NEWS OF INTEREST
Recently we recently updated our upcoming Auction Listings. You may have noticed a number of the Auction Results now include the Top Ten CORVETTE Sales Results in addition to the OVERALL Top Ten Sales Results. We add the Top Ten Corvette Sales Results when an auction has twenty or more Corvettes consigned to a scheduled auction. Of late the popularity of collectable and late model Corvettes has increased.
We also noted a unique auction scheduled on October 26, 2024 by RMSotheby’s Auctions. Their ‘No Reserve’ “Junkyard Auction’ will take place in the Los Angeles Area where Rudi Klein has amassed high end, wrecked collectable vehicles and parts with the likes of Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin. The parts (engine blocks and transmissions) and 80 vehicles will be sold at the auction. Additional information and photos can be found at www.rmsothebys.com.
Stay Tuned, we will provide sale price information from this auction.
JANUARY 2024
The largest auctions of the year begin in January with warm weather for Mecum in Kissimmee, FL and Barrett-Jackson across the country in Scottsdale, AZ.
Mecum has consigned over 4,000 vehicles at their Kissimmee, FL auction where they brought in over $234 Million in total sales last year. They expect to exceed that number by the conclusion of this year’s auction. At this year’s Mecum auction, 465 Corvettes are expected to cross the auction block.
Barrett-Jackson has consigned over 1,900 vehicles on a ‘no reserve’ basis in Scottsdale, AZ. They have scheduled over 100 Corvettes looking for new owners.
Stay tuned to our AutoResearchBlog.com site for the latest schedules and auction results including the Top Ten Sales at each Auction.
NEWS OF INTEREST
May 2023
- Mecum Auctions' 36th Spring Classic Auction in Indianapolis, IN runs from May 12th through Saturday, May 20th. There are 3,000 vehicles expected for this auction and we note that there will be 245 Corvettes expected to cross the auction block.
- On Sunday, May 20th, the Corvette returns to the Indy 500 as the 'Pace Car'. A 2023 Z06 Convertible has been designed by the Chevy Performance Design Studio and it will be pacing the 107th Indy 500 Race. The Z06 is finished in Red Mist Metallic Tintcoat. Adding to the beauty of this special Vette are Bespoke dual racing stripes running the length of the body.
- Corvette Productions UPDATE: Production of the 2023 Corvette will end on September 1, 2023. The 2024 Corvette, the fifth model year of the eighth-generation Corvette, will begin on September 5, 2023.
April 2023
- On Saturday, April 15, the first production 2024 hybrid Corvette E-Ray 3L2, VIN #001 sold for $1.1Million at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach, FL Auction. The buyer was Rick Hendrick, CEO of the Hendrick Automotive Group. When built, the E-Ray Corvette will be added to Hendrick's collection of VIN #1 vehicles. The sale money will go to Education Non-profit DonorChoose that helps teachers in low-income communities fund classroom projects.
- Great news regarding our note below about the April 20-21 Carlisle Auction of a 1953 Corvette: It was sold at the Carlisle Auction for $300,000. Much to our surprise, another 1953 Corvette was also sold in April, this one at the Mecum Houston Auction for $187,000. So few of these 1953 Corvette are offered for sale because only 300 were built. That both these sales happened in April makes this a very interesting coincidence!
- A few notable Corvettes will be crossing the auction block and sales results will follow after the auction. On April 13-15 at Barrett-Jackson in Palm Beach, FL a 2024 Corvette E-Ray VIN #001 will be sold with all proceeds going to charity.
- On April 20-21 at the Carlisle Auction in Carlisle, PA one of the 300 built, a 1953 Corvette VIN #100 will be offered for sale. Check the results at the Auction Results section of the Blog.
- A major announcement from Chevrolet indicates the sixth generation Camaro will be retired at the conclusion of model year 2024! First introduced as a 1967 model to the public on September 26, 1966 as a 1967 model, this vehicle was Chevrolet's answer to Ford's Mustang that had been introduced as a 1964 model.
Since its introduction in 1966, hundreds of thousands of Camaro's have been manufactured, purchased and driven around the world. The first generation was from 1967-1969, second generation from 1970-1981, third generation from 1982-1992, and the fourth generation from 1993-2002. After a seven year absence from the market, the Camaro returned as an all-new model in 2010.
As a 'sendoff' Chevrolet will celebrate this storied nameplate with the addition of the Collector's Edition package on the 2024 Camaro RS and SS, and on a limited number of ZL1 equipped vehicles available in North America. The Collector's Edition pays homage to Camaro, resurfacing ties that date back to the development of the first generation Camaro in the 1960's, most notably the program's initial code name: Panther. More information on the 2024 Camaro line and Collector's Edition package will be available closer to the start of orders this summer.
Recently we recently updated our upcoming Auction Listings. You may have noticed a number of the Auction Results now include the Top Ten CORVETTE Sales Results in addition to the OVERALL Top Ten Sales Results. We add the Top Ten Corvette Sales Results when an auction has twenty or more Corvettes consigned to a scheduled auction. Of late the popularity of collectable and late model Corvettes has increased.
We also noted a unique auction scheduled on October 26, 2024 by RMSotheby’s Auctions. Their ‘No Reserve’ “Junkyard Auction’ will take place in the Los Angeles Area where Rudi Klein has amassed high end, wrecked collectable vehicles and parts with the likes of Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin. The parts (engine blocks and transmissions) and 80 vehicles will be sold at the auction. Additional information and photos can be found at www.rmsothebys.com.
Stay Tuned, we will provide sale price information from this auction.
JANUARY 2024
The largest auctions of the year begin in January with warm weather for Mecum in Kissimmee, FL and Barrett-Jackson across the country in Scottsdale, AZ.
Mecum has consigned over 4,000 vehicles at their Kissimmee, FL auction where they brought in over $234 Million in total sales last year. They expect to exceed that number by the conclusion of this year’s auction. At this year’s Mecum auction, 465 Corvettes are expected to cross the auction block.
Barrett-Jackson has consigned over 1,900 vehicles on a ‘no reserve’ basis in Scottsdale, AZ. They have scheduled over 100 Corvettes looking for new owners.
Stay tuned to our AutoResearchBlog.com site for the latest schedules and auction results including the Top Ten Sales at each Auction.
NEWS OF INTEREST
May 2023
- Mecum Auctions' 36th Spring Classic Auction in Indianapolis, IN runs from May 12th through Saturday, May 20th. There are 3,000 vehicles expected for this auction and we note that there will be 245 Corvettes expected to cross the auction block.
- On Sunday, May 20th, the Corvette returns to the Indy 500 as the 'Pace Car'. A 2023 Z06 Convertible has been designed by the Chevy Performance Design Studio and it will be pacing the 107th Indy 500 Race. The Z06 is finished in Red Mist Metallic Tintcoat. Adding to the beauty of this special Vette are Bespoke dual racing stripes running the length of the body.
- Corvette Productions UPDATE: Production of the 2023 Corvette will end on September 1, 2023. The 2024 Corvette, the fifth model year of the eighth-generation Corvette, will begin on September 5, 2023.
April 2023
- On Saturday, April 15, the first production 2024 hybrid Corvette E-Ray 3L2, VIN #001 sold for $1.1Million at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach, FL Auction. The buyer was Rick Hendrick, CEO of the Hendrick Automotive Group. When built, the E-Ray Corvette will be added to Hendrick's collection of VIN #1 vehicles. The sale money will go to Education Non-profit DonorChoose that helps teachers in low-income communities fund classroom projects.
- Great news regarding our note below about the April 20-21 Carlisle Auction of a 1953 Corvette: It was sold at the Carlisle Auction for $300,000. Much to our surprise, another 1953 Corvette was also sold in April, this one at the Mecum Houston Auction for $187,000. So few of these 1953 Corvette are offered for sale because only 300 were built. That both these sales happened in April makes this a very interesting coincidence!
- A few notable Corvettes will be crossing the auction block and sales results will follow after the auction. On April 13-15 at Barrett-Jackson in Palm Beach, FL a 2024 Corvette E-Ray VIN #001 will be sold with all proceeds going to charity.
- On April 20-21 at the Carlisle Auction in Carlisle, PA one of the 300 built, a 1953 Corvette VIN #100 will be offered for sale. Check the results at the Auction Results section of the Blog.
- A major announcement from Chevrolet indicates the sixth generation Camaro will be retired at the conclusion of model year 2024! First introduced as a 1967 model to the public on September 26, 1966 as a 1967 model, this vehicle was Chevrolet's answer to Ford's Mustang that had been introduced as a 1964 model.
Since its introduction in 1966, hundreds of thousands of Camaro's have been manufactured, purchased and driven around the world. The first generation was from 1967-1969, second generation from 1970-1981, third generation from 1982-1992, and the fourth generation from 1993-2002. After a seven year absence from the market, the Camaro returned as an all-new model in 2010.
As a 'sendoff' Chevrolet will celebrate this storied nameplate with the addition of the Collector's Edition package on the 2024 Camaro RS and SS, and on a limited number of ZL1 equipped vehicles available in North America. The Collector's Edition pays homage to Camaro, resurfacing ties that date back to the development of the first generation Camaro in the 1960's, most notably the program's initial code name: Panther. More information on the 2024 Camaro line and Collector's Edition package will be available closer to the start of orders this summer.
April 2023
- A few notable Corvettes will be crossing the auction block and sales results will follow after the auction. On April 13-15 at Barrett-Jackson in Palm Beach, FL a 2024 Corvette E-Ray VIN #001 will be sold with all proceeds going to charity.
- On April 20-21 at the Carlisle Auction in Carlisle, PA one of the 300 built, a 1953 Corvette VIN #100 will be offered for sale. Check the results at the Auction Results section of the Blog.
- A major announcement from Chevrolet indicates the sixth generation Camaro will be retired at the conclusion of model year 2024! First introduced as a 1967 model to the public on September 26, 1966 as a 1967 model, this vehicle was Chevrolet's answer to Ford's Mustang that had been introduced as a 1964 model.
Since its introduction in 1966, hundreds of thousands of Camaro's have been manufactured, purchased and driven around the world. The first generation was from 1967-1969, second generation from 1970-1981, third generation from 1982-1992, and the fourth generation from 1993-2002. After a seven year absence from the market, the Camaro returned as an all-new model in 2010.
As a 'sendoff' Chevrolet will celebrate this storied nameplate with the addition of the Collector's Edition package on the 2024 Camaro RS and SS, and on a limited number of ZL1 equipped vehicles available in North America. The Collector's Edition pays homage to Camaro, resurfacing ties that date back to the development of the first generation Camaro in the 1960's, most notably the program's initial code name: Panther. More information on the 2024 Camaro line and Collector's Edition package will be available closer to the start of orders this summer.
GAA Classic Cars now offers 750 vehicles, November 3-5, 2022
Classic car enthusiasts are flocking to Greensboro, NC this fall for the first 750 vehicle auction at the Palace. After 10 years of growth and success in the auction world GAA Classic Cars just completed its fifth expansion. The Automobile Palace, affectionately known as “The Palace” was once a 100,000- square-foot PACE warehouse. Now, it has grown to over 6 acres of enclosed climate controlled auction space. Located at 301 Norwalk Street, GAA Classic Cars (GAACC) consigns vehicles from all over the country with an assortment ranging from pre-war to present day unique vehicles.
GAA Classic Cars has no plans of stopping the construction of Palace additions. The sixth addition is currently underway and scheduled to be completed in early 2023. The Palace itself is not alone in the expansion. November 3-5 auction attendees will notice a new 50 ft. Watchfire LED digital display. This enormous LED display is 2.4mm of high-resolution video presenting the auction excitement.
Part of the auction excitement includes feature vehicles such as a customized Root Beer painted 1966 Mustang convertible show car with a 5.0 Coyote Engine, a beautiful Citric-Hue Tangelo and Custom Cream two-tone 1961 Corvette resto-mod convertible, and a frame off restored black 1955 Bel Air Nomad Resto-mod with a LS1 Engine.
Saturday’s auction lineup will include three Ferrari models: 1984 308 GTS, 1986 Mondial 3.2, and a 1991 348 TS. Saturday will also showcase five special Mustangs including a 2022 Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition. Friday will feature a 1947 Bentley Mark VI, a fully loaded 2015 Mercedes Benz G-Class, and a 1987 Buick Grand National with only 15k miles that remained with the original owner until last year.
A longtime GAACC customer generously donated a 1957 Ford Skyliner, once owned by the Franklin Graham family to benefit Samaritan’s Purse. For additional support, the GAACC team is on its third year of preparing 100 boxes for this year’s Operation Christmas Child.
- A few notable Corvettes will be crossing the auction block and sales results will follow after the auction. On April 13-15 at Barrett-Jackson in Palm Beach, FL a 2024 Corvette E-Ray VIN #001 will be sold with all proceeds going to charity.
- On April 20-21 at the Carlisle Auction in Carlisle, PA one of the 300 built, a 1953 Corvette VIN #100 will be offered for sale. Check the results at the Auction Results section of the Blog.
- A major announcement from Chevrolet indicates the sixth generation Camaro will be retired at the conclusion of model year 2024! First introduced as a 1967 model to the public on September 26, 1966 as a 1967 model, this vehicle was Chevrolet's answer to Ford's Mustang that had been introduced as a 1964 model.
Since its introduction in 1966, hundreds of thousands of Camaro's have been manufactured, purchased and driven around the world. The first generation was from 1967-1969, second generation from 1970-1981, third generation from 1982-1992, and the fourth generation from 1993-2002. After a seven year absence from the market, the Camaro returned as an all-new model in 2010.
As a 'sendoff' Chevrolet will celebrate this storied nameplate with the addition of the Collector's Edition package on the 2024 Camaro RS and SS, and on a limited number of ZL1 equipped vehicles available in North America. The Collector's Edition pays homage to Camaro, resurfacing ties that date back to the development of the first generation Camaro in the 1960's, most notably the program's initial code name: Panther. More information on the 2024 Camaro line and Collector's Edition package will be available closer to the start of orders this summer.
