW ownership

Filed under: Etc., Earnings/Financials, Alfa Romeo, Fiat

Alfa Romeo builds some really good-looking rides, but that apparently hasn’t translated into profits for Fiat. In a recent interview with Forbes, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne reportedly called the Italian brand a “money loser,” and sales of the marque have consistently underwhelmed. But while Fiat has worked hard to rehab Alfa Romeo to no apparent avail, Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech feels his people can do better.

Reuters reports that Piech declared at the Geneva Motor Show that VW could raise Alfa sales from about 100,000 units per year to 400,000 or more in a scant five years. The boasting by Piech may seem more than a bit cocky, but that confidence jibes well with VW’s bold proclamations that it will become the largest automaker on earth by 2018.

So what prompted Piech to announce to the world that VW could sell more Alfas than Fiat? We have no idea, and Marchionne has shown little public interest in selling the brand in the past. VW is obviously interested in buying Italy’s sweetheart, though, and the German automaker likely has the cash and can take a liability off Fiat’s books.

[Source: Reuters | Image: Nigel Treblin/AFP/Getty]

Report: Piech says Alfa Romeo sales could increase fourfold under VW ownership originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Sirius considering rate increase to $12.95/month

Filed under: Etc.

Sirius XM radio, which is the resulting company after Sirius and XM merged in 2008, is considering raising its monthly fee. The starting price is currently $9.99 per month, which only nets you access to the music channels. Now, Sirius wants to bring the monthly rate up to $12.95. The FCC is currently reviewing the request and Sirius has yet to issue a comment on the decision. [Source: Bloomberg]

Report: Sirius considering rate increase to $12.95/month originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat to increase Chrysler stake to 51% ahead of IPO?

Filed under: Chrysler, Earnings/Financials, Fiat

According to Automotive News, Fiat may be looking to increase its stake in Chrysler from 20 percent to 51 percent before the Pentastar goes public. If true, that would mean that Fiat intends to repay Chrysler’s federal loans before their 2013 due date. Doing so would allow the Italian automaker to sink its teeth into its American property by an additional 16 percent.

Sergio Marchionne, who serves as the CEO of both Fiat and Chrysler, said that while he doesn’t know for certain whether he would move to have Fiat take over a larger portion of Chrysler, it is a possibility. The executive said that such a move would provide plenty of benefits for both automakers.

Fiat itself has been undergoing fairly substantial changes outside of its tie-up with Chrysler. The company just split into two different operations, with its automotive efforts flying under one banner and its industrial work sailing under another.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Fiat to increase Chrysler stake to 51% ahead of IPO? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: 2011 Jeep Compass to get big price increase, Trail Rated model

Filed under: Crossover, Jeep, Rumormill

2011 Jeep Compass spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Thanks to the efforts of some wily spy shooters, we’ve already peered upon the vastly improved styling of the redesigned 2011 Jeep Compass. If a report from the usually well-informed Allpar.com is correct, it would seem Jeep will be positioning its 2011 Compass a few rungs up the ladder than the platform-sharing Patriot.

If reports are correct, buyers will also need to fork over significantly more cash for the Compass in 2011. According to Allpar, the Compass will start at $19,995 in front-wheel drive guise and $21,695 when powering all four wheels – the 2010 model starts at just $15,365. More interesting, though, is word that the new Compass will be Trail Rated for the first time, something we suspected from the rather familiar-looking round fender badges on the silver vehicle in our spy shot gallery.

Presumably using the same off-road bits and pieces as the Trail Rated Patriot – Freedom Drive II with a CVT and dedicated low-range gearing – the Compass is rumored to feature repositioned rebound springs cribbed à la Grand Cherokee, along with an increase in ride height by one inch.

After looking at the pictures, we had an inkling that the new Compass may in fact be a more desirable overall package than the 2011 Patriot, which starts at $15,995, and this report would appear to confirm that hunch.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2011 Jeep Compass

2011 Jeep Compass

[Source: Allpar.com | Images: Chris Doane/Brenda Priddy & Company]

Rumormill: 2011 Jeep Compass to get big price increase, Trail Rated model originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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