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Ford Territory spotted completely naked and production-ready

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Ford, Australia

2011 Ford Territory spy shot Sure, Ford has a whole slew of crossovers here in the United States, but what we don’t have is a Blue Oval-branded CUV based on rear-wheel drive architecture. For that, you’ll have to travel to Australia or New Zealand (or South Africa or Thailand, exported from Oz), where Ford offers the Territory.

Like all Territory models since its introduction in 2004, the 2011 model will be based on the Falcon that we’re dying for in the States. Fortunately, as we’ve seen in previous spy shots and renderings, the next-gen Territory will feature styling that continues to separate itself from the Taurus X-ish looks of the first-gen model, with a completely new front fascia featuring twin gaping maws with bright horizontal chrome strips.

Two powerplants are expected: the turbo-diesel 2.7-liter V6 that can currently be found in the Land Rover Discovery 3 (a.k.a. LR4) and the well-loved 4.0-liter inline six offered in the Falcon. Thanks for the tip, TriShield!

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Ford Territory spotted completely naked and production-ready originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM, Ford slow production at seven plants due to Canadian storms

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, GM, Canada

Flint Assembly Plant

If you think early winter weather is causing you headaches this season, you should hear what General Motors and Ford are putting up with. The companies have seen production slow in at least seven of their manufacturing facilities in Canada and the Midwest thanks to road closings. According to Bloomberg, The General was forced to either slow or stop production of at least eight models, including the Chevrolet Equinox, Camaro and Impala as well as the Cadillac CTS and STS. And Ford hasn’t fared much better – the Blue Oval has brought production of at least six models to a stop.

Among the FoMoCo casualties of this week’s winter wonderland? The Flex, Edge and Explorer, but work was also held up on the Lincoln MKT and MKS. Additionally, the slowdown may impact the automakers’ fourth-quarter results, since most carmakers record their revenue when vehicles are assembled at the plant.

Interestingly enough, Chrysler, which operates facilities in Canada, has apparently not had to slow or stop production because of the weather. Likewise, the Honda plant in Marysville, Ohio is operating normally so far this season.

[Source: Bloomberg | Image: John Ehlke/AP /The Flint Journal]

Report: GM, Ford slow production at seven plants due to Canadian storms originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chrysler pulling ahead production of eight-speed transmissions

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler

Chrysler transmission plant

Chrysler is getting serious about its eight-speed transmission plans as evidenced by a new report by TheDetroitBureau.com saying that Auburn Hills plans to pull ahead its production schedule. It takes money to make things things like this happen, and Chrysler has announced it is investing $85 million into its Kokomo Transmission Plant in Indiana. That $85M will get added to a rather large pile of cash because Chrysler has already announced an investment amount of $843 million for its various Kokomo facilities.

The eight-speed was originally slated for production at Chrysler’s Indiana Transmission Plant I, but the move to Kokomo allows ITPI to focus on a new front-wheel drive transmission.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

Report: Chrysler pulling ahead production of eight-speed transmissions originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Ford Focus production begins

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Wagon, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Ford

2012 Ford Focus

2012 Ford Focus production begins in Germany – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2012 Ford Focus isn’t just an all-new model for the Blue Oval team – it represents the first example of the automaker’s “One Ford” global product strategy. Ford is now engineering cars that will be exactly the same in all markets, and for the first time in many years, we Americans will finally be able to buy the same Focus as the rest of the world.

Ford will start selling the 2012 Focus early next year, and thus, production of the new global C-car has officially started at the automaker’s Saarlouis Assembly Plant in Germany. This facility is capable of manufacturing up to 1,850 vehicles a day over the course of three shifts, and all three Focus bodystyles (sedan, hatchback and wagon) will be produced here. The high-performance Focus ST will be added to this line in early 2012, as well.

In addition to the Saarlouis plant, Ford has begun early production of the North American-spec Focus at the automaker’s Michigan Assembly Plant just outside of Detroit. This plant has been completely overhauled over the past year, as it was formerly used to produce the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.

