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Hyundai announces 5 million units sold in Europe

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hyundai

Hyundai i30

The UK-market Hyundai i30 – Click above to enlarge

It’s official: five million Hyundai vehicles have been paired with paying customers in Europe since 1977. It began with a Hyundai Pony sent home with a UK buyer, and the latest milestone was achieved with the sale of an i30 (pictured). Although it works out to roughly 147,000 cars per year over those 34 years, the Korean firm didn’t hit the million-sales mark until 1996. The second million came in 2001, the third million in 2005, and it’s been another million every three years since.

More than half of those sales are accounted for by just five European countries, with Germany in the lead at 714,260 units. There’s a press release after the jump with all the info.

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Hyundai announces 5 million units sold in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 May 2011 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Japan automakers have lost half a million units since quake

Filed under: Etc., Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota

Damaged Suzuki vehicles

According to Automotive News, Japanese automakers have seen their production drop by over 500,000 units since the March 11 earthquake struck the island nation. In the month since the disaster, the country’s seven largest automakers lost around 516,000 units of production due to damage to production facilities and supplier delays. Toyota has been the hardest hit, with a loss of 260,000 units as of April 8. The automaker has a total of 18 domestic manufacturing facilities, and while two of those are back online, the remainder won’t open their doors until at least April 18. Even then, the plants may shut down again after April 27.

Honda, Suzuki, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda and Mitsubishi are all operating on some level, though production is an on-again, off-again affair. As an example, Nissan has managed to re-open all five of its Japanese facilities, though production has been scaled back to half-pace for the time being. There’s no word as to when full production will ramp up once again.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.| Image: Wally Santana/AP]

PSA: Japan automakers have lost half a million units since quake originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford releases new version of the Fiesta S1600, limited to just 500 units

Filed under: Car Buying, Hatchback, Ford, UK

ford fiesta s1600

Another day, another hot-hatch that the United Kingdom can enjoy while thumbing their nose at our relative lack of hot-hatchitude here in the States. Ford has just announced another limited-edition run of Fiesta S1600 hatchbacks.

In 2010, Ford released a 650-car run of 118-horsepower Fiesta S1600 three-doors. A new version for 2011 uses the same engine but ups the power ante to 132 horsepower at 6,700 rpm and 118 pound-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm.

On the outside, the Ford Fiesta S1600 receives a lower front valence, larger side sills, a rear spoiler, rear diffuser and white 17-inch alloy wheels. The car is available in Frozen White or Performance Blue and both color choices get a pair of contrasting center stripes. The S1600 gets upgraded parts on the interior as well. Leather lines the heated sports seats, handbrake cover, gear level and steering wheel.

The Ford Fiesta S1600 will be limited to just 500 units and wears a price tag of £15,895, or nearly $26,000 USD. It doesn’t matter how much it costs in U.S. Dollars though because we can’t buy it here. That said, feel free to read all about what you’ll likely be missing in the press release after the break.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford releases new version of the Fiesta S1600, limited to just 500 units

Ford releases new version of the Fiesta S1600, limited to just 500 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Lexus IS 350C F Sport Special Edition limited to 175 units, priced from $55,120*

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Lexus, Luxury

2011 Lexus IS 350C F Sport Special Edition

2011 Lexus IS 350C F Sport Special Edition – Click above for high-res image

Lexus has just released a limited-edition version of the IS 350C convertible that will go on sale later this month. Called the F Sport Special Edition, the droptop is limited to a scant 175 units, priced from $55,120, not including delivery and processing fees.

To set it apart from other IS 350Cs, the F Sport Special Edition benefits from a few visual tweaks. It rides on 19-inch forged alloy wheels with a dark graphite finish and the only two exterior colors available are Starfire Pearl (pictured) or Obsidian. Other F Sport touches include Bilstein shocks and lowering springs that bring the IS one inch closer to the ground, and a unique sway bar set has been added, too.

The interior is padded with black and red leather surfaces, and both heated and cooled seats are standard. Navigation is also part of the Special Edition package, encompassing things like a rearview camera, Lexus Enform and the full host of XM infotainment features. Hit the jump for the official press blast.

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading 2011 Lexus IS 350C F Sport Special Edition limited to 175 units, priced from $55,120*

2011 Lexus IS 350C F Sport Special Edition limited to 175 units, priced from $55,120* originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder trying catch up to 99 units with ZR1 power?

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Spyker, Rumormill

2010 Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything from Spyker that didn’t have to do with its acquisition of Saab. The Dutch automaker has apparently had its hands full taking the reins in Trollhattan from General Motors – so busy in fact that it has apparently missed production targets. Like with the new C8 Aileron Spyder.

The convertible version of the stretched and updated C8 debuted about a year and a half ago in Pebble Beach, and was supposed to enter production in the first half of 2010. Well, 2010 has come and gone and apparently production still hasn’t started. But we do have some news.

According to reports from the company’s native Netherlands, Spyker is planning on keeping the C8 Aileron Spyder very exclusive, with a production run of just 99 units. That’s a mighty limited edition, but there’s more: according to the same report quoting CEO Victor Muller, Spyker will be ditching the Audi-sourced 4.2-liter V8 for the 6.2-liter supercharged LS9 from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

Considering that, at 638 hp, the LS9 produces over 50% more power than the 400-horse Audi mill, the commensurate drop in the previously estimated 4.5-second sprint to 60 should be well worth the work involved in turning the blown eight around and mounting it in the middle of the Spyker. Either that, or this could all amount to nothing – but the notion that the door between GM and Spyker could be swinging both ways is certainly intriguing.

Gallery: Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder

[Source: GTSpirit.com]

Report: Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder trying catch up to 99 units with ZR1 power? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Tata Nano sales plunge to just 589 units in November

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, India, Tata

2011 Tata Nano CX

2011 Tata Nano CX – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Tata Nano was such a hot commodity when it entered the Indian market that Tata Motors felt compelled to hold a lottery to determine the first 100,000 customers. A reported 70,000 copies of the $2,500+ econobox have been sold to date, but November apparently didn’t budge that number much.

Bloomberg reports that only 589 Nano models were sold in November; a minuscule total for a mass-market car. Tata CEO Carl-Peter Forster reportedly blames a lack of financing options as the reason customers aren’t buying. Forster claims that the Nano is popular with customers who currently use a bike or motorcycle for transportation, and the feeling is that banks fear that extending a loan to a lower income buyer could bring increased risk of default.

But while bank loans are one problem, another issue could stem from the fact that the Nano has been in the news for catching fire. That’s definitely not a desirable feature, and we’re thinking that customers who plunk down their life savings for their first vehicle don’t want their low-cost car to turn into a pricey car-b-que. The ‘no loans’ theory sounds even less likely after hearing that overall Tata sales in November were 54,622, up one percent year-over-year. And the icing on the cake? Tata has also raised the price of the Nano twice over the past few months; $198 in October and four percent back in July. That’s about $300 more than the car sold for at launch.

Gallery: 2011 Tata Nano CX: Quick Spin

[Source: Bloomberg]

Report: Tata Nano sales plunge to just 589 units in November originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki recalls SX4, Grand Vitara and Equator for overheating Garmin sat-nav units

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Technology, Suzuki

Suzuki SX4 Sport with Garmin navigation system – Click above for high-res image gallery

When Garmin issued a recall on its Nuvi portable navigation system a couple of weeks ago, Japanese automaker Suzuki informed us that it would need to issue a follow-up recall for a few vehicles in its lineup. After all, Suzuki offers dashboard-mounted Garmin GPS units in its Equator, Grand Vitara and SX4 models, and unfortunately, the Nuvi navis supplied to Suzuki are among the ones that need repair.

Approximately 20,692 Suzuki vehicles are affected by this recall – specifically the 2008-2010 SX4, 2010 Grand Vitara and 2009-2010 Equator equipped with Garmin Nuvi 750, 760 and 765 navigation systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that the batteries in these nav units can potentially overheat which could result in a fire.

Garmin technicians will replace the existing batteries free of charge and owners will be notified within the next few weeks. The official recall notice from NHTSA is available after the jump.

Gallery: Review: 2008 Suzuki SX4 Sport with TRIP

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading Suzuki recalls SX4, Grand Vitara and Equator for overheating Garmin sat-nav units

Suzuki recalls SX4, Grand Vitara and Equator for overheating Garmin sat-nav units originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Ford

2011 Ford Edge Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery

It goes without saying, but we’re going to go ahead and say it anyway: Crossovers are so hot right now. According to data compiled by Ford, the CUV industry has expanded 220 percent since 2006, which is the year the Blue Oval introduced the world to the Edge, its main player in the hotly contested market.

Ford also contends that the over 400,000 Edge CUVs have sold since late 2006, making it the best-selling mid-size crossover over that period of time. Don’t expect that growth to slow down any time soon, either, as Ford projects the CUV segment will increase another few percentage points in 2011. In fact, the market for CUVs will grow to be as large as that of full-size pickup trucks.

In order to meet the increased demand it expects for CUVs, Ford has sharpened its Edge (sorry, couldn’t resist) for the 2011 model year. Of special note are the two new drivetrain choices that join the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 2.0-liter EcoBoost with 285 horsepower and a 3.5-horsepower 3.7 Ti-VCT V6 in the newly beefed-up Edge Sport.

The House that Henry Built is also quick to point out that its next-gen Edge will come with a full suite of technology options, including Sync and MyFord Touch. So, will all of this added goodness equal a worthwhile improvement to the hot-selling previous-generation Edge? Stay tuned for a First Ride report, and feel free to click past the break for Ford’s official press release.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Edge Sport

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units

2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM will increase Volt production by 50% – to 45,000 units – in 2012

President Obama toured the General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck facility where the automaker will build (can we say “is building” yet?) the Chevrolet Volt today, and as any good PR person will surely agree, you can’t let an opportunity like that go by without making an announcement of some sort. So, GM has something to say and it’s big news, too: GM will increase Volt production capacity by 50 percent in 2012.

Details are as follows: Instead of making 30,000 Volts in the U.S. in 2012, GM will now make 45,000. These numbers are lower than production numbers we heard rumors of in years past, but they’re good news for fans of plug-in vehicles. Is the increase a response to positive reaction to the Volt’s $33,500 after-tax-rebate price tag? Maybe, GM said in a statement that, “In the past few weeks, more than 25,000 people have joined the Chevrolet Volt enthusiast list.”

The news is good for the President, too, since the White House is pushing The American Auto Industry: A Comeback Story message this week. Part of that is an interactive version of the White House map showing places where the government has supported automakers, which you can find here.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

[Sources: General Motors, WhiteHouse.gov]

Continue reading GM will increase Volt production by 50% – to 45,000 units – in 2012

GM will increase Volt production by 50% – to 45,000 units – in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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