GAA Classic Cars now offers 750 vehicles, November 3-5, 2022
Classic car enthusiasts are flocking to Greensboro, NC this fall for the first 750 vehicle auction at the Palace. After 10 years of growth and success in the auction world GAA Classic Cars just completed its fifth expansion. The Automobile Palace, affectionately known as “The Palace” was once a 100,000- square-foot PACE warehouse. Now, it has grown to over 6 acres of enclosed climate controlled auction space. Located at 301 Norwalk Street, GAA Classic Cars (GAACC) consigns vehicles from all over the country with an assortment ranging from pre-war to present day unique vehicles.
GAA Classic Cars has no plans of stopping the construction of Palace additions. The sixth addition is currently underway and scheduled to be completed in early 2023. The Palace itself is not alone in the expansion. November 3-5 auction attendees will notice a new 50 ft. Watchfire LED digital display. This enormous LED display is 2.4mm of high-resolution video presenting the auction excitement.
Part of the auction excitement includes feature vehicles such as a customized Root Beer painted 1966 Mustang convertible show car with a 5.0 Coyote Engine, a beautiful Citric-Hue Tangelo and Custom Cream two-tone 1961 Corvette resto-mod convertible, and a frame off restored black 1955 Bel Air Nomad Resto-mod with a LS1 Engine.
Saturday’s auction lineup will include three Ferrari models: 1984 308 GTS, 1986 Mondial 3.2, and a 1991 348 TS. Saturday will also showcase five special Mustangs including a 2022 Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition. Friday will feature a 1947 Bentley Mark VI, a fully loaded 2015 Mercedes Benz G-Class, and a 1987 Buick Grand National with only 15k miles that remained with the original owner until last year.
A longtime GAACC customer generously donated a 1957 Ford Skyliner, once owned by the Franklin Graham family to benefit Samaritan’s Purse. For additional support, the GAACC team is on its third year of preparing 100 boxes for this year’s Operation Christmas Child.
MECUM AUCTIONS - FOUNTAIN CITY, WI (Elmer's Auto and Toy Museum)
Mecum Auctions hosted a unique sales event in Fountain City, WI. In addition to the outstanding specialty car offerings from the Elmer's Auto and Toy Museum, there were plenty of other offers to the delight of the attendees. These were special interest auto/motor related items which generated lots of interesting sales.
September 14-17, 2022
Overall Top Ten Motorcycles Sales Results
Among the 162 motorcycles on offer from Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum were ten top that achieved especially strong sales results as shown below.
1940 Indian Four @ $99,000
1947 Harley-Davidson FL Knucklehead @ $55,000
1941 Harley-Davidson ULH with Sidecar @ $49,500
1937 Harley-Davidson Big Twin Flathead with Sidecar @ $49,500
1947 Indian Chief @ $38,500
1921 Cleveland @ $27,500
1951 Harley-Davidson Panhead @ at $25,300
1959 Indian/Royal Enfield Chief @ $24,200
1964 Harley-Davidson Duo-Glide Panhead @ $22,000
1968 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra Glide @ $19,800
Overall Top Ten Road Art Sales Results
From Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum’s pedal car, bicycle and kiddie ride selection was another round of impressive top sales, with three winged warrior pedal cars leading the charge, all three of which were specially commissioned by Elmer Duellman and hand-built featuring correct proportions for a highly authentic appearance.
1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird Pedal Car @ $59,000
1970 Richard Petty Plymouth Superbird Pedal Car @ $47,200
1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Pedal Car @ $37,760
1929 Ford Snap-On Wooden Toolbox @ $35,400
Charger Daytona Pedal Car @ $29,500
Clown Pedal Car Merry-Go-Round @ $28,320
1927 American National Lincoln Pedal Car @ $25,960
Valvoline Motor Oil Manco Products Go-Kart @ $24,780
1936 G-Man Cruiser Pedal Car @ $23,600
1934 Packard 5 In 1 Pedal Car @ $23,600
Mecum Auctions hosted a unique sales event in Fountain City, WI. In addition to the outstanding specialty car offerings from the Elmer's Auto and Toy Museum, there were plenty of other offers to the delight of the attendees. These were special interest auto/motor related items which generated lots of interesting sales.
September 14-17, 2022
Overall Top Ten Motorcycles Sales Results
Among the 162 motorcycles on offer from Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum were ten top that achieved especially strong sales results as shown below.
1940 Indian Four @ $99,000
1947 Harley-Davidson FL Knucklehead @ $55,000
1941 Harley-Davidson ULH with Sidecar @ $49,500
1937 Harley-Davidson Big Twin Flathead with Sidecar @ $49,500
1947 Indian Chief @ $38,500
1921 Cleveland @ $27,500
1951 Harley-Davidson Panhead @ at $25,300
1959 Indian/Royal Enfield Chief @ $24,200
1964 Harley-Davidson Duo-Glide Panhead @ $22,000
1968 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra Glide @ $19,800
Overall Top Ten Road Art Sales Results
From Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum’s pedal car, bicycle and kiddie ride selection was another round of impressive top sales, with three winged warrior pedal cars leading the charge, all three of which were specially commissioned by Elmer Duellman and hand-built featuring correct proportions for a highly authentic appearance.
1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird Pedal Car @ $59,000
1970 Richard Petty Plymouth Superbird Pedal Car @ $47,200
1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Pedal Car @ $37,760
1929 Ford Snap-On Wooden Toolbox @ $35,400
Charger Daytona Pedal Car @ $29,500
Clown Pedal Car Merry-Go-Round @ $28,320
1927 American National Lincoln Pedal Car @ $25,960
Valvoline Motor Oil Manco Products Go-Kart @ $24,780
1936 G-Man Cruiser Pedal Car @ $23,600
1934 Packard 5 In 1 Pedal Car @ $23,600
The New Ford Maverick Pickup Truck
DEARBORN, Mich., June 8, 2021 – Ford is delivering a new kind of pickup – compact but mighty, built for makers and doers, stunningly fuel-efficient*, and packed with clever technology and features. The all-new 2022 Ford Maverick is the truck for people who never knew they wanted a truck.
Maverick comes as a standard five-passenger, four-door pickup, with a full-hybrid powertrain and a projected EPA-estimated rating of 40 mpg city fuel economy* and 500 miles** of range on a single tank of gas. Tested and tortured to meet Built Ford Tough standards, Maverick offers ingenious design and storage solutions while enabling customization inside and out. It all comes with a starting MSRP of $19,995.
“The Maverick product proposition is like nothing else out there. It’s a great-looking truck featuring four doors with room for five adults, a standard full-hybrid engine with city fuel economy that beats a Honda Civic***, plenty of towing and hauling for weekend trips or do-it-yourself projects, and it starts under $20,000,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “Maverick challenges the status quo and the stereotypes of what a pickup truck can be. We believe it will be compelling to a lot of people who never before considered a truck.”
What is it?
The all-new Ford Maverick is a compact truck with a unibody design and the first pickup in America with a standard full-hybrid powertrain – providing better projected city fuel economy than a Honda Civic***. Its 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder hybrid powertrain delivers 191 horsepower when combined with the electric motorƗ, and 155 lb.-ft. of torque mated to a continuously variable transmission driving the front wheels. It features an in-house-designed and manufactured electric traction motor, which is light and powerful. Along with its targeted EPA-estimated fuel economy of 40 mpg city* and 500 miles of range on a single tank of gas**, it offers standard payload of 1,500 pounds and the volume to carry a standard ATV, plus it has the capability to tow 2,000 pounds – enough for a pair of personal watercraft or a good-sized pop-up camper trailer.
Those who want more capability can upgrade to a 2.0-liter EcoBoost® gas engine delivering 250 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torqueƗƗ with an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. Equipped with the optional 4K Tow Package, conventional towing doubles to 4,000 pounds – enough for an average 21-foot boat.
“One thing that’s non-negotiable is that Maverick is Built Ford Tough,” said Chris Mazur, a third-generation Ford employee who led development of the all-new pickup as chief engineer. “Our engineers were unrelenting, putting it through a battery of vicious on-road, off-road, environmental and simulated customer use testing until we were satisfied. Ford trucks are Ford trucks – through and through.”
What’s inside?
Maverick won’t make its owners run up the bill for a good user experience, offering options for both built-in and brought-in technology. Its standard 8-inch center touch screen features Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto® compatibility so customers can have the experience they’re used to with their phones. Maverick has standard FordPass™ Connect with embedded modem and Wi-Fi for up to 10 devicesƗƗƗ, while standard FordPass™ makes it easy to find the truck, check fuel level, lock and unlock the doors, and start or turn off the vehicle – all from your phone.
The interior design is stylish and spacious, with thoughtful features and the versatility for city driving or escaping the urban life. Surprisingly roomy, there’s excellent leg and headroom, shoulder and hip width, and a comfortable seating position for both rows.
“This customer wants simple, but not basic, and Maverick is all about thoughtful details executed well,” said Barb Whalen, who led the team in choosing materials and colors. “We want this to have a straightforward, durable, honest, well-built feel. The interior was designed with function, purpose and ease of cleaning in mind to help make our customers’ lives better. We’re using unique textures and materials like reground carbon fiber for strength and visual interest. The dash panel has a stonelike finish, like a super-durable synthetic countertop. We strategically placed pops of color for functionality – creating an energetic space you want to be in.”
Form following function can be seen all over the interior of the all-new Maverick – right down to how the space is designed and utilized. Creating clever storage and useful features fell to Daniel George, interior leader, who calls Maverick “the ultimate first vehicle for my kids.”
What’s key, he said, was understanding how people actually use the stuff they bring in, rather than just expecting them to find places to stash it. Door armrests have a split design to allow a one-liter water bottle to sit upright in a bin rather than rolling around on the seats, while door pockets are huge and have lots of vertical clearance to store a tablet or notebooks. There’s a spacious storage bin under the rear seats that fits a fully inflated volleyball, laptop bags, roller blades, tools and other gear.
FITS – Ford Integrated Tether System – is a clever multitasking solution for rear seat passengers. There’s a FITS slot at the back of the front console that accommodates different accessories for endless personalization. An available accessory package includes cupholders, a storage or trash bin, cord organizer, double hook for grocery bags and purses, and under-seat storage dividers. More FITS slot creations are in development and Ford is working to publish the slot geometry so people can 3D-print DIY solutions to further fit their lifestyle. Those accessories can be stored in multiple slots under the rear seats, which could also be used for novel applications on their own.
Ford Co-Pilot360™ technology includes standard Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Automatic High Beam Headlamps. Available options include Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Centering and Evasive Steering Assist. Five standard drive modes include Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Tow/Haul to enhance performance and confidence over various driving conditions.
What’s out back?
Maverick really goes all-out when it comes to functionality with its unique FLEXBED™, which is packed with standard features and opportunities to transform the cargo box into a complete makerspace. FLEXBED gives customers organization and storage solutions to secure cargo, while accommodating Ford accessories and creative DIY solutions. The team developed its features after watching people at home improvement and furniture stores as well as college kids moving into their dorms, observing how they struggled to load things into small crossovers and cars while working around the cargo limitations they faced.
People can create segmented storage, elevated floors, bike and kayak racks and more by sliding 2x4s or 2x6s into slots stamped into the side of the bed. There are two tie-downs, four D-rings and built-in threaded holes in the sides to bolt in new creations.
“The whole bed is a DIY fan’s paradise,” said Keith Daugherty, an engineering specialist who helped develop the truck box for Maverick. “You can buy the bolt-in Ford cargo management system and we’re happy to sell it to you, but if you’re a bit more creative, you can also just go to the hardware store and get some C-channel and bolt it to the bed to make your own solutions.”
Maverick customers want to live freely. They have passions and hobbies they love and would rather spend money on the mountain bike, not necessarily the bike rack to get it to the mountains. Customers can scan the FLEXBED QR code in the bed for some interesting ideas to get started.
Gaby Grajales is an electrical engineer who helped develop standard built-in 12-volt electrical power prewired to an easily removable cover on either side of the back of the bed to support DIY electrical projects.
“People have forever been hacking into their wiring harness to run things like lighting, air pumps and other useful accessories,” said Grajales. “This is a better solution – we’re enabling customer needs while protecting the taillamp wiring and creating a fused circuit to avoid compromising the overall electrical system. With this, you have the option to select the factory-available box lighting or install your own home-built lighting setup, or even invent a whole new use for the 12-volt access points.”
Beyond DIY electrical, there are two available 120-volt 400-watt outlets – one in the bed and one in the cabin – that can power phones, laptops, small TVs, a cordless tool battery charger, or a small, corded tool like a jigsaw. There’s also a storage cubby built into the side of the bed on XLT and two available on Lariat trucks, perfect for keeping a ball hitch or air pump.
The 4.5-foot bed can carry 1,500 pounds of payload, the equivalent of roughly 37 bags of 40-pound mulch, and has a six-foot floor with the tailgate down. Maverick can carry long and wide stuff too, thanks to its multi-position tailgate. It opens normally, but also has a halfway-open position – just unclip the support cables and hook them onto the latch pins so the tailgate lip and wheelhouses can support up to 18 sheets of 4x8-foot three-quarter-inch plywood without needing to angle the panels. It’s easy. The tailgate features tie-down clamps that double as bottle openers, and is rated to hold 500 pounds of friends hanging out and taking a seat. The bed floor and sides are low, so almost any size adult can reach over and grab items off the floor.
What’s it look like?
It has a look all its own, but Maverick sports iconic Ford pickup truck style with a door design that pays homage to the company’s signature drop-down side windows and a front end that stretches edge to edge, connecting the standard LED headlamps and grille for a more prominent, planted appearance.
Form follows function here, too. Maverick is upright and squared off for space efficiency, but it looks youthful and athletic – clean, not overdesigned. There’s no gap between cab and tailgate, and the bed rail caps extend from the bed and go vertical, ending at the top of the back window. It’s designed this way to offer greater dent and ding protection, knowing people will load and unload the bed from the sides more frequently.