Ford plans to further expand Focus production in mid-2011 by adding manufacturing lines to its plant in St. Petersburg, Russia. What’s more, production in the Asia Pacific region will come on-line in 2012 at new facilities in Chongquig, China and Rayong, Thailand. Follow the jump to read the Blue Oval’s official press release.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus production

[Source: Ford]

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2012 Ford Focus production begins originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda announces end of Element production

Filed under: SUV, Honda

2010 Honda Element

2010 Honda Element with Dog-Friendly Package – Click above for high-res image gallery

After a nine-year run, the Honda Element will officially be killed off after the 2011 model year. The Element has suffered from slow sales numbers over the past few years, and in the model’s death notice, Honda specifically cites that a large amount of customers prefer the better refinement and improved fuel economy of the automaker’s CR-V crossover.

Since its debut in December of 2002, more than 325,000 Elements have been sold in the United States. During its lifespan, we saw the introduction of the bolder-looking SC model in 2007, and just last year, Honda began offering the 2010 Element with a dog-friendly package (pictured). Modest facelifts over the years have helped keep the Element somewhat fresh, but newer competitors on the scene have helped expose weaknesses in refinement and power. That said, Honda’s boxy sport-ute has long been praised for its utility-oriented and easy-to-maintain interior – not to mention kicking off the modern styling trend of boxy vehicles.

Follow the jump to read Honda’s official statement. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda Element Dog Friendly Package

[Source: Honda]

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Honda announces end of Element production originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM studying how to double or triple Chevy Volt production

Filed under: Hybrid, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

Early Volts reportedly cost $40,000 to build

Chevrolet Volt battery pack – Click above for high-res image gallery

How’s your math? If you have 240,000 “potential buyers” but only 10,000 vehicles to sell them in the first year, what can you do? If you’re General Motos and the item in question is the Chevrolet Volt, then you look for ways to seriously increase the number of Volts you can build (and, of course, sell).

That’s exactly what CEO Dan Akerson says his company is trying to do, looking to double or triple production rates of this very important car. The problem, according to GM North America President Mark Reuss, is the bottleneck created by the limited number of battery cells that vendor LG Chem can produce for GM. The current plan is to make around 10,000 in 2011 and 45,000 in 2012. That 2012 number has already been increased from 30,000.

Upping the production numbers is good for GM for another reason. According to Steven Rattner, who was President Obama’s former auto bailout chief and worked intimately with GM, “At least in the early years, each Volt would cost around $40,000 to manufacture (development costs not included).” GM won’t confirm this number, but increased production will get the company, presumably, better economies of scale and thus lower production costs.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt battery pack

[Sources: The New York Times, Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: GM studying how to double or triple Chevy Volt production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevrolet Volt production officially begins today, GM auctioning first one for charity [w/video]

Filed under: Hybrid, Videos, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

chevy volt charity auction

First Chevrolet Volt gets built – Click above to watch the time-lapse video

Want to be like Lance Armstrong and get the first available production model of one of the most eagerly-awaited vehicles of the decade? You can, if you’re willing to bid some money to help the Detroit Public Schools – more specifically the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, which supports math and science education.

The “first Chevrolet Volt available for retail sale” will be auctioned on Bidonthevolt.com through 6 p.m. (EST?) December 14, with the winner announced on December 16. The actual first retail Volt will be kept by General Motors, so the Viridian Joule auction car will have a vehicle identification number ending in BU100002. The car includes the Light Neutral interior with dark accents, has the Premium Trim Package, Rear Camera and Park Assist Package and polished wheels. The auction starts at $50,000 and comes with a 240-volt charging station installed in the winner’s home. No word on whether of not winning the auction still qualifies you for the $7,500 federal tax credit.

