Archive for June, 2015
Toyota’s new fuel cell vehicle meets daily needs.
by Michael Strong on Jun.30, 2015
The 2016 Toyota Mirai will debut with plenty of incentives to buy one, including three years of free fuel and app to help find fueling stations.
Much of the hubbub surrounding fuel cell vehicles focuses on, well, the “fuel.” How will you get it and how far can you go with it? The Toyota Mirai answered both of those today.
The Japanese maker said today the new fuel cell vehicle will average 67 miles per equivalent gallon and 312 miles on a full tank. The Mirai is expected to go on sale this fall in California with additional markets added later.
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“Toyota realized in the early 90’s that electrification was key to the future of the automobile,” said Jim Lentz, Toyota North America CEO, in a statement. “Just as the Prius introduced hybrid-electric vehicles to millions of customers nearly twenty years ago, the Mirai is now poised to usher in a new era of efficient, hydrogen transportation.” (more…)
Tags: 2016 Toyota Mirai, California-only Toyota, Mirai fuel-cell sedan, TheDetroitBureau.com., Toyota hydrogen fuel cell car, alternative-fuel vehicles, auto news, fuel cell vehicle news, fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen-powered Toyota, hyundai tucson fuel cell vehicle, michael strong, new Toyota fuel cell vehicle, new Toyota sedan, thedetroitbureau, toyota news
Posted in Automobiles | 1 Comment »
Based on LF-LC concept, new supercar could nudge above 600-hp.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jun.30, 2015
The Lexus LF-LC concept shown in Australia.
The Lexus SC nameplate has gone through a number of major iterations over the years, from the original sporty coupe to a quirky hardtop convertible and, if new reports prove accurate, it’s about to change again, this time becoming the production version of the LF-LC supercar concept.
Expected to reach showrooms sometime late next year, the next-generation Lexus SC would also serve as a long-awaited replacement for the brand’s first, limited-volume halo car, the Lexus LFA. Some sources suggest the new model will be offered in several different versions, including one that would push somewhere north of 600 horsepower.
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The revival of the SC as a new, high-performance flagship would fit in with the mandate of Toyota Motor Co. President Akio Toyoda, who has commanded that there be more “passion” in the luxury brand. How much you’d have to pay is a question generating plenty of debate, with some guesstimating it will nudge into $150,000 territory.
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Tags: Akio Toyoda, Lexus supercar, auto news, car news, japanese supercars, lexus lf-lc, lexus lfa, lexus news, lexus sc, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, supercars, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles | 1 Comment »
The most powerful factory muscle car ever also shows a practical side.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jun.30, 2015
To Hell and back - Hell, Michigan, that is.
I’ve been to Hell and back. And with 707 horsepower under the hood it didn’t take me long to get there.
Hell, Michigan seemed like the appropriate place to take a spin in the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat – not just because of the kindred name but because the little town is gateway to some of the best driving roads within a couple 100 miles of Detroit. While there are plenty of flat, wide roads in the Motor City to test the Hellcat’s 0 to 60 prowess, we wanted to see how it handled something a lot more demanding.
Muscle Up!
For those who’ve somehow missed the headlines, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat – and its sibling, the Challenger SRT Hellcat – are the most powerful factory-built muscle cars ever to roll out of a Big Three assembly plant. They share a massive, 6.2-liter supercharged version of the familiar Hemi V-8 that makes a jaw-dropping 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.
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Tags: 2015 dodge charger hellcat review, Dodge Hellcat, auto news, car news, charger srt hellcat review, dodge charger hellcat review, dodge charger srt hellcat, dodge news, dodge reviews, muscle car reviews, muscle cars, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, srt hellcat, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles | 1 Comment »
Magazine notes Audi, BMW and Subaru biggest offenders.
by Michael Strong on Jun.30, 2015
The BMW 5 Series is 27 times more likely to need oil between service intervals than other vehicles.
If you’re adding oil to your car’s engine between oil changes, something may be askew, according to Consumer Reports.
The advocacy magazine found that some cars built between 2010 and 2014 are not just needing a little top off between service intervals, but burning through as much as a quart a month.
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Taking Audi, BMW and Subaru to task for the issue, it notes that Audi’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder and 3.0-liter V6; BMW’s 4.8-liter V8 and 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8; and Subaru’s 3.6-liter six-cylinder and 2.0- and 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines all burned oil at a higher than normal rate, although the Subarus burned less oil than the others. (more…)
Tags: Audi burns oil, Audi oil class-action lawsuit, BMW burns oil, Consumer Reports Audi BMW Subaru, Consumer Reports oil burning cars, Subaru burns oil, TheDetroitBureau.com., adding oil to cars, audi news, auto news, bmw news, cars using too much oil, changing oil in cars, consumer reports, michael strong, oil change news, oil change rules, subaru news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles | 4 Comments »
Buyers pony up cash despite challenges of ownership.
by Michael Strong on Jun.30, 2015
Muscle car sales, including those of the Dodge Challenger, are on the rise in the U.S.
If it appears that there are more Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers on the roads around town, it’s not a figment of your imagination: American muscle cars are big sellers these days.
According to Experian Automotive, muscle car sales are up more than 35% in the last nine years with the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro leading the charge. Through May Ford sold 56,571 Mustangs; Chevy sold 33,982 Camaros, according to Autodata Corp. The Dodge Challenger is in third place, with 30,166 sold.