Maverick is offered at three trim levels – XL, XLT and Lariat. An FX4 package available for all-wheel-drive XLT and Lariat trucks adds more off-road capability with rugged all-terrain tires and suspension tuning, additional underbody protection, and off-road-focused drive modes like Mud/Rut and Sand, as well as the addition of Hill Descent Control™.
Available for the first model year only is the Maverick First Edition package. It is built off the Lariat trim level and includes unique graphics on the hood and lower doors, a high-gloss black-painted roof, soft tonneau cover, body-color door handles, high-gloss black skull caps, and gloss black-painted and machined 18-inch wheels for hybrid or unique 17-inch aluminum wheels for the gas model. It comes in Carbonized Gray, Area 51 and Rapid Red, unique to First Edition.
The 2022 Ford Maverick goes on sale this fall. The build and price website is live at Ford.com and reservations or orders can be placed today.
DEARBORN, Mich., June 8, 2021 – Ford is delivering a new kind of pickup – compact but mighty, built for makers and doers, stunningly fuel-efficient*, and packed with clever technology and features. The all-new 2022 Ford Maverick is the truck for people who never knew they wanted a truck.
Maverick comes as a standard five-passenger, four-door pickup, with a full-hybrid powertrain and a projected EPA-estimated rating of 40 mpg city fuel economy* and 500 miles** of range on a single tank of gas. Tested and tortured to meet Built Ford Tough standards, Maverick offers ingenious design and storage solutions while enabling customization inside and out. It all comes with a starting MSRP of $19,995.
“The Maverick product proposition is like nothing else out there. It’s a great-looking truck featuring four doors with room for five adults, a standard full-hybrid engine with city fuel economy that beats a Honda Civic***, plenty of towing and hauling for weekend trips or do-it-yourself projects, and it starts under $20,000,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “Maverick challenges the status quo and the stereotypes of what a pickup truck can be. We believe it will be compelling to a lot of people who never before considered a truck.”
What is it?
The all-new Ford Maverick is a compact truck with a unibody design and the first pickup in America with a standard full-hybrid powertrain – providing better projected city fuel economy than a Honda Civic***. Its 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder hybrid powertrain delivers 191 horsepower when combined with the electric motorƗ, and 155 lb.-ft. of torque mated to a continuously variable transmission driving the front wheels. It features an in-house-designed and manufactured electric traction motor, which is light and powerful. Along with its targeted EPA-estimated fuel economy of 40 mpg city* and 500 miles of range on a single tank of gas**, it offers standard payload of 1,500 pounds and the volume to carry a standard ATV, plus it has the capability to tow 2,000 pounds – enough for a pair of personal watercraft or a good-sized pop-up camper trailer.
Those who want more capability can upgrade to a 2.0-liter EcoBoost® gas engine delivering 250 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torqueƗƗ with an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. Equipped with the optional 4K Tow Package, conventional towing doubles to 4,000 pounds – enough for an average 21-foot boat.
“One thing that’s non-negotiable is that Maverick is Built Ford Tough,” said Chris Mazur, a third-generation Ford employee who led development of the all-new pickup as chief engineer. “Our engineers were unrelenting, putting it through a battery of vicious on-road, off-road, environmental and simulated customer use testing until we were satisfied. Ford trucks are Ford trucks – through and through.”
What’s inside?
Maverick won’t make its owners run up the bill for a good user experience, offering options for both built-in and brought-in technology. Its standard 8-inch center touch screen features Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto® compatibility so customers can have the experience they’re used to with their phones. Maverick has standard FordPass™ Connect with embedded modem and Wi-Fi for up to 10 devicesƗƗƗ, while standard FordPass™ makes it easy to find the truck, check fuel level, lock and unlock the doors, and start or turn off the vehicle – all from your phone.
The interior design is stylish and spacious, with thoughtful features and the versatility for city driving or escaping the urban life. Surprisingly roomy, there’s excellent leg and headroom, shoulder and hip width, and a comfortable seating position for both rows.
“This customer wants simple, but not basic, and Maverick is all about thoughtful details executed well,” said Barb Whalen, who led the team in choosing materials and colors. “We want this to have a straightforward, durable, honest, well-built feel. The interior was designed with function, purpose and ease of cleaning in mind to help make our customers’ lives better. We’re using unique textures and materials like reground carbon fiber for strength and visual interest. The dash panel has a stonelike finish, like a super-durable synthetic countertop. We strategically placed pops of color for functionality – creating an energetic space you want to be in.”
Form following function can be seen all over the interior of the all-new Maverick – right down to how the space is designed and utilized. Creating clever storage and useful features fell to Daniel George, interior leader, who calls Maverick “the ultimate first vehicle for my kids.”
What’s key, he said, was understanding how people actually use the stuff they bring in, rather than just expecting them to find places to stash it. Door armrests have a split design to allow a one-liter water bottle to sit upright in a bin rather than rolling around on the seats, while door pockets are huge and have lots of vertical clearance to store a tablet or notebooks. There’s a spacious storage bin under the rear seats that fits a fully inflated volleyball, laptop bags, roller blades, tools and other gear.
FITS – Ford Integrated Tether System – is a clever multitasking solution for rear seat passengers. There’s a FITS slot at the back of the front console that accommodates different accessories for endless personalization. An available accessory package includes cupholders, a storage or trash bin, cord organizer, double hook for grocery bags and purses, and under-seat storage dividers. More FITS slot creations are in development and Ford is working to publish the slot geometry so people can 3D-print DIY solutions to further fit their lifestyle. Those accessories can be stored in multiple slots under the rear seats, which could also be used for novel applications on their own.
Ford Co-Pilot360™ technology includes standard Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Automatic High Beam Headlamps. Available options include Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Centering and Evasive Steering Assist. Five standard drive modes include Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Tow/Haul to enhance performance and confidence over various driving conditions.
What’s out back?
Maverick really goes all-out when it comes to functionality with its unique FLEXBED™, which is packed with standard features and opportunities to transform the cargo box into a complete makerspace. FLEXBED gives customers organization and storage solutions to secure cargo, while accommodating Ford accessories and creative DIY solutions. The team developed its features after watching people at home improvement and furniture stores as well as college kids moving into their dorms, observing how they struggled to load things into small crossovers and cars while working around the cargo limitations they faced.
People can create segmented storage, elevated floors, bike and kayak racks and more by sliding 2x4s or 2x6s into slots stamped into the side of the bed. There are two tie-downs, four D-rings and built-in threaded holes in the sides to bolt in new creations.
“The whole bed is a DIY fan’s paradise,” said Keith Daugherty, an engineering specialist who helped develop the truck box for Maverick. “You can buy the bolt-in Ford cargo management system and we’re happy to sell it to you, but if you’re a bit more creative, you can also just go to the hardware store and get some C-channel and bolt it to the bed to make your own solutions.”
Maverick customers want to live freely. They have passions and hobbies they love and would rather spend money on the mountain bike, not necessarily the bike rack to get it to the mountains. Customers can scan the FLEXBED QR code in the bed for some interesting ideas to get started.
Gaby Grajales is an electrical engineer who helped develop standard built-in 12-volt electrical power prewired to an easily removable cover on either side of the back of the bed to support DIY electrical projects.
“People have forever been hacking into their wiring harness to run things like lighting, air pumps and other useful accessories,” said Grajales. “This is a better solution – we’re enabling customer needs while protecting the taillamp wiring and creating a fused circuit to avoid compromising the overall electrical system. With this, you have the option to select the factory-available box lighting or install your own home-built lighting setup, or even invent a whole new use for the 12-volt access points.”
Beyond DIY electrical, there are two available 120-volt 400-watt outlets – one in the bed and one in the cabin – that can power phones, laptops, small TVs, a cordless tool battery charger, or a small, corded tool like a jigsaw. There’s also a storage cubby built into the side of the bed on XLT and two available on Lariat trucks, perfect for keeping a ball hitch or air pump.
The 4.5-foot bed can carry 1,500 pounds of payload, the equivalent of roughly 37 bags of 40-pound mulch, and has a six-foot floor with the tailgate down. Maverick can carry long and wide stuff too, thanks to its multi-position tailgate. It opens normally, but also has a halfway-open position – just unclip the support cables and hook them onto the latch pins so the tailgate lip and wheelhouses can support up to 18 sheets of 4x8-foot three-quarter-inch plywood without needing to angle the panels. It’s easy. The tailgate features tie-down clamps that double as bottle openers, and is rated to hold 500 pounds of friends hanging out and taking a seat. The bed floor and sides are low, so almost any size adult can reach over and grab items off the floor.
What’s it look like?
It has a look all its own, but Maverick sports iconic Ford pickup truck style with a door design that pays homage to the company’s signature drop-down side windows and a front end that stretches edge to edge, connecting the standard LED headlamps and grille for a more prominent, planted appearance.
Form follows function here, too. Maverick is upright and squared off for space efficiency, but it looks youthful and athletic – clean, not overdesigned. There’s no gap between cab and tailgate, and the bed rail caps extend from the bed and go vertical, ending at the top of the back window. It’s designed this way to offer greater dent and ding protection, knowing people will load and unload the bed from the sides more frequently.
Maverick is offered at three trim levels – XL, XLT and Lariat. An FX4 package available for all-wheel-drive XLT and Lariat trucks adds more off-road capability with rugged all-terrain tires and suspension tuning, additional underbody protection, and off-road-focused drive modes like Mud/Rut and Sand, as well as the addition of Hill Descent Control™.
Available for the first model year only is the Maverick First Edition package. It is built off the Lariat trim level and includes unique graphics on the hood and lower doors, a high-gloss black-painted roof, soft tonneau cover, body-color door handles, high-gloss black skull caps, and gloss black-painted and machined 18-inch wheels for hybrid or unique 17-inch aluminum wheels for the gas model. It comes in Carbonized Gray, Area 51 and Rapid Red, unique to First Edition.
The 2022 Ford Maverick goes on sale this fall. The build and price website is live at Ford.com and reservations or orders can be placed today.
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Refresh
By: Larry Rust
The Santa Fe is undergoing a mid-year refresh. This is the fourth generation of the compact SUV which had 2020 sales in the neighborhood of 125,000 units. It is in a competitive market with other SUV's such as the Ford Edge, Honda Passport, Chevy Blazer and Jeep Cherokee to name a few.
Externally, the body has been tweaked beginning with new T-shaped front LED headlights, a new front grill fascia, along with scalloped front and rear door panels. In the rear, the taillights are now LED as well. Below the tailgate are a full length reflector and rear diffuser. Some other additions include power folding side mirrors with turn signal indication, power panoramic sunroof and new alloy wheels in size options from 17", 18", 19", and 20". The refresh of the Santa Fe body has also resulted in a longer, wider vehicle which results in a very slight increase of passenger room and cargo volume from previous models.
There are four trim levels of the Santa Fe starting with the SE. Next are the SEL, the Limited and a newly added full luxury trim model, the Calligraphy. The interior cabin has new available upgrades. Features include premium Nappa leather seats, front heat and ventilated seats, power driver seat with lumbar support, cushion extension and integrated seat memory. There are dual automatic temperature controls, heated steering wheel as well as heated rear seats. Rear window shades are another option.
Technology has not been overlooked; a 10.25" wide Navigation System is available to the refreshed console. Other tech includes remote park assist, a hands-free power tail gate with an auto function. The instrument cluster is fully digital. A windshield heads-up display is available as well as a 64-color ambient lighting system. For connectivity, features include enhanced Blue link, Hyundai Digital Key (using a phone App), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto, plus wireless phone charging. Dynamic Voice Recognition is available where, by using a switch on the steering wheel, you can use your voice to control the A/C, trunk, seat heaters, steering wheel heater and more.
There have been power train changes. The base engine is a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine with an 8-speed transmission. The Turbo engine is now a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder coupled with an all new 8-speed Dual Clutch transmission. Also available is an all-new 1.6L Turbo Hybrid Electric with a 6-speed automatic transmission for a combined output of 226 HP. Horsepower for the base engine is now at 191, up from 185, and the Turbo is at 277, up from 235. Fuel economy has been increased from 25 MPG to 26 MPG on the base engine. The MPG on the Turbo is slightly more, between 23 to 25.
Other enhancements to the Santa FE include improvements to braking performance, aerodynamics, ride and handling, body structure, vehicle acceleration and ride noise.
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is in production and available as of late 2020. The Hybrid Electric version is scheduled to be available February 2021.
By: Larry Rust
The Santa Fe is undergoing a mid-year refresh. This is the fourth generation of the compact SUV which had 2020 sales in the neighborhood of 125,000 units. It is in a competitive market with other SUV's such as the Ford Edge, Honda Passport, Chevy Blazer and Jeep Cherokee to name a few.
Externally, the body has been tweaked beginning with new T-shaped front LED headlights, a new front grill fascia, along with scalloped front and rear door panels. In the rear, the taillights are now LED as well. Below the tailgate are a full length reflector and rear diffuser. Some other additions include power folding side mirrors with turn signal indication, power panoramic sunroof and new alloy wheels in size options from 17", 18", 19", and 20". The refresh of the Santa Fe body has also resulted in a longer, wider vehicle which results in a very slight increase of passenger room and cargo volume from previous models.
There are four trim levels of the Santa Fe starting with the SE. Next are the SEL, the Limited and a newly added full luxury trim model, the Calligraphy. The interior cabin has new available upgrades. Features include premium Nappa leather seats, front heat and ventilated seats, power driver seat with lumbar support, cushion extension and integrated seat memory. There are dual automatic temperature controls, heated steering wheel as well as heated rear seats. Rear window shades are another option.
Technology has not been overlooked; a 10.25" wide Navigation System is available to the refreshed console. Other tech includes remote park assist, a hands-free power tail gate with an auto function. The instrument cluster is fully digital. A windshield heads-up display is available as well as a 64-color ambient lighting system. For connectivity, features include enhanced Blue link, Hyundai Digital Key (using a phone App), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto, plus wireless phone charging. Dynamic Voice Recognition is available where, by using a switch on the steering wheel, you can use your voice to control the A/C, trunk, seat heaters, steering wheel heater and more.