As you might expect, GM is highlighting the connection between all of the advanced technology in the Volt and the math and science needed to create it. General Motors North America president Mark Reuss said in a statement that, “By encouraging Detroit-area students to pursue these topics, we hope to cultivate the next generation of engineers who will build upon the Volt’s innovative technologies.” To this end, GM will also hire 1,000 engineers and researchers in Michigan within the next two years. You can read about these jobs on AutoblogGreen, but before you go anywhere, check out an official time-lapse build video of the first Chevy Volt after the jump.

[Source: Chevrolet]

Continue reading Chevrolet Volt production officially begins today, GM auctioning first one for charity [w/video]

Chevrolet Volt production officially begins today, GM auctioning first one for charity [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Lamborghini Murcielago production end honored with V12 parade

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lamborghini

Lamborghini Parade

Click above to watch video after the jump

After nine years and 4,099 examples produced, the Lamborghini Murciélago has reached the end of its production cycle. A new V12-equipped Lambo is on the horizon, but before that beast roars to life the Italian automaker decided to take its resident raging bull for one more lap through Sant’Agata Bolognese.

Not content to trot the Murciélago out alone, Lamborghini also lined up a 350 GT, Miura, Countach and Diablo to escort the Super Veloce. Baby-brother Gallardo also gets in on the parade action by means of the local polizia. The whole affair was captured on video and, while it might not be action packed, it is packed with beautiful and exotic examples of Lamborghini’s history.
Hop the jump to watch the Murciélago take on final victory lap through its hometown.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Lamborghini Murcielago production end honored with V12 parade

Video: Lamborghini Murcielago production end honored with V12 parade originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Production Lamborghini Sesto Elemento will be for track use only

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Lamborghini

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento – Click above for high-res image gallery

It sounds like we can forget all about cruising South Beach in the upcoming Lamborghini Sesto Elemento. According to Autocar, The Raging Bull is planning to build the carbon-fiber terror as a limited production model for track duty only. Thanks to its unique construction, the Sesto Elemento should hit the scales at less than 2,200 pounds, all while boasting the same drivetrain as the wicked Superleggera. This promises to be one very fast machine, but chances are it will carry a price tag to match. Autocar is reporting that the newest addition to the Lamborghini stable will likely go for Reventón money. With an MSRP of over $1.6 million, you certainly won’t be seeing these parked in every paddock.

That’s all the more true given that Autocar suspects that Lamborghini will build less than 20 examples of the Sesto Elemento. Who knew that rare birds were built from forged carbon fiber?

Gallery: Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept In Detail

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Production Lamborghini Sesto Elemento will be for track use only originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you a production-bound Porsche 918 Spyder teaser?

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Hybrid, Performance, Europe, Porsche, Design/Style

Porsche 918 Spyder Clay Model

Porsche 918 Spyder Clay Model – Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche may have inadvertently given us our best glimpse yet at the upcoming production version of the company’s 918 Spyder. The German sports car manufacturer has announced its intention to invest mountains of cash in its Weissach facility, and has released a bevy of images from inside the studio walls to mark the occasion. Tucked among the images of designers furiously sketching away and engineers toying with crash-test dummies is one very interesting shot of a 918 clay model. Of particular interest is that single, massive side-exit exhaust nestled behind the passenger door; clearly a different design from the double-stacked tips of the concept. Could this be a 1:3 scale clay of the future production car? Or is it just an older take on the 918 that predates the eventual showcar? We won’t know one way or the other until the eventual production car makes its debut.

Porsche says that it intends to invest €150 million (around $202M USD) in its Weissach facility through the addition of a new wind tunnel. Additionally, the company plans to open a new state-of-the-art design center and what it calls an “electronic-integration center.” We aren’t positive, but our guess is that portion of the facility will play a big role in the Porsche hybrid program moving forward. Hit the jump for the official press release.

Gallery: Porsche Weissarch Research and Development

[Source: Porsche]

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Are you a production-bound Porsche 918 Spyder teaser? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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