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“The love of the Mustang combined with the reintroduction of the Camaro, Challenger and Charger has sparked a resurgence of the muscle car,” said Brad Smith, Experian’s director of automotive statistics. (more…)
Tags: American muscle cars, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Dodge Viper, Experian Automotive muscle car study, Experian muscle cars, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, chevrolet camaro, chevrolet corvette, ford mustang, michael strong, muscle car sales, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles | 2 Comments »
Devaluation of Venezuelan bolivar forces maker’s move.
by Joseph Szczesny on Jun.30, 2015
GM will take a $600 million charge due to Venezuela's move to devalue its currency.
In a move that signals another round of trouble for automakers operating in the Venezuela, General Motors expects to record a pre-tax charge of approximately $600 million due to the company’s devaluation of its currency.
The “re-measurement” charge is for the Automotive cost of sales in the South American country for the second quarter of 2015, GM said in a new filing with the Securities Exchange Commission. GM will report its second-quarter financial results July 23.
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It will be treated as a special charge for EBIT-adjusted reporting purposes. GM does not expect this decision to impact its South American or Venezuelan operating results, nor does it believe it will affect 2015 adjusted free cash flows, according to GM’s filing with the SEC. (more…)
Tags: GM South America problem, GM Venezuela, GM charge, GM problems in Venezuela, GM takes $600 million charge, General Motors Venezuela, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, automaker takes charge, currency devaluation, gm news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles | 1 Comment »
Korean maker paying $50 million annually for new deal.
by Michael Strong on Jun.29, 2015
Hyundai's profile is going to get quite a bit higher with its new four-year sponsorship deal with the NFL.
For hours on end every Sunday this fall, American football fans are going to see something new on their television screens: the Hyundai logo. The South Korean automaker is taking over for General Motors as the league’s top sponsor in a new four-year agreement.
No figures were released on the deal, but ESPN reported that Hyundai will pay $50 million annually: double GM’s $25 million payout. Unlike the GM deal, the NFL can still sell the truck category and the rights to give away that vehicle to the Super Bowl MVP. GM’s three-year deal was exclusive, but was tied specifically to GMC.
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“We value our relationship with the NFL and its fans, but have decided to focus our sponsorship resources in other areas in the future,” GM said in a statement. (more…)
Tags: Hyundai $50 million NFL deal, Hyundai NFL sponsorship, Hyundai advertising, Hyundai official NFL sponsor, Hyundai ties up with NFL, NFL deal with Hyundai, NFL news, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, hyundai news, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles | 1 Comment »
National Safety Council predicts highest highway fatality rate in 7 years.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jun.29, 2015
Highway deaths are expected to surge over the upcoming Independence Day holiday.
With highway fatalities already on the rise after years of steady decline, the upcoming Independence Day holiday could be a particularly deadly one.
As many as 409 Americans will be killed on the road during the long weekend, with another 49,500 injured, forecasts the National Safety Council. That would be the highest number for an Independence Day holiday since 2008 if the numbers prove accurate.
Keeping You Safe!
“Drivers always need to be vigilant, but this weekend, focus on the safety of your family,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “A few precautions can help ensure a memorable weekend. Spending the holiday with family is preferable to spending time in the ER.”
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Tags: Highway Deaths, auto news, car deaths, car news, highway fatalities, july 4 deaths, july 4 highway deaths, nsc highway deaths, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, roadway deaths, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles | 1 Comment »
More choices, great lease rates help push numbers upward.
by Michael Strong on Jun.29, 2015
New car buyers are remaining loyal to the brands they're getting out of, according to a new study.
New vehicle buyers are visiting dealership in droves these days, and more often than not, they’re sticking with the brand that brought them there, according to a new study.
IHS Automotive reports that brand loyalty among new car buyers is up to 52.8% in the first quarter of this year with several makes enjoying new high-water marks for loyalty, including Chevrolet, GMC, Infiniti, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru and Volvo.
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New vehicle sales in the U.S. through May are tracking for sales in excess of 17 million units in 2015 and June sales are only expected to continue the trend, according to Alec Gutierrez, senior analyst, Kelley Blue Book. (more…)
Tags: Auto brand loyalty rises, IHS Automotive, IHS brand loyalty study, TheDetroitBureau.com., Tom Libby, auto loyalty increases, auto news, brand loyalty automotive, michael strong, new car buyers, new vehicle sales, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles | 2 Comments »
Evolutionary exterior hides more revolutionary changes.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jun.29, 2015
The exterior of the 2016 Audi A4 doesn't change much - but there's more here than meets the eye.
You might need to take a second glance if you see the 2016 Audi A4 glide by. But while the German maker has opted for a relatively subtle and evolutionary exterior update, this all-new model delivers a number of more revolutionary changes.
Despite growing longer and wider, the 2016 Audi A4 is as much as 265 pounds lighter than the outgoing sedan. And it offers a variety of new technologies, including an updated infotainment interface that will recognize your handwriting as well as your voice.
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With a variety of new four- and six-cylinder gas and diesel engine options, the fifth-generation Audi A4 will make its official debut a few months from now at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.
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Tags: 2016 audi a4, 2016 audi a4 pics, 2016 frankfurt motor show, Audi A4 review, audi a4, audi frankfurt motor show, audi news, auto news, car news, compact luxury sedan, new audi a4, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles | 1 Comment »