There have been power train changes. The base engine is a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine with an 8-speed transmission. The Turbo engine is now a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder coupled with an all new 8-speed Dual Clutch transmission. Also available is an all-new 1.6L Turbo Hybrid Electric with a 6-speed automatic transmission for a combined output of 226 HP. Horsepower for the base engine is now at 191, up from 185, and the Turbo is at 277, up from 235. Fuel economy has been increased from 25 MPG to 26 MPG on the base engine. The MPG on the Turbo is slightly more, between 23 to 25.
Other enhancements to the Santa FE include improvements to braking performance, aerodynamics, ride and handling, body structure, vehicle acceleration and ride noise.
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe is in production and available as of late 2020. The Hybrid Electric version is scheduled to be available February 2021.
Ford to Begin Phased Production and Operations Restart in North America May 18 with Enhanced Safety Protocols
Ford is planning to resume production and operations in North America beginning May 18, taking a phased approach
Ford will also begin returning some team members whose jobs cannot be done remotely such as vehicle testing and design, to work beginning May 18, including approximately 12,000 personnel in North America
Ford parts distribution centers will resume full operations in North America on May 11 to support Ford dealers in providing service to keep vehicles on the road
Robust safety and care measures have been implemented globally to support a safe and healthy environment for the company’s workforce with health assessment measures, personal protective equipment and facility modifications to increase social distancing
Dearborn, Mich., May 7, 2020 – Ford is targeting a phased restart for its North America operations beginning May 18, including restarting vehicle production in North America and bringing back the first wave of employees that are not able to do their jobs remotely.
“We’ve been working intently with state and federal governments, our union partners and a cross-section of our workforce to reopen our North American facilities,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s chief operating officer. “We have reopened our facilities in China, successfully begun our phased restart in Europe and have been producing medical equipment in Michigan for more than six weeks and are using the lessons from all of that to ensure we are taking the right precautions to help keep our workforce here safe.”
In this phased restart, Ford’s North American parts depots will resume full operations on Monday, May 11. On May 18, Ford’s North American assembly plants previously operating on three-shift patterns will return with two-shifts, most two-shift plants will return on one shift and most one-shift plants will operate on one shift. Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Mich. and Oakville Assembly Complex in Oakville, Ont., are expected to resume production the week of May 25 on one shift. Components plants will restart production as needed to support this plan.
The ramp-up process will be gradual as workers adjust to the new health and safety protocols and the entire supply chain comes up to speed.
“We’ve developed these safety protocols in coordination with our union partners, especially the UAW, and we all know it will take time to adjust to them,” said Gary Johnson, Ford’s Chief Manufacturing and Labor Officer. “We are in this together and plan to return to our normal operating patterns as soon as we are confident the system is ready to support.”
Ford is implementing a staggered approach to bring back approximately 12,000 “location-dependent” employees who are not able to do their jobs remotely, encompassing functions including product development, IT, facilities management and more. The staggered approach allows Ford to effectively implement new safety protocols and provide proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for all employees as they return to work.
To guide the workforce with the new health and safety protocols, Ford has compiled a comprehensive Manufacturing Return to Work Playbook to help protect its workforce, assembled using best practices and input from experts around the world. Some of the safety protocols include:
- Daily online employee and visitor health self-certifications completed before work every day. Employees or visitors who indicate they may have symptoms or may have been exposed to the virus will be told not to come to Ford facilities.
- No-touch temperature scans upon arrival – anyone with a raised temperature will not be permitted to enter and will need to be cleared of symptoms before returning to work.
- Required face masks for everyone entering a Ford facility. Every Ford team member will be provided a care kit including face masks and other items to help keep them healthy and comfortable at work.
- Safety glasses with side shields or face shields will be required when jobs don’t allow for social distancing.
- There will be more time between production shifts to limit interaction between employees and allow for additional cleaning.
Ford is producing face masks at Van Dyke Transmission Plant for use at its facilities across North America and face shields at its Troy Design & Manufacturing facility in Plymouth, Mich. Company-provided face masks will be required for anyone working at a Ford site, in line with the company’s global protocols, while safety glasses or face shields will be required in some instances. By producing face masks and face shields, Ford is helping reduce demand on stretched supply chains for personal protection equipment also needed by medical services and other industries.
Employees able to do their jobs remotely will continue to do so until advised otherwise.
FOR RELEASE NOV. 4, 2019 AT 2:30 PM EST
Back in the Saddle
Hinting at upcoming Bronco production model, Ford’s Bronco R race prototype debuts in the desert to celebrate 50th anniversary of Rod Hall’s historic Baja 1000 win, an overall victory in a 4x4 that’s never been duplicated in 50 years
It was built for this, its engine roaring through the heat of the Mojave and its racing tires spraying desert sand. As the last grain settled, the vehicle that is all at once a tribute and a test and a tease, came in to focus. It was no mirage. Bronco – in the form of a race-inspired Bronco R prototype – is back.
As a tribute, it was appropriately parked alongside the Bronco that Rod Hall and Larry Minor famously drove to an overall win 50 years ago at the 1969 Baja 1000 – a victory that no other 4x4 has replicated. Featuring a race livery inspired by Hall’s winning vehicle, Bronco R passes the torch to off-road racer Shelby Hall, Rod’s granddaughter, who will drive it for portions of this year’s prestigious race in honor of her late grandfather.
As a test, the Bronco R will head back to the Baja Peninsula later this month to take on the near 1,000-mile grueling off-road course and challenge the production Bronco’s powertrain and architecture.
And as a tease, the Bronco R – developed by Ford Performance in collaboration with builder Geiser Bros Design and Development and Baja 1000 Trophy Truck champion Cameron Steele – drops heritage-inspired design and proportion hints of what enthusiasts can expect to see when the future Bronco makes its world premiere next spring
“Bronco’s win at Baja in 1969 was epic, something that even after 50 years has not been repeated,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford chief product development and purchasing officer. “Rugged endurance racing is such a big part of Bronco heritage. The Baja 1000 gives us not only the perfect setting to honor Rod Hall’s win, it also provides an authentic test bed to demonstrate our upcoming Bronco’s desert racing capability and durability.”
Iconic Bronco design at first sight
Hidden behind an innocuous security door in a Ford studio basement, a small team led by Paul Wraith, Bronco chief designer, worked since July to make the race prototype unmistakably Bronco at first sight. The team worked in secret to create a one-off build that hints at the all-new Bronco to come, while paying homage to the first-generation Bronco’s styling and proportions that made the nameplate an instant off-road icon a half-century ago.
The team focused on creating a race-ready look with an overall heritage-inspired design language. With its compressed body height and long-travel suspension, Bronco R features an ultra-wide stance, while a variety of aero components reinforce its performance intent. The prototype’s lightweight composite body includes a clamshell hood and roof, as well as clean body panels that harken back to the first-generation Bronco models (1966 – 1977). A cut-roof design allows rear seat passengers to use a second-row hatch for access.
The exterior incorporates 15 LED lightbars from Rigid, including a grille sequence framing the new BRONCO brand lettering boldly. To underscore that this is a one-of-a-kind racing prototype, the “R” is given a sharp graphic treatment. Washers inscribed with the Bronco name are visible at various points around the exterior and secure the composite skin to the roll cage beneath it.
A unique race-focused interior features lightweight off-road racing shells from Recaro for all three seating positions. Simple surfaces of the instrument panel nod to the first-generation Bronco, and the integration of a MoTeC data acquisition system enables real-time monitoring and measurement of the prototype’s performance attributes.
With its exterior inspired by the winning 1969 Baja 1000 Bronco livery, the Ford Performance Bronco R race prototype pays tribute with its red, white and black colors accented by its blue space frame. No. “2069” stretches across its rear quarter-panel and wing – “20” to signal the class in which it will race and “69” in honor of the year in which Hall and Minor roared to an overall victory in the Mexican 1000 (now SCORE-International Baja 1000).
“My grandfather was so proud of the 1969 Baja race and of his Bronco,” said Shelby Hall. “More than just the memory of winning Baja, he loved that Bronco. I have no doubt he would be blown away by the Bronco R race prototype.”
Sketch to race prototype in six months
To mark the 50th anniversary of Bronco’s Baja 1000 win, Wraith and team worked in concert with Ford Performance, builder Geiser Bros Design and Development of Phoenix, Arizona, and Baja 1000 Trophy Truck champion Cameron Steele to make the Nov. 22 race start. They used cutting-edge tools such as high-tech virtual reality, polygon modeling and 3D printing to develop parts, but also incorporated low-fidelity prototyping and role-playing to aid problem-solving and swift decision-making.
“This wasn’t our usual development process, but it was the right process for this project,” said Wraith. “We found, created or adapted the right tool for the task at hand – a cool and exciting blend of old and new creative techniques. We stretched ourselves, but it was worth it – and great fun.”
More than a celebration of Hall’s 1969 win, the Bronco R race prototype is designed with the production model’s body-on-frame architecture to test its capability and durability, while also energizing off-road enthusiasts who eagerly await the return of America’s original sport utility vehicle.
The race prototype is built on a modified Ford T6 architecture that will provide the base for the production model. Beefed up for Baja, Bronco R features an independent front suspension with 14 inches of travel and a production-based five-link rear chassis design with up to 18 inches of travel, plus custom Fox shocks, 17-inch beadlock-capable aluminum wheels and 37-inch BFGoodrich tires.
“Like the original Bronco, we kept Bronco R’s design authentic and simple, with a roll cage on a production-style frame, and a five-piece lightweight body on top,” said Brian Novak, Ford Performance off-road racing supervisor. “For the endurance needs of Baja’s 1,000 grueling miles, we built in a limited number of race-focused parts. But even the twin turbos of the EcoBoost® engine are representative of what the production Bronco will offer.”
For the vehicle that was, and the vehicle that will be – it’s the vehicle that is. The Bronco R race prototype is no mirage. The sand is flying again, and the heat is on. It was built for this.
Back in the Saddle
Hinting at upcoming Bronco production model, Ford’s Bronco R race prototype debuts in the desert to celebrate 50th anniversary of Rod Hall’s historic Baja 1000 win, an overall victory in a 4x4 that’s never been duplicated in 50 years
It was built for this, its engine roaring through the heat of the Mojave and its racing tires spraying desert sand. As the last grain settled, the vehicle that is all at once a tribute and a test and a tease, came in to focus. It was no mirage. Bronco – in the form of a race-inspired Bronco R prototype – is back.
As a tribute, it was appropriately parked alongside the Bronco that Rod Hall and Larry Minor famously drove to an overall win 50 years ago at the 1969 Baja 1000 – a victory that no other 4x4 has replicated. Featuring a race livery inspired by Hall’s winning vehicle, Bronco R passes the torch to off-road racer Shelby Hall, Rod’s granddaughter, who will drive it for portions of this year’s prestigious race in honor of her late grandfather.
As a test, the Bronco R will head back to the Baja Peninsula later this month to take on the near 1,000-mile grueling off-road course and challenge the production Bronco’s powertrain and architecture.
And as a tease, the Bronco R – developed by Ford Performance in collaboration with builder Geiser Bros Design and Development and Baja 1000 Trophy Truck champion Cameron Steele – drops heritage-inspired design and proportion hints of what enthusiasts can expect to see when the future Bronco makes its world premiere next spring
“Bronco’s win at Baja in 1969 was epic, something that even after 50 years has not been repeated,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford chief product development and purchasing officer. “Rugged endurance racing is such a big part of Bronco heritage. The Baja 1000 gives us not only the perfect setting to honor Rod Hall’s win, it also provides an authentic test bed to demonstrate our upcoming Bronco’s desert racing capability and durability.”
Iconic Bronco design at first sight
Hidden behind an innocuous security door in a Ford studio basement, a small team led by Paul Wraith, Bronco chief designer, worked since July to make the race prototype unmistakably Bronco at first sight. The team worked in secret to create a one-off build that hints at the all-new Bronco to come, while paying homage to the first-generation Bronco’s styling and proportions that made the nameplate an instant off-road icon a half-century ago.
The team focused on creating a race-ready look with an overall heritage-inspired design language. With its compressed body height and long-travel suspension, Bronco R features an ultra-wide stance, while a variety of aero components reinforce its performance intent. The prototype’s lightweight composite body includes a clamshell hood and roof, as well as clean body panels that harken back to the first-generation Bronco models (1966 – 1977). A cut-roof design allows rear seat passengers to use a second-row hatch for access.
The exterior incorporates 15 LED lightbars from Rigid, including a grille sequence framing the new BRONCO brand lettering boldly. To underscore that this is a one-of-a-kind racing prototype, the “R” is given a sharp graphic treatment. Washers inscribed with the Bronco name are visible at various points around the exterior and secure the composite skin to the roll cage beneath it.
A unique race-focused interior features lightweight off-road racing shells from Recaro for all three seating positions. Simple surfaces of the instrument panel nod to the first-generation Bronco, and the integration of a MoTeC data acquisition system enables real-time monitoring and measurement of the prototype’s performance attributes.
With its exterior inspired by the winning 1969 Baja 1000 Bronco livery, the Ford Performance Bronco R race prototype pays tribute with its red, white and black colors accented by its blue space frame. No. “2069” stretches across its rear quarter-panel and wing – “20” to signal the class in which it will race and “69” in honor of the year in which Hall and Minor roared to an overall victory in the Mexican 1000 (now SCORE-International Baja 1000).
“My grandfather was so proud of the 1969 Baja race and of his Bronco,” said Shelby Hall. “More than just the memory of winning Baja, he loved that Bronco. I have no doubt he would be blown away by the Bronco R race prototype.”
Sketch to race prototype in six months
To mark the 50th anniversary of Bronco’s Baja 1000 win, Wraith and team worked in concert with Ford Performance, builder Geiser Bros Design and Development of Phoenix, Arizona, and Baja 1000 Trophy Truck champion Cameron Steele to make the Nov. 22 race start. They used cutting-edge tools such as high-tech virtual reality, polygon modeling and 3D printing to develop parts, but also incorporated low-fidelity prototyping and role-playing to aid problem-solving and swift decision-making.
“This wasn’t our usual development process, but it was the right process for this project,” said Wraith. “We found, created or adapted the right tool for the task at hand – a cool and exciting blend of old and new creative techniques. We stretched ourselves, but it was worth it – and great fun.”
More than a celebration of Hall’s 1969 win, the Bronco R race prototype is designed with the production model’s body-on-frame architecture to test its capability and durability, while also energizing off-road enthusiasts who eagerly await the return of America’s original sport utility vehicle.
The race prototype is built on a modified Ford T6 architecture that will provide the base for the production model. Beefed up for Baja, Bronco R features an independent front suspension with 14 inches of travel and a production-based five-link rear chassis design with up to 18 inches of travel, plus custom Fox shocks, 17-inch beadlock-capable aluminum wheels and 37-inch BFGoodrich tires.
“Like the original Bronco, we kept Bronco R’s design authentic and simple, with a roll cage on a production-style frame, and a five-piece lightweight body on top,” said Brian Novak, Ford Performance off-road racing supervisor. “For the endurance needs of Baja’s 1,000 grueling miles, we built in a limited number of race-focused parts. But even the twin turbos of the EcoBoost® engine are representative of what the production Bronco will offer.”
For the vehicle that was, and the vehicle that will be – it’s the vehicle that is. The Bronco R race prototype is no mirage. The sand is flying again, and the heat is on. It was built for this.
2020 Stingray is the fastest, most powerful entry Corvette
TUSTIN, Calif. -- Today, Chevrolet fulfills the long-term promise of the iconic Corvette with the introduction of the 2020 Stingray, the brand’s first-ever production mid-engine Corvette. The sum of everything that came before it, the 2020 Stingray is re-imagined to bring customers new levels of performance, technology, craftsmanship and luxury.
From front- to mid-engine, in under three seconds
“Corvette has always represented the pinnacle of innovation and boundary-pushing at GM. The traditional front-engine vehicle reached its limits of performance, necessitating the new layout,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “In terms of comfort and fun, it still looks and feels like a Corvette, but drives better than any vehicle in Corvette history. Customers are going to be thrilled with our focus on details and performance across the board.”
The new mid-engine layout gives the 2020 Stingray:
The 2020 Stingray’s exterior has a bold, futuristic expression with mid-engine exotic proportions, but it is still unmistakably Corvette. It’s lean and muscular, with an athletic sculptural shape conveying a sense of motion and power from every angle.
“As America’s most iconic performance nameplate, redesigning the Corvette Stingray from the ground up presented the team a historic opportunity, something Chevrolet designers have desired for over 60 years,” said Michael Simcoe, vice president of Global Design, General Motors. “It is now the best of America, a new arrival in the mid-engine sports car class. We know Corvette can stand tall with the best the world has to offer.”
A supercar level of craftsmanship, premium materials and attention to detail were critical in designing every component of the Stingray. The new location of the engine is truly the focal point for the car’s design. It’s the heart of this next generation Corvette and it sits like a jewel in a showcase, visible through the large rear hatch window. The added attention to detail optimized the appearance of every wire, tube, bolt and fastener, similar to those found in modern track and all-road motorcycle design.
Some additional design touchpoints include:
The interior is further enhanced by:
Corvette’s structure is built around its backbone: the center tunnel. This enables a light, stiff structure to serve as the foundation for the suspension system to perform in an optimized manner. By removing unwanted body compliance, Corvette customers will experience the ultimate in ride performance with outstanding lateral grip capabilities. The car has a solid, connected-to-the-road feel with minimal vibrations at high speeds or on long road trips.
“Our mission was to develop a new type of sports car, combining the successful attributes of Corvette with the performance and driving experience of mid-engine supercars,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette executive chief engineer.
The tunnel-dominant approach offers many advantages, including:
The Stingray is designed for superior ride comfort on the highway and well-balanced handling on the track.
“Thanks to sophisticated suspension geometry, tailored tire technology and exquisite attention to structural details, we have improved ride and handling,” said Juechter. “No Corvette has ever felt so comfortable, nimble and yet completely stable.”
The new Stingray features coil over dampers that create entirely new ride and handling characteristics. The mid-engine architecture allows for a short, straight and stiff steering system, coupled with an updated electronic steering system, making the driver’s chassis input instantaneous.
The new seating position places the car’s center of gravity close to the driver’s inside hip, so the car literally turns around the driver. It completely changes the perception of vehicle handling and responsiveness.
Other ride and handling upgrades include:
• Larger brake rotors with Z51 logo on calipers.
• Enhanced cooling.
• Specific axle ratio.
• Front brake cooling inlets.
• Performance exhaust.
The 2020 Stingray’s heart is Chevy’s next-generation 6.2L Small Block V-8 LT2 engine, the only naturally aspirated V-8 in the segment. It will produce 495 horsepower (369 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque when equipped with performance exhaust — the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette.
“Though now placed behind the driver, the LT2 gives the same visceral experience we all expect from Corvette,” said Jordan Lee, GM’s global chief engineer of Small Block engines. “The LT2 has been designed to deliver excellent low-end torque and high-end power to give thrilling pedal response at any RPM.”
The powertrain’s low position enables a low center of gravity for optimal handling. Perhaps the biggest update is found in the lubrication and ventilation system. For the first time ever, the base Stingray will use an engine-mounted dry sump oil system and three scavenge pumps for improved track performance.
During serious track driving, oil volume remains high to avoid diminished performance. The new Stingray’s lateral capability is greatly improved, so the LT2’s dry sump lubrication system had to be redesigned to provide exceptional engine performance even at lateral acceleration levels exceeding 1G in all directions.
A lightweight, 3.2mm-thick glass panel on the rear hatch allows owners to show off the engine. This panel features a cantilevered trailing edge to evacuate heat from the LT2 engine compartment.
Other notable engine characteristics include:
The next generation LT2 is paired with Chevrolet’s first eight speed dual-clutch transmission, which provides lightning-fast shifts and excellent power transfer. This transmission is uniquely designed with TREMEC to provide the best of both worlds: the spirited, direct connected feeling of a manual and the premium driving comfort of an automatic. The double-paddle de-clutch feature even allows the driver to disconnect the clutch by holding both paddles for more manual control.
Paddle shifters allow drivers to choose a specific gear. “The performance shift algorithms are so driver-focused, they can sense when you’re doing spirited driving — regardless of driving mode — and will hold lower gears longer for more throttle response,” said Juechter.
The new Small Block V-8 has a torque curve optimized to take advantage of the bespoke DCT’s lightning-fast shifts. Engineers set the DCT up with a very low first gear to leverage the additional traction to get the car off the line quickly, and its close-ratio gears 2 through 6 keep the engine near the power peak on track. Tall seventh and eighth gears make for easy long-distance cruising with low mechanical stress and excellent fuel economy.
The DCT is mated to a new Electronic Transmission Range Selector. With this electric shifter there’s no mechanical interface between the shift lever and the transmission. The Corvette’s electric shifter incorporates two pull toggles for Reverse and Drive and push buttons for Park, Neutral and Low/Manual. The shifter has been designed to be more attractive and compact than a standard shifter.
All-new technology improves performance and usability
Driver mode choices have been expanded from four to six, allowing drivers to tweak the feel of their Corvettes to their personal preference. The familiar Weather, Tour, Sport and Track modes remain, and there are two new modes:
Other new technology features include:
Corvette has always represented iconic American design, performance, technical ingenuity and attainability. The entry 2020 Stingray continues that tradition as a no-compromise value proposition, as it will start under $60,000.
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray goes into production at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly in late 2019. Additional pricing and packaging information will be shared closer to launch.
TUSTIN, Calif. -- Today, Chevrolet fulfills the long-term promise of the iconic Corvette with the introduction of the 2020 Stingray, the brand’s first-ever production mid-engine Corvette. The sum of everything that came before it, the 2020 Stingray is re-imagined to bring customers new levels of performance, technology, craftsmanship and luxury.
From front- to mid-engine, in under three seconds
“Corvette has always represented the pinnacle of innovation and boundary-pushing at GM. The traditional front-engine vehicle reached its limits of performance, necessitating the new layout,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “In terms of comfort and fun, it still looks and feels like a Corvette, but drives better than any vehicle in Corvette history. Customers are going to be thrilled with our focus on details and performance across the board.”
The new mid-engine layout gives the 2020 Stingray:
- Better weight distribution, with the rear weight bias enhancing performance in a straight line and on the track.
- Better responsiveness and sense of control due to driver positioning closer to the front axle, almost on top of the front wheels.
- The fastest 0-60 time of any entry Corvette ever — under three seconds when equipped with Z51 Performance Package.
- A race car-like view of the road due to lower positioning of the hood, instrument panel and steering wheel. Excellent forward sightlines throughout the vehicle for both driver and passenger.
- An enhancement of Corvette’s traditional utility strengths, with dual trunks for a total of 12.6 cubic feet of cargo volume, ideal for luggage or two sets of golf clubs
The 2020 Stingray’s exterior has a bold, futuristic expression with mid-engine exotic proportions, but it is still unmistakably Corvette. It’s lean and muscular, with an athletic sculptural shape conveying a sense of motion and power from every angle.
“As America’s most iconic performance nameplate, redesigning the Corvette Stingray from the ground up presented the team a historic opportunity, something Chevrolet designers have desired for over 60 years,” said Michael Simcoe, vice president of Global Design, General Motors. “It is now the best of America, a new arrival in the mid-engine sports car class. We know Corvette can stand tall with the best the world has to offer.”
A supercar level of craftsmanship, premium materials and attention to detail were critical in designing every component of the Stingray. The new location of the engine is truly the focal point for the car’s design. It’s the heart of this next generation Corvette and it sits like a jewel in a showcase, visible through the large rear hatch window. The added attention to detail optimized the appearance of every wire, tube, bolt and fastener, similar to those found in modern track and all-road motorcycle design.
Some additional design touchpoints include:
- Low profile headlamps designed around all-new projectors.
- Completely hidden door, hood and hatch releases do not disrupt the sculpted design.
- Large side air intakes for engine cooling and aerodynamic performance.
- A-pillar shape that communicates speed and assists in visibility.
- Large rear hatch that showcases the engine with seven air vents.
- Quad exhaust tips located on the vehicle’s outboard ends.
- Dual-element LED taillamps with animated turn signals.
The interior is further enhanced by:
- A cockpit that has not only migrated forward by 16.5 inches, but envelops the driver, conveying the high performance and aeronautic theme
- Vertical climate controls and ultra-thin vents minimize the height of the instrument panel, creating a low, spacious interior.
- A new, squared-off, two-spoke, small diameter steering wheel that enables an unobscured view of the 12-inch reconfigurable cluster display
- Hand-wrapped, cut-and-sew leather components with thick press stitching.
- Generous use of real metal.
- Stainless steel speaker grilles with Bose Performance Series audio system.
- Carbon fiber trim on the GT2 and Competition Sport Seats.
- The choice of either real aluminum or real carbon fiber for console and door trim plates.
- 12 exterior colors — Torch Red, Arctic White, Black, Blade Silver Metallic, Shadow Gray, Ceramic Matrix Gray, Long Beach Red, Elkhart Lake Blue and Sebring Orange — plus three all-new colors: Rapid Blue, Zeus Bronze and Accelerate Yellow.
- Six interior color themes: Jet Black, Sky Cool Gray, Adrenaline Red, Natural/ Natural Dipped, Two-Tone Blue and Morello Red.
- Six seat belt colors: Black, Blue, Natural, Torch Red, Yellow and Orange.
- Two optional stitch packages: Yellow and Red. Standard black interiors have Sky Cool Gray stitching.
- GT1 – a sporty style that emphasizes comfort while providing good support for performance driving situations. Features Mulan leather trim, optional two-way lumbar support and wing adjustment.
- GT2 – a first for Corvette, these seats have a racing-inspired look with comfort for long trips courtesy of dual density foam. They include carbon fiber trim, a Napa leather insert, Mulan leather bolsters, a jet black-painted seat back, two-way lumbar support and wing adjustment, plus heating and ventilation.
- Competition Sport – designed for the serious track-focused driver, these seats include aggressive bolsters, full Napa seating surfaces and carbon fiber trim on the headrest, heating and ventilation, along with an all-new durable performance textile inspired by Kevlar vests.
Corvette’s structure is built around its backbone: the center tunnel. This enables a light, stiff structure to serve as the foundation for the suspension system to perform in an optimized manner. By removing unwanted body compliance, Corvette customers will experience the ultimate in ride performance with outstanding lateral grip capabilities. The car has a solid, connected-to-the-road feel with minimal vibrations at high speeds or on long road trips.
“Our mission was to develop a new type of sports car, combining the successful attributes of Corvette with the performance and driving experience of mid-engine supercars,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette executive chief engineer.
The tunnel-dominant approach offers many advantages, including:
- Improved torsional rigidity with a solid, connected feel on both the road and track.
- Outstanding ingress/egress for a mid-engine vehicle. Unlike some competitors, there’s no need for oversized rocker panels to bear structural and load weights, making it easier to enter and exit the vehicle.
- Excellent stability due to a low center of gravity and outstanding handling.
- Preservation of Corvette’s beloved standard removable roof panel, which can easily be stored in the rear trunk.
- A front storage compartment that can fit an airline-spec carry-on and a laptop bag.
- Availability in both left- and right-hand-drive variants — a first for Corvette.
- Smart packaging with improved cabin comfort, including an additional inch of rearward seat travel and almost double the reclining angle.
- A strong, stiff and lightweight main structure of six high-pressure diecast aluminum parts, also known as the Bedford Six, which are manufactured at GM Powertrain in Bedford, Indiana. These minimize the number of joints within the vehicle, making a stiffer structure that aids in handling and track cornering.
- Industry-first carbon fiber curved rear bumper beam for weight reduction.
- Front and rear trunk tubs and dashboard molded from ultra-lightweight “float” derived from fiberglass and a proprietary resin. The material is so light that it can actually float in water. It works with other fiberglass and carbon fiber variants to lower mass and reduce noise and vibration.
The Stingray is designed for superior ride comfort on the highway and well-balanced handling on the track.
“Thanks to sophisticated suspension geometry, tailored tire technology and exquisite attention to structural details, we have improved ride and handling,” said Juechter. “No Corvette has ever felt so comfortable, nimble and yet completely stable.”
The new Stingray features coil over dampers that create entirely new ride and handling characteristics. The mid-engine architecture allows for a short, straight and stiff steering system, coupled with an updated electronic steering system, making the driver’s chassis input instantaneous.
The new seating position places the car’s center of gravity close to the driver’s inside hip, so the car literally turns around the driver. It completely changes the perception of vehicle handling and responsiveness.
Other ride and handling upgrades include:
- Steering ratio improved from 16.25:1 to 15.7:1.
- New eBoost brakes that are more precise and tunable.
- The first sports car application of Michelin’s all-season performance tire that can corner at nearly 1G.
- Front suspension lift that raises ground clearance by approximately 40mm at the front bumper in 2.8 seconds, protecting against bumps, potholes, steep driveways and other road disturbances. It can operate at speeds up to 24 mph and be programmed to work automatically through GPS to remember up to 1,000 locations.
- Launch control aided by the rear weight distribution, enabling the new Stingray to get off the line quicker than any Corvette in history.
- Z51 Performance Package, which introduces a host of new technology to the 2020 Stingray:
• Larger brake rotors with Z51 logo on calipers.
• Enhanced cooling.
• Specific axle ratio.
• Front brake cooling inlets.
• Performance exhaust.
- An electronic limited slip differential integrated into the transaxle that modulates torque between the rear tires, enabling incredible vehicle stability.
- A front splitter and open two-piece rear spoiler that add up to a combined 400 pounds of downforce while improving grip when cornering.
- Available Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, which reads the road better, providing more precise data through suspension-mounted accelerometers. Its improved electronics respond faster and more smoothly to driver inputs and contribute to class-leading ride quality.
- Available Performance Traction Management.
The 2020 Stingray’s heart is Chevy’s next-generation 6.2L Small Block V-8 LT2 engine, the only naturally aspirated V-8 in the segment. It will produce 495 horsepower (369 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque when equipped with performance exhaust — the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette.
“Though now placed behind the driver, the LT2 gives the same visceral experience we all expect from Corvette,” said Jordan Lee, GM’s global chief engineer of Small Block engines. “The LT2 has been designed to deliver excellent low-end torque and high-end power to give thrilling pedal response at any RPM.”
The powertrain’s low position enables a low center of gravity for optimal handling. Perhaps the biggest update is found in the lubrication and ventilation system. For the first time ever, the base Stingray will use an engine-mounted dry sump oil system and three scavenge pumps for improved track performance.
During serious track driving, oil volume remains high to avoid diminished performance. The new Stingray’s lateral capability is greatly improved, so the LT2’s dry sump lubrication system had to be redesigned to provide exceptional engine performance even at lateral acceleration levels exceeding 1G in all directions.
A lightweight, 3.2mm-thick glass panel on the rear hatch allows owners to show off the engine. This panel features a cantilevered trailing edge to evacuate heat from the LT2 engine compartment.
Other notable engine characteristics include:
- Jewel-like setting in the rear compartment, visible through the rear glass hatch.
- Every part, including the exhaust system’s wires, tubes, routing fasteners, coolant hoses, exhaust manifold and even the bolts and fasteners, is built with appearance in mind. All engine components were given careful consideration just like the exterior, and even the heat shields are textured.
- A brand-new block and vent system. The centerline of the crankshaft sits an inch lower to the ground where it mates to the transaxle for better handling.
- Low-profile oil pan that reduces mass.
- Oil cooler capacity increased by 25 percent.
- Standard edge Red valve covers.
The next generation LT2 is paired with Chevrolet’s first eight speed dual-clutch transmission, which provides lightning-fast shifts and excellent power transfer. This transmission is uniquely designed with TREMEC to provide the best of both worlds: the spirited, direct connected feeling of a manual and the premium driving comfort of an automatic. The double-paddle de-clutch feature even allows the driver to disconnect the clutch by holding both paddles for more manual control.
Paddle shifters allow drivers to choose a specific gear. “The performance shift algorithms are so driver-focused, they can sense when you’re doing spirited driving — regardless of driving mode — and will hold lower gears longer for more throttle response,” said Juechter.
The new Small Block V-8 has a torque curve optimized to take advantage of the bespoke DCT’s lightning-fast shifts. Engineers set the DCT up with a very low first gear to leverage the additional traction to get the car off the line quickly, and its close-ratio gears 2 through 6 keep the engine near the power peak on track. Tall seventh and eighth gears make for easy long-distance cruising with low mechanical stress and excellent fuel economy.
The DCT is mated to a new Electronic Transmission Range Selector. With this electric shifter there’s no mechanical interface between the shift lever and the transmission. The Corvette’s electric shifter incorporates two pull toggles for Reverse and Drive and push buttons for Park, Neutral and Low/Manual. The shifter has been designed to be more attractive and compact than a standard shifter.
All-new technology improves performance and usability
Driver mode choices have been expanded from four to six, allowing drivers to tweak the feel of their Corvettes to their personal preference. The familiar Weather, Tour, Sport and Track modes remain, and there are two new modes:
- MyMode, a configurable setting for preferred driving style that can remain between key cycles.
- Z mode, named after the famed Z06, ZR1 and Z51 Corvette performance packages, is activated through a “Z” button on the steering wheel. This is a single-use mode that takes MyMode configurations one step further, allowing drivers to adjust the engine and transmission as well.
Other new technology features include:
- Corvette’s next-generation infotainment system is faster and simpler, with a higher resolution display.
- Chevy-first one-touch Bluetooth pairing with Near Field Communication.
- Wireless charging.
- Learn-as-you-go voice recognition.
- Improved real-time traffic.
- A new, 12-inch customizable instrument cluster tailored to all six driver modes.
- Driver and passenger seat memory.
- Heated steering wheel.
- Tire fill alert warns the driver when tire meets maximum pressure.
- Two new Bose audio systems: a 10-speaker standard premium system and available 14-speaker Bose Performance Series system. Speaker grilles are integrated into lower door trim for a refined look that also helps guard against damage from footwear.
- The industry-pioneering Performance Data Recorder, an advanced driving analysis tool upgraded with high-definition resolution camera and a new, in-vehicle user interface. Customers can record both circuit and point-to-point road courses. The PDR can be set to auto-record like a dash cam that starts a recording every time the Corvette is running, or configured to only start when the car is set to Valet mode.
Corvette has always represented iconic American design, performance, technical ingenuity and attainability. The entry 2020 Stingray continues that tradition as a no-compromise value proposition, as it will start under $60,000.
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray goes into production at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly in late 2019. Additional pricing and packaging information will be shared closer to launch.
760 HORSEPOWER, 625 LB.-FT.: 2020 MUSTANG SHELBY GT500 BOASTS WORLD’S MOST POWER-DENSE SUPERCHARGED PRODUCTION V8 ENGINE
JUN 19, 2019 | DEARBORN, MICH.
DEARBORN, Mich., June 19, 2019 – Venomous strike: The all-new 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 will produce 760 horsepower and 625 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most powerful street-legal Ford ever – with the most power- and torque-dense supercharged production V8 engine in the world.
Enough said.
GT500 and Shelby are registered trademarks of Carroll Hall Shelby Trust. Horsepower and torque ratings are based on premium fuel per SAE J1349 standard. Your results may vary.
JUN 19, 2019 | DEARBORN, MICH.
DEARBORN, Mich., June 19, 2019 – Venomous strike: The all-new 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 will produce 760 horsepower and 625 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most powerful street-legal Ford ever – with the most power- and torque-dense supercharged production V8 engine in the world.
Enough said.
GT500 and Shelby are registered trademarks of Carroll Hall Shelby Trust. Horsepower and torque ratings are based on premium fuel per SAE J1349 standard. Your results may vary.
Ford Introduces the 2020 Explorer at Ford Field.
by Larry Rust
On Wednesday, January 9, Ford put on a Gala Event to showcase the 2020 Explorer at Ford Field in downtown Detroit. With the Explorer Design and Build Team and some 190 journalists in attendance, Ford put on a Hi-Tech presentation introducing the redesigned Explorer.
Bill Ford, Executive Chairman, lead off the presentation by explaining the early days of the Ford Motor Company when his great-grandfathers, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, would go camping with Thomas Edison, enjoying each other's company and getting away from the daily grinds of their jobs. Vacation time with family and friends exploring the country became the underlying theme throughout the night.
Jim Hackett, President and CEO, and Jim Farley, President Global Markets, then came on the stage and began to highlight some of the new features of the Explorer, explaining how technology is becoming more expected by families for everyday trips as well as on their vacations. Interestingly, the input from families, including children, was an important factor in the design of the new Explorer.
Hau Thai-Tang, Executive Vice President of Product Development and Purchasing, rounded out the presentation by going more in-depth about the new features.
The Explorer has been redesigned to have a rear wheel drive architecture enabling it to have a towing capacity of up to 5600 lbs when properly equipped.
A new 2.3 Liter 300 hp EcoBoost engine is coupled with a new 10-speed transmission and is standard on the base, XLT and Limited models. A 3.0 Liter EcoBoost engine with 365 hp will power the Platinum version.
The cabin will be much quieter by use of "Advances Noise Cancellation Technology". Additionally, there is an in-car 4G LTE Wi-Fi system enabling up to 10 devices to be used. The front seats have massage capabilities with five different settings as an upgrade. Also available is a wireless charging station for mobile devices and up to three 12-volt outlets as well as a 110-volt outlet.
For the off-roader, a terrain management system that will allow the driver to select up to seven different modes such as snow, sand, tow and trail.
The dash will now have a 12.3-inch digital display using 3D graphics for speedometer and gas gauge, sharing information with an 8-inch digital center stack touch screen. An available 10.1-inch center screen mounted in a vertical position is available and standard on the Platinum version. A standard and updated Sync3 system will give drivers such features as Android Auto, Apple Carplay and Waze navigation.
Audio enthusiasts will have a choice of purchasing a 980-watt, 14 speaker, Bang & Olufsen premium audio system. The SiriusXM satellite radio is standard with HD Radio being standard on Limited and Platinum models.
The Explorer will come with Ford's Co-Pilot System which includes pre-collision assist with automatic braking, blind spot information with cross traffic alert, lane keeping system, rearview camera and auto head lamps with auto high beams. The new Explorer will have the capability of reading speed limit signs and automatically responding to changes in the speed limit.
More details of the new Explorer will be revealed at the upcoming NAIA Show in Detroit. An electric version is in the pipeline to be presented at a later date.
Ford has a lot of pride in the Explorer. They have been building the Explorer since 1990 with approximately 8 million sold to date. Seeing the latest version and what their engineering has put into the vehicle, they surely plan on selling millions more as they encourage families and friends to get out and "Explore America".
Bill Ford, Executive Chairman, lead off the presentation by explaining the early days of the Ford Motor Company when his great-grandfathers, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, would go camping with Thomas Edison, enjoying each other's company and getting away from the daily grinds of their jobs. Vacation time with family and friends exploring the country became the underlying theme throughout the night.
Jim Hackett, President and CEO, and Jim Farley, President Global Markets, then came on the stage and began to highlight some of the new features of the Explorer, explaining how technology is becoming more expected by families for everyday trips as well as on their vacations. Interestingly, the input from families, including children, was an important factor in the design of the new Explorer.
Hau Thai-Tang, Executive Vice President of Product Development and Purchasing, rounded out the presentation by going more in-depth about the new features.
The Explorer has been redesigned to have a rear wheel drive architecture enabling it to have a towing capacity of up to 5600 lbs when properly equipped.
A new 2.3 Liter 300 hp EcoBoost engine is coupled with a new 10-speed transmission and is standard on the base, XLT and Limited models. A 3.0 Liter EcoBoost engine with 365 hp will power the Platinum version.
The cabin will be much quieter by use of "Advances Noise Cancellation Technology". Additionally, there is an in-car 4G LTE Wi-Fi system enabling up to 10 devices to be used. The front seats have massage capabilities with five different settings as an upgrade. Also available is a wireless charging station for mobile devices and up to three 12-volt outlets as well as a 110-volt outlet.
For the off-roader, a terrain management system that will allow the driver to select up to seven different modes such as snow, sand, tow and trail.
The dash will now have a 12.3-inch digital display using 3D graphics for speedometer and gas gauge, sharing information with an 8-inch digital center stack touch screen. An available 10.1-inch center screen mounted in a vertical position is available and standard on the Platinum version. A standard and updated Sync3 system will give drivers such features as Android Auto, Apple Carplay and Waze navigation.
Audio enthusiasts will have a choice of purchasing a 980-watt, 14 speaker, Bang & Olufsen premium audio system. The SiriusXM satellite radio is standard with HD Radio being standard on Limited and Platinum models.
The Explorer will come with Ford's Co-Pilot System which includes pre-collision assist with automatic braking, blind spot information with cross traffic alert, lane keeping system, rearview camera and auto head lamps with auto high beams. The new Explorer will have the capability of reading speed limit signs and automatically responding to changes in the speed limit.
More details of the new Explorer will be revealed at the upcoming NAIA Show in Detroit. An electric version is in the pipeline to be presented at a later date.
Ford has a lot of pride in the Explorer. They have been building the Explorer since 1990 with approximately 8 million sold to date. Seeing the latest version and what their engineering has put into the vehicle, they surely plan on selling millions more as they encourage families and friends to get out and "Explore America".
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WORLD PREMIERE: INTRODUCING THE NEW RANGE ROVER EVOQUE, THE LUXURY SUV FOR THE CITY AND BEYOND
– The next-generation Range Rover Evoque premiered with a high-energy dynamic display in London’s creative hub
– The New Range Rover Evoque sets new standards of refinement, capability and sustainability in the compact SUV segment, created from an all-new vehicle architecture
– Featuring a modernist exterior design, with a luxurious technology-rich interior with new materials crafted from eucalyptus, wool and recycled plastics
– All-new 48-volt 296-hp mild-hybrid (MHEV) powertrain available alongside a 246-hp Ingenium four-cylinder gasoline engine
– Range Rover fans, including Guy Ritchie, Richard Madden, Taron Egerton, Luke Evans, Stephen Graham, Edith Bowman and Mollie King attended the reveal and an exclusive Boiler Room X Evoque gig curated by activist and model Adwoa Aboah
– Adwoa Aboah stunned at the star-studded launch wearing a specially commissioned dress by designer Ashley Williams, crafted using the responsibly-sourced materials also featured in the Range Rover Evoque
– British Fashion House Mulberry collaborates with Range Rover on a concept travel bag collection using the eucalyptus textile featured the seats of the Range Rover Evoque
– Range Rover brand partnership with legendary Swiss watch brand Zenith continues, with a 200-piece limited edition watch, available to buy now
– Premium audio company Master & Dynamic presents Range Rover Evoque-inspired limited edition concept wireless earphones
– Three-day ‘pop up’ experience will be open this weekend at London’s Truman Brewery for first customers to take a test drive
– Additional details and U.S. pricing to be announced at the U.S. debut of the new Evoque at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show in FebruaryFor more information or to register your interest visit LandRoverUSA.com/allnewevoque
(LONDON, U.K.) – Thursday November 22, 2018 - The Land Rover brand’s highly-anticipated luxury compact SUV, the New 2020 model year Range Rover Evoque, has been revealed in London’s creative East End with a high-energy display, which saw a number of vehicles driving across digital skylines around the globe.
Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer, said, “When Range Rover Evoque made its debut back in 2010, it transformed the world of compact SUVs and the new model is set to continue that remarkable journey. This characterful vehicle combines refinement and fun to create that all important emotional reaction that will turn heads and make people smile.”
Having pioneered the luxury compact SUV market, with global sales of over 772,000 and more than 217 international awards, the new Range Rover Evoque is a sophisticated evolution of the original model. Combining unrivalled Range Rover heritage with cutting-edge technology – designed, engineered and manufactured in Britain – it offers something truly unique to today’s customers. Tech firsts include a virtually “transparent hood” technology and a rear-view mirror that turns into an HD screen displaying a camera feed of what’s behind the vehicle1.
Nick Rogers, Executive Director, Product Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover, said, “Underneath the skin is an engineering and technical revolution. The architecture is all-new to accommodate both plug-in and mild hybrid systems, with only the door hinges remaining unchanged on the body. The new chassis makes the most of the stiffer body, ensuring the characteristic ride comfort and refinement of a Range Rover.
“The Range Rover Evoque is now smarter than ever. The software that sits behind our infotainment system has been refined to provide a more intuitive customer experience. On top of that, we’ve added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone integration.”
Land Rover also collaborated with a number of fashion and technology brands to bring the design, innovation and sustainability characteristics of the New Range Rover Evoque to life.
British activist and model Adwoa Aboah wore a specially commissioned dress designed by Ashley Williams, crafted using the vehicle’s suedecloth textile. This interior textile ismade from recycled polyester microfibers, from items such as plastic bottles - in fact the equivalent of 40 plastic bottles go into each vehicle specified with these seats2.
British luxury brand Mulberry has created a travel collection inspired by the new Range Rover Evoque SUV. The Weekender bag is quilted with the car’s grille pattern using the same sustainably-sourced Eucalyptus material featured on the car's interior. Available in Large and Small, there are two colour options: Ebony fabric with Ebony leather trim, or Ebony fabric with Oxblood leather trim - both are accompanied by a matching key fob. The concept collection is not yet available to buy, but customers can register their interest at www.mulberry.com/range-rover.
New York-based, premium audio company, Master & Dynamic, created two bespoke concept Range Rover Evoque x Master & Dynamic MW07 Wireless Earphones. Each pair is made from handcrafted acetate inspired by the launch colors of the New Range Rover Evoque, featuring a unique grille pattern in copper and silver accents. The wireless earphones connect via Bluetooth to personal devices and are housed in a polished stainless steel wireless charging case to deliver the ultimate mobile listening experience. For more information visit www.masteranddynamic.com
The latest Zenith watch from the DEFY Classic collection was specially co-developed by design and technical engineering teams working in close harmony. The 200-piece limited edition watch is a combination of unmistakable elements drawn from its automotive inspiration – from the color to the design itself. The Range Rover Evoque Zenith watch is available to buy now through Zenith's retail network or limited Land Rover dealerships from early 2019.
Fans can follow the story using #LiveForTheCity or #HelloEvoque or by visiting landrover.com/liveforthecity/
WORLD PREMIERE: INTRODUCING THE NEW RANGE ROVER EVOQUE, THE LUXURY SUV FOR THE CITY AND BEYOND
– The next-generation Range Rover Evoque premiered with a high-energy dynamic display in London’s creative hub
– The New Range Rover Evoque sets new standards of refinement, capability and sustainability in the compact SUV segment, created from an all-new vehicle architecture
– Featuring a modernist exterior design, with a luxurious technology-rich interior with new materials crafted from eucalyptus, wool and recycled plastics
– All-new 48-volt 296-hp mild-hybrid (MHEV) powertrain available alongside a 246-hp Ingenium four-cylinder gasoline engine
– Range Rover fans, including Guy Ritchie, Richard Madden, Taron Egerton, Luke Evans, Stephen Graham, Edith Bowman and Mollie King attended the reveal and an exclusive Boiler Room X Evoque gig curated by activist and model Adwoa Aboah
– Adwoa Aboah stunned at the star-studded launch wearing a specially commissioned dress by designer Ashley Williams, crafted using the responsibly-sourced materials also featured in the Range Rover Evoque
– British Fashion House Mulberry collaborates with Range Rover on a concept travel bag collection using the eucalyptus textile featured the seats of the Range Rover Evoque
– Range Rover brand partnership with legendary Swiss watch brand Zenith continues, with a 200-piece limited edition watch, available to buy now
– Premium audio company Master & Dynamic presents Range Rover Evoque-inspired limited edition concept wireless earphones
– Three-day ‘pop up’ experience will be open this weekend at London’s Truman Brewery for first customers to take a test drive
– Additional details and U.S. pricing to be announced at the U.S. debut of the new Evoque at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show in FebruaryFor more information or to register your interest visit LandRoverUSA.com/allnewevoque
(LONDON, U.K.) – Thursday November 22, 2018 - The Land Rover brand’s highly-anticipated luxury compact SUV, the New 2020 model year Range Rover Evoque, has been revealed in London’s creative East End with a high-energy display, which saw a number of vehicles driving across digital skylines around the globe.
Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer, said, “When Range Rover Evoque made its debut back in 2010, it transformed the world of compact SUVs and the new model is set to continue that remarkable journey. This characterful vehicle combines refinement and fun to create that all important emotional reaction that will turn heads and make people smile.”
Having pioneered the luxury compact SUV market, with global sales of over 772,000 and more than 217 international awards, the new Range Rover Evoque is a sophisticated evolution of the original model. Combining unrivalled Range Rover heritage with cutting-edge technology – designed, engineered and manufactured in Britain – it offers something truly unique to today’s customers. Tech firsts include a virtually “transparent hood” technology and a rear-view mirror that turns into an HD screen displaying a camera feed of what’s behind the vehicle1.
Nick Rogers, Executive Director, Product Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover, said, “Underneath the skin is an engineering and technical revolution. The architecture is all-new to accommodate both plug-in and mild hybrid systems, with only the door hinges remaining unchanged on the body. The new chassis makes the most of the stiffer body, ensuring the characteristic ride comfort and refinement of a Range Rover.
“The Range Rover Evoque is now smarter than ever. The software that sits behind our infotainment system has been refined to provide a more intuitive customer experience. On top of that, we’ve added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone integration.”
Land Rover also collaborated with a number of fashion and technology brands to bring the design, innovation and sustainability characteristics of the New Range Rover Evoque to life.
British activist and model Adwoa Aboah wore a specially commissioned dress designed by Ashley Williams, crafted using the vehicle’s suedecloth textile. This interior textile ismade from recycled polyester microfibers, from items such as plastic bottles - in fact the equivalent of 40 plastic bottles go into each vehicle specified with these seats2.
British luxury brand Mulberry has created a travel collection inspired by the new Range Rover Evoque SUV. The Weekender bag is quilted with the car’s grille pattern using the same sustainably-sourced Eucalyptus material featured on the car's interior. Available in Large and Small, there are two colour options: Ebony fabric with Ebony leather trim, or Ebony fabric with Oxblood leather trim - both are accompanied by a matching key fob. The concept collection is not yet available to buy, but customers can register their interest at www.mulberry.com/range-rover.
New York-based, premium audio company, Master & Dynamic, created two bespoke concept Range Rover Evoque x Master & Dynamic MW07 Wireless Earphones. Each pair is made from handcrafted acetate inspired by the launch colors of the New Range Rover Evoque, featuring a unique grille pattern in copper and silver accents. The wireless earphones connect via Bluetooth to personal devices and are housed in a polished stainless steel wireless charging case to deliver the ultimate mobile listening experience. For more information visit www.masteranddynamic.com
The latest Zenith watch from the DEFY Classic collection was specially co-developed by design and technical engineering teams working in close harmony. The 200-piece limited edition watch is a combination of unmistakable elements drawn from its automotive inspiration – from the color to the design itself. The Range Rover Evoque Zenith watch is available to buy now through Zenith's retail network or limited Land Rover dealerships from early 2019.
Fans can follow the story using #LiveForTheCity or #HelloEvoque or by visiting landrover.com/liveforthecity/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jack Gillis, 202-939-1018
September 18, 2018
CFA Link; Facebook Post and Tweet this
OVER 70 MILLION VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH OPEN RECALLS
Huge GM and Ford Recalls Signal Need to Fix System
Issue: In the last 10 years, over 280 million vehicles have been recalled – more than the 270 million vehicles currently on the road. With recall completion rates in the 70-75% level[i] that leaves over 70 million vehicles on the road with open recalls.
Washington D.C. — 70 million vehicles on the road with open recalls poses a significant highway safety danger. “While these open recalls present a clear hazard to the occupants of these vehicles, they are also a hazard to the rest of the driving public,” said Jack Gillis, CFA’s Executive Director and author of The Car Book. The high number of open recalls means that a significant number of owners are “turning-in” used cars with an open recall or those vehicles may be recalled by the manufacturer while waiting to be resold. Some car dealerships are violating state laws that prohibit them from selling unsafe vehicles, particularly when they are subject to a safety recall. The result: a significant number of used vehicles are likely to be sold with open recalls. While the subsequent owner can have any recall addressed at no charge for 15 years from when the recall was issued, they may not know about the recalls or fail to check their particular vehicle. They may also experience lengthy delays in being able to obtain repairs, due to severe shortages of repair parts, or the manufacturer’s failure to provide a remedy.
The automobile recall program is one of the government’s most important auto safety functions, but to be truly effective, recall completion rates must be dramatically increased. “It’s simply not enough to announce a recall, the car companies, car dealers, and government must do everything possible to remedy those recalls,” said Gillis. “Under federal law, car dealers can’t sell new cars with open recalls, and under state laws, car dealers are not allowed to sell recalled used cars either. But those laws are not being adequately enforced. With today’s communication technology, social media, and information databases, there is no excuse not to significantly increase compliance with safety recalls,” added Gillis. The entire auto industry, all levels of government, and individual consumers each have an important role to play in ensuring that safety recalls are performed. The huge rental car industry must acknowledge and respect the importance of recalls, so too should the rest of the automotive use and retail industry.
Needed Actions to Protect the American Public from Defective Recalled Vehicles:
1. State attorneys general should enforce existing state laws that prohibit car dealers from knowingly, negligently, or deceptively selling unrepaired recalled used cars.
2. In addition, Congress and the President should enact federal legislation, enforceable by NHTSA, to prohibit car dealers from selling recalled used cars.
3. Require fleet operators to remedy open recalls upon notice and prior to returning vehicles to service.
4. Recalled taxis and ride service vehicles must be remedied upon notice and prior to returning vehicles to service.
5. Auto auction companies must remedy recalls during their refurbishing process and prior to the transfer of the vehicle.
6. Require car companies to send out notices (by e- and postal mail) every two months until the recall is resolved or vehicle has been removed from service.
7. Require DMVs and state inspection programs to include VIN-specific recall notices on registration renewals and inspections to alert the owners that their vehicles have unrepaired recalls.
8. The government (NHTSA) must initiate an effective public education campaign to get vehicle owners to sign up for recall notifications.
9. New and used car dealers must register owners for recall notices on safercar.gov as part of the selling paperwork. Insurance companies should provide a recall report before providing insurance.
10. Manufacturers must provide loaner cars for owners of recalled vehicles when there are significant delays in obtaining recall repair parts.
“Corporate America and the government have developed massive database and information systems for advertising, marketing and tracking purposes, it’s time to put those same systems in place for remedying recalls,” concluded Gillis.
September 18, 2018
CFA Link; Facebook Post and Tweet this
OVER 70 MILLION VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH OPEN RECALLS
Huge GM and Ford Recalls Signal Need to Fix System
Issue: In the last 10 years, over 280 million vehicles have been recalled – more than the 270 million vehicles currently on the road. With recall completion rates in the 70-75% level[i] that leaves over 70 million vehicles on the road with open recalls.
Washington D.C. — 70 million vehicles on the road with open recalls poses a significant highway safety danger. “While these open recalls present a clear hazard to the occupants of these vehicles, they are also a hazard to the rest of the driving public,” said Jack Gillis, CFA’s Executive Director and author of The Car Book. The high number of open recalls means that a significant number of owners are “turning-in” used cars with an open recall or those vehicles may be recalled by the manufacturer while waiting to be resold. Some car dealerships are violating state laws that prohibit them from selling unsafe vehicles, particularly when they are subject to a safety recall. The result: a significant number of used vehicles are likely to be sold with open recalls. While the subsequent owner can have any recall addressed at no charge for 15 years from when the recall was issued, they may not know about the recalls or fail to check their particular vehicle. They may also experience lengthy delays in being able to obtain repairs, due to severe shortages of repair parts, or the manufacturer’s failure to provide a remedy.
The automobile recall program is one of the government’s most important auto safety functions, but to be truly effective, recall completion rates must be dramatically increased. “It’s simply not enough to announce a recall, the car companies, car dealers, and government must do everything possible to remedy those recalls,” said Gillis. “Under federal law, car dealers can’t sell new cars with open recalls, and under state laws, car dealers are not allowed to sell recalled used cars either. But those laws are not being adequately enforced. With today’s communication technology, social media, and information databases, there is no excuse not to significantly increase compliance with safety recalls,” added Gillis. The entire auto industry, all levels of government, and individual consumers each have an important role to play in ensuring that safety recalls are performed. The huge rental car industry must acknowledge and respect the importance of recalls, so too should the rest of the automotive use and retail industry.
Needed Actions to Protect the American Public from Defective Recalled Vehicles:
1. State attorneys general should enforce existing state laws that prohibit car dealers from knowingly, negligently, or deceptively selling unrepaired recalled used cars.
2. In addition, Congress and the President should enact federal legislation, enforceable by NHTSA, to prohibit car dealers from selling recalled used cars.
3. Require fleet operators to remedy open recalls upon notice and prior to returning vehicles to service.
4. Recalled taxis and ride service vehicles must be remedied upon notice and prior to returning vehicles to service.
5. Auto auction companies must remedy recalls during their refurbishing process and prior to the transfer of the vehicle.
6. Require car companies to send out notices (by e- and postal mail) every two months until the recall is resolved or vehicle has been removed from service.
7. Require DMVs and state inspection programs to include VIN-specific recall notices on registration renewals and inspections to alert the owners that their vehicles have unrepaired recalls.
8. The government (NHTSA) must initiate an effective public education campaign to get vehicle owners to sign up for recall notifications.
9. New and used car dealers must register owners for recall notices on safercar.gov as part of the selling paperwork. Insurance companies should provide a recall report before providing insurance.
10. Manufacturers must provide loaner cars for owners of recalled vehicles when there are significant delays in obtaining recall repair parts.
“Corporate America and the government have developed massive database and information systems for advertising, marketing and tracking purposes, it’s time to put those same systems in place for remedying recalls,” concluded Gillis.
A KOREAN SWEEP
Genesis, Kia, Hyundai top J.D. Power quality rankings for 1st time
June 20, 2018 @ 8:00 am
Anisa Jibrell
Genesis, with 68 problems reported per 100 vehicles and just its second year as an independent brand, jumped to No. 1 in J.D. Power's study of 2018 new-vehcle quality. Photo credit: DAVID PHILLIPS
Genesis, Hyundai's luxury brand, topped an annual U.S. report card on 2018 new-vehicle quality, followed by Kia in second place and Hyundai in third, marking the first time South Korea's three chief automotive brands have topped the closely watched J.D. Power study.
Genesis, with 68 problems reported per 100 vehicles, jumped to No. 1 in its second year as an independent brand. Kia, which had topped the study two consecutive years, dropped to second place with 72. The Hyundai brand improved by 14 points compared with 2017 with 74.
Kia has been the top-ranked mass-market brand for four consecutive years.
The Korean trio have displaced longtime Japanese leaders Toyota and Honda, who rank below the industry average for 2018.
The two Japanese brands have remained relatively stable in terms of the number of problems that customers report, but other automakers have moved ahead, including the Detroit 3.
Genesis, which markets just two vehicles, the G80 and G90 sedans, has a “very clear focus on giving customers exactly what they want and not making” the vehicles “too complicated,” said Dave Sargent, head of the global automotive practice at J.D. Power.
Improvements on the G80 were enough to propel the luxury brand to the top, Sargent said.
J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study scores reflect the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles over the first 90 days of ownership. Across the industry, new-vehicle quality improved for the fourth consecutive year and has reached its best level ever, J.D. Power said.
Porsche placed fourth with 79 problems per 100 vehicles; the Porsche 911 had the lowest number of problems reported per 100 vehicles-- 48 -- among all cars and light trucks.
The Ford brand rounded out the top five with 81, a five-point improvement over 2017. It was followed by Chevrolet, Lincoln, Lexus, Ram and Nissan.
Three Japanese brands -- Lexus, Nissan and Infiniti -- performed better than the industry average.
At the bottom were Land Rover, Jaguar and Volvo, with complex infotainment systems dogging each brand, Power said.
“Mechanical problems are not as prevalent as they used to be,” Sargent said. “Infotainment is the highest problem area on a vehicle. Those design issues drive customers more crazy than breakdowns.”
Other highlights of the 2018 study:
The industry average for 2018 models -- 93 problems per 100 vehicles -- is four points better than in 2017.
Mazda posted the biggest gain among all brands, with a 25-point improvement, while Mitsubishi had the second-biggest improvement, with 111 problems per 100 vehicles. Cadillac rose to 11th place from 14th place, with a 15-point improvement. In addition to Hyundai, Infiniti and Lexus also showed significant but smaller gains.
Fiat, which placed last in 2017, was excluded from the latest study because of an insufficient sample size.
New-vehicle quality improved across six of eight categories measured, with 21 of 31 brands posting gains compared with 2017. Among major systems and features tracked, Power said the biggest improvement came in vehicle exterior (less wind noise and fewer paint imperfections) seating systems and vehicle interior.
Infotainment remains the most problematic area for new-vehicle owners, despite improving for the third year in a row. The improvement is the result of fewer issues with built-in voice recognition systems, Power said.
Driver assistance system complaints are on the rise, increasing by 20 percent per year for the past three years, with 3.5 problems reported per 100 vehicles in 2018.
J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Initial Quality Study
Nameplate IQS ranking Problems per 100 vehicles
Genesis 68
Kia 72
Hyundai 74
Porsche 79
Ford 81
Chevrolet 82
Lincoln 83
Lexus 84
Ram 84
Nissan 85
BMW 87
Cadillac 90
Mini 90
Infiniti 92
Mercedes-Benz 92
Industry Average 93
Buick 95
Jeep 96
Toyota 96
Dodge 98
Acura 99
GMC 99
Mazda 100
Honda 102
Volkswagen 103
Audi 105
Chrysler 111
Mitsubishi 111
Subaru 115
Volvo 122
Jaguar 148
Land Rover 160
The three Korean brands and Porsche rank highest in part because they’ve engineered and kept their electronics and infotainment systems simple and avoided the complexity that leads to software problems or operator confusion, Sargent said.
"As we look to the future, avoiding problems with safety and driver assistance technology is critical," Sargent said in a statement. "In an era of increasingly automated vehicles, vehicle owners have to be comfortable using foundational technologies like lane keep assistance and collision avoidance. Otherwise, automakers will not easily overcome consumer resistance to fully automated [driverless] cars."
Fiat Chrysler improved by seven points, and Ford and General Motors improved by five, surpassing the industry average rate of a four-point improvement.
Five Ford models nabbed segment honors: the Ford Expedition (large SUV), Ford Mustang (sporty car), Ford Super Duty (large heavy-duty pickup), Lincoln Continental (midsize premium car) and Lincoln MKC (compact premium SUV). General Motors had four models that nabbed top segment spots: including the Buick Envision, Chevrolet Silverado and the Silverado HD.
Ford received the most model-level awards, followed by Hyundai Motor Group (four), BMW, GM and Nissan (three each).
J.D. Power said the study is based on responses from 75,712 buyers and lessees of new 2018 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study was conducted from February through May.
Genesis, Kia, Hyundai top J.D. Power quality rankings for 1st time
June 20, 2018 @ 8:00 am
Anisa Jibrell
Genesis, with 68 problems reported per 100 vehicles and just its second year as an independent brand, jumped to No. 1 in J.D. Power's study of 2018 new-vehcle quality. Photo credit: DAVID PHILLIPS
Genesis, Hyundai's luxury brand, topped an annual U.S. report card on 2018 new-vehicle quality, followed by Kia in second place and Hyundai in third, marking the first time South Korea's three chief automotive brands have topped the closely watched J.D. Power study.
Genesis, with 68 problems reported per 100 vehicles, jumped to No. 1 in its second year as an independent brand. Kia, which had topped the study two consecutive years, dropped to second place with 72. The Hyundai brand improved by 14 points compared with 2017 with 74.
Kia has been the top-ranked mass-market brand for four consecutive years.
The Korean trio have displaced longtime Japanese leaders Toyota and Honda, who rank below the industry average for 2018.
The two Japanese brands have remained relatively stable in terms of the number of problems that customers report, but other automakers have moved ahead, including the Detroit 3.
Genesis, which markets just two vehicles, the G80 and G90 sedans, has a “very clear focus on giving customers exactly what they want and not making” the vehicles “too complicated,” said Dave Sargent, head of the global automotive practice at J.D. Power.
Improvements on the G80 were enough to propel the luxury brand to the top, Sargent said.
J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study scores reflect the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles over the first 90 days of ownership. Across the industry, new-vehicle quality improved for the fourth consecutive year and has reached its best level ever, J.D. Power said.
Porsche placed fourth with 79 problems per 100 vehicles; the Porsche 911 had the lowest number of problems reported per 100 vehicles-- 48 -- among all cars and light trucks.
The Ford brand rounded out the top five with 81, a five-point improvement over 2017. It was followed by Chevrolet, Lincoln, Lexus, Ram and Nissan.
Three Japanese brands -- Lexus, Nissan and Infiniti -- performed better than the industry average.
At the bottom were Land Rover, Jaguar and Volvo, with complex infotainment systems dogging each brand, Power said.
“Mechanical problems are not as prevalent as they used to be,” Sargent said. “Infotainment is the highest problem area on a vehicle. Those design issues drive customers more crazy than breakdowns.”
Other highlights of the 2018 study:
The industry average for 2018 models -- 93 problems per 100 vehicles -- is four points better than in 2017.
Mazda posted the biggest gain among all brands, with a 25-point improvement, while Mitsubishi had the second-biggest improvement, with 111 problems per 100 vehicles. Cadillac rose to 11th place from 14th place, with a 15-point improvement. In addition to Hyundai, Infiniti and Lexus also showed significant but smaller gains.
Fiat, which placed last in 2017, was excluded from the latest study because of an insufficient sample size.
New-vehicle quality improved across six of eight categories measured, with 21 of 31 brands posting gains compared with 2017. Among major systems and features tracked, Power said the biggest improvement came in vehicle exterior (less wind noise and fewer paint imperfections) seating systems and vehicle interior.
Infotainment remains the most problematic area for new-vehicle owners, despite improving for the third year in a row. The improvement is the result of fewer issues with built-in voice recognition systems, Power said.
Driver assistance system complaints are on the rise, increasing by 20 percent per year for the past three years, with 3.5 problems reported per 100 vehicles in 2018.
J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Initial Quality Study
Nameplate IQS ranking Problems per 100 vehicles
Genesis 68
Kia 72
Hyundai 74
Porsche 79
Ford 81
Chevrolet 82
Lincoln 83
Lexus 84
Ram 84
Nissan 85
BMW 87
Cadillac 90
Mini 90
Infiniti 92
Mercedes-Benz 92
Industry Average 93
Buick 95
Jeep 96
Toyota 96
Dodge 98
Acura 99
GMC 99
Mazda 100
Honda 102
Volkswagen 103
Audi 105
Chrysler 111
Mitsubishi 111
Subaru 115
Volvo 122
Jaguar 148
Land Rover 160
The three Korean brands and Porsche rank highest in part because they’ve engineered and kept their electronics and infotainment systems simple and avoided the complexity that leads to software problems or operator confusion, Sargent said.
"As we look to the future, avoiding problems with safety and driver assistance technology is critical," Sargent said in a statement. "In an era of increasingly automated vehicles, vehicle owners have to be comfortable using foundational technologies like lane keep assistance and collision avoidance. Otherwise, automakers will not easily overcome consumer resistance to fully automated [driverless] cars."
Fiat Chrysler improved by seven points, and Ford and General Motors improved by five, surpassing the industry average rate of a four-point improvement.
Five Ford models nabbed segment honors: the Ford Expedition (large SUV), Ford Mustang (sporty car), Ford Super Duty (large heavy-duty pickup), Lincoln Continental (midsize premium car) and Lincoln MKC (compact premium SUV). General Motors had four models that nabbed top segment spots: including the Buick Envision, Chevrolet Silverado and the Silverado HD.
Ford received the most model-level awards, followed by Hyundai Motor Group (four), BMW, GM and Nissan (three each).
J.D. Power said the study is based on responses from 75,712 buyers and lessees of new 2018 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study was conducted from February through May.
As we wrap up 2017, fifteen familiar vehicles will not accelerate into 2018 model year. For various reason's established by the manufactures, the vehicles are:
-Buick Verano, Chevrolet SS, Chrysler 200, Dodge Viper, Hyundai Azera, Infiniti QX70, Jeep Patriot, Lexus CT200h, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Mitsubishi Lancer, Mitsubishi i-MIEV, Nissan Quest, Smart For Two, Volkswagen CC and Volkswagen Touareg.
Look for 'close out' deals on these vehicles in the upcoming months.
-Buick Verano, Chevrolet SS, Chrysler 200, Dodge Viper, Hyundai Azera, Infiniti QX70, Jeep Patriot, Lexus CT200h, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Mitsