Tag: official

Official: GM joins Ford in booking $1.2B quarterly profit

Filed under: GM, Earnings/Financials

General Motors' Detroit headquarters at the Renaissance Center

Ford isn’t the only American automaker that’s in the money. General Motors has just reported a second quarter income of $1.2 billion, although that number actually represents a year-to-year drop compared to Q2 2012. This drop can be chalked up to the expense behind launching a new line of full-size pickup trucks (the 2014 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado), as well as the acquisition of GM Korea. Aside from those one-time costs, GM reported a seven-percent increase in income before interest and taxes, to $2.3 billion.

Like Ford, GM also trimmed its European losses, but by a larger margin – where Ford’s losses were $58 million lower for Q2, GM slashed $284 million over the second quarter of 2012 (the equivalent of $71 million per quarter). GM’s North American success, like Ford’s, can be tied largely to strong demand for pickups. Even with the changeover from the old Sierra and Silverado to the new models, Automotive News reports that full-size truck profits actually increased by five percent versus 2012. According to AN, this is GM’s fourteenth straight quarter in the black since its bankruptcy in 2009.

For all the numerical details, check out GM’s official press release by scrolling below.

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GM joins Ford in booking $1.2B quarterly profit originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Mini Vision concept presages next-gen Cooper Hardtop

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hatchback, Mini, Design/Style

Mini Vision Concept front three-quarter

Mini is preparing to launch the third-generation of its trademark three-door hatch, and while we’ve already shown you that car mostly devoid of camouflage in spy shots, the BMW-owned brand has still seen fit to release a concept that previews the new design. Called the Mini Vision, it looks broadly similar to the cars we showed you at the beginning of the month, aside from a few concepty styling pieces.

The Vision is a well-balanced blend of the stylish hatch that rebooted the Mini brand in 2002 and the more bloated model that arrived in 2007. It’s more rounded than the 2002, but seems decidedly more muscular than the 2007, and features modern accents like full LED headlights inspired by the sadly not-for-production Rocketman concept. Mini’s traditional floating roof soldiers on, while the concept wears side grilles that seem borrowed from the Countryman and Paceman. Based on what we’ve seen in the spy shots, however, that treatment isn’t going to make production, at least not on the models we’ve seen.

It’s safe to say that the interior on this concept bears only a slight resemblance to what we’ll see on the production car. The integrated Union Jack straps in the door panels are a cool touch, but the Vision’s cabin looks like something out of a flying saucer. We’d expect only inspirational traces to arrive on the production model.

Mini revealed the Vision Concept at something called the Mini Design@Home event earlier today. We expect to see it trotted out on the auto show circuit before the production third-gen F56 Mini Cooper Hardtop makes its official debut later this year or early next year.

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Mini Vision concept presages next-gen Cooper Hardtop originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Citroën to campaign World Touring Car C-Elysée with Sebastian Loeb

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Motorsports, Citroën, Racing

2014 Citroën C-Elysee WTCC front three-quarter

Citroën has released the first images of its latest racecar, the C-Elysee, which will be contested by Sebastien Loeb in the World Touring Car Championship next year. Based on the C-Elysee sedan, a model first shown at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the WTCC variant has been designed for the new regulations set to be imposed by the FIA.

The C-Elysee is offered with a range of low-powered gas and diesel engines, but the WTCC model gets a 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder with 380 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed sequential gearbox from Sadev sends power to the front wheels through a twin-disk, carbon-fiber clutch. Hopefully all this potential won’t result in any shenanigans this season.

The roster for next season is far from finalized, although Honda will be contesting the championship with its Civic WTCC.The C-Elysee WTCC will make its race debut with Sebastien Loeb at the wheel when the 2014 FIA World Touring Car Championship starts, likely around the end of March 2014. Citroën will also be showing its new racer at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Continue reading Citroën to campaign World Touring Car C-Elysée with Sebastian Loeb

Citroën to campaign World Touring Car C-Elysée with Sebastian Loeb originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Chevy Impala goes from bottom to top of Consumer Reports sedan rankings

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet

It’s got a new design, it’s got new objectives, it’s got a five-star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it’s a central part of what could be Chevrolet’s “strongest, most competitive retail sedan lineup ever,” and now the 2014 Chevrolet Impala has added Turnaround Artist to its resume, going from last to first in Consumer Reports‘ large sedan ratings.

As if it didn’t earn itself a couple of beers for that alone, the triumph is all the more noteworthy because the Impala is the first domestic sedan in 20 years to reach that position. CR only began rating cars with a score in 1992, and since then the number one slot has been from Japan 11 times, Europe nine times.

The Impala conquered with features like its “surprisingly agile handling,” “excellent braking,” “generally high-quality materials” and a technology interface that is “refreshingly intuitive and easy to use.” Going beyond its segment in worth, whereas the previous Impala scored a 63, this one scored a 95; only the BMW 135i coupe and Tesla Model S have scored higher. And wait until you get to the part where it’s considered “competitive with… the Audi A6 and Lexus LS460L….”

Yeah, you read that right. And you can read even more of it in the press release below.

Continue reading Chevy Impala goes from bottom to top of Consumer Reports sedan rankings

Chevy Impala goes from bottom to top of Consumer Reports sedan rankings originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Ford hiring 800 more salaried workers than originally expected

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford

Ford US job creation infographic

Ford is on a roll this year, with excellent quarterly earnings and better-than-expected vehicle sales leading to 800 more job opportunities with the Blue Oval. In January, Ford announced that it wanted to hire 2,200 salaried employees, but, since then, that figure has been revised to 3,000, representing a 36-percent increase over original projections. About 1,500 of those jobs remain, 80 percent of which are technical professional positions.

“Engineers and technical professionals are in as much demand as our cars, trucks and SUVs,” says Felicia Fields, Ford Group Vice President for Human Resources. Helping to spur this job growth are increasing market share on both the West and East Coast and robust demand for the Ford Escape and F-150.

To find job candidates, Ford is reaching out to them via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, in addition to the company’s corporate career site. The Blue Oval is also ramping up its presence on college campuses.

One of Fords goals has been to create 12,000 hourly jobs in the US by 2015, and this latest announcement does alter that goal, Ford says, which is sitting the 75-percent mark since the company hired over 6,200 hourly employees last year. Learn more in the press release below.

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Ford hiring 800 more salaried workers than originally expected originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Infiniti prices renamed 2014 QX50 and QX80 crossovers

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Crossover, Infiniti, Luxury

2014 Infiniti QX80 SUV - front three-quarter view

2014 Infiniti QX50 - dead on front dynamic view, tiltedEarlier this week, Infiniti revealed the pricing for its two midsize crossovers, but now it has announced the pricing for its renamed bookend utility vehicles, the compact QX50 crossover and the fullsize QX80 SUV. Those looking for a smaller luxury crossover will be glad to learn that the 2014 QX50 now starts at $34,400* (a price drop of $2,500 compared to the 2013 EX), while pricing for the 2014 QX80 will remain the same as the 2013 QX56, starting at $61,350* (*prices do not include $995 for destination).

In terms of packaging, the QX50 will carry over unchanged, but the QX80 gets a new Backup Collision Intervention system as a part of its optional Technology Package. All of Infiniti’s 2014 QX utility vehicles are on sale now, but for more details about the QX50 and QX80, scroll down for the official press release.

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Infiniti prices renamed 2014 QX50 and QX80 crossovers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Galpin imagines what Ford’s GT would look like today with Pebble-bound coupe

Filed under: Performance, Ford

Galpin Auto Sports will be bringing its first coachbuilt supercar to this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Called the Galpin Ford GTR1, it’s a 1000-plus-horsepower monster based on the Ford GT. The reimagined supercar sports a 5.4-liter, supercharged V8 capable of rocketing the slinky GT-based coupe to over 225 miles per hour. Yowza.

When the GTR1 enters production, owners can choose between both carbon fiber and aluminum vehicle bodies. The car that will arrive at Pebble Beach will wear a metal body, sporting a smoother, more modern shape than the Ford GT. Actually, it kind of reminds us of the Shelby GR-1 Concept from the 2005 Detroit Auto Show. The cabin features plenty of machined aluminum and leather, while a McIntosh stereo will pamper audiophiles that tire of the mid-mounted V8.

Pirelli PZero tires hug 20-inch, forged aluminum wheels, while six-piston calipers and carbon rotors are poised to bring that crazy speed to a sudden halt. We’ll have more on the Galpin Ford GTR1 when it makes its first public appearance at The Quail on August 15, before it’s grand debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 18.

Continue reading Galpin imagines what Ford’s GT would look like today with Pebble-bound coupe

Galpin imagines what Ford’s GT would look like today with Pebble-bound coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Bugatti to debut special Grand Sport Vitesse ‘Legend Jean-Pierre Wimille’ during Monterey Car Week

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Bugatti, Misc. Auto Shows, Design/Style, Luxury

Bugatti has announced that it will offer the Legend, a special-edition run of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse that pays homage to six heroes of the carmaker’s long, storied past. Officially the world’s fastest car with its top down (try keeping your toupee on at 254 miles per hour), Bugatti will enhance the special Vitesses visually with design cues from the cars that its heroes drove.

The first Legend honors Jean-Pierre Wimille, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice for Bugatti and was one of the company’s longest-serving test drivers. He won in 1937, co-driving a 57G Tank with Robert Benoist, and in 1939, co-driving a 57C Tank with Pierre Veyron. Fittingly, the Veyron Legend dedicated to Wimille is blue, just like the 57G that he drove at Le Mans in 1937. In Bugatti’s own words, it “now shines in blue clear-coated carbon fiber and a light Wimille Bleu paintwork.” The 57G-based design language continues into the interior, with numerous details, such as materials and colors, that represent what Wimille would have experienced driving the Bugatti.

Pricing hasn’t been announced, but if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. It also should be noted that the Wimille edition Legend will be limited to a production run of three. As for the other five Legend editions? All we know is that they’ll be launched over the next 12 months. Look for the Wimille Legend on display next month in Monterey, Calif., at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

In the meantime, scroll down to check out the history-heavy Bugatti press release. No photos of the Veyron Legend were provided, so feel free to visit the gallery we included of the Grand Sport Vitesse’s record-setting open-top run.

Continue reading Bugatti to debut special Grand Sport Vitesse ‘Legend Jean-Pierre Wimille’ during Monterey Car Week

Bugatti to debut special Grand Sport Vitesse ‘Legend Jean-Pierre Wimille’ during Monterey Car Week originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Seat Leon ST longroof revealed

Filed under: Budget, Wagon, Europe, SEAT

Seat has officially unveiled the Leon ST – the first estate/wagon version of the Leon ever offered – which expands the third-generation Leon and Leon SC lineup that went on sale last year.

With the introduction of the ST (Sport Touring) comes driver-assistance technology new to the Leon range, including adaptive cruise control, adaptive chassis control and progressive steering. But the main reason you’d opt for the estate is probably for its cargo capacity, which starts at 20.7 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and stretches to 51.9 cubic feet when they’re folded down. Seat did a good job keeping the Leon’s identity after revising it into wagon form, but despite the ST’s clean lines, it comes very close to looking like a small minivan to our eyes. Perhaps that opinion will change after we view the new wagon in person.

Volkswagen-owned Seat uses the Golf’s chassis for the Leon series, as well as VW engines. Seat claims the ST was designed with fuel efficiency in mind, and its light weight (for a wagon, at least) of 2,718 pounds for the base model and range of small, direct-injected, turbocharged petrol and diesel engines support that claim. Engines range from 1.2 to 2.0 liters in size and have between 104 and 182 horsepower. All told, Seat claims the Leon ST with the worst fuel efficiency will still net drivers a stellar 53.3 miles per gallon on average, using the European cycle.

Since Seat doesn’t sell cars in the US, you’ll have to wait for the next VW Jetta SportWagen if you want something like this Leon ST package. For more details, check out Seat’s press release below.

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Seat Leon ST longroof revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jul 2013 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Renault promises new concept car and Dacia Duster in Frankfurt

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault

Dacia Duster front three-quarter

Renault and Dacia will be headed to the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in a big way, with a new concept car from the French company and an all-new Duster from its Romanian budget brand. The new concept is particularly exciting, as Renault’s press release mentions a “new brand identity.” We can also count on this car being a bit higher on the luxury scale than Renault’s traditional offerings.

Dacia’s new Duster will have big shoes to fill when it hits the spotlights of Frankfurt. The current Duster (pictured), a small, handsomely rugged CUV, was introduced in 2010, and has been a critical hit in Great Britain, Russia, and India (where it’s called the Renault Duster). It’s also been a smash with customers, becoming Renault’s best-selling global model.

Both the new Duster and Renault’s latest concept will hit the stage in Frankfurt on September 10.

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Renault promises new concept car and Dacia Duster in Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jul 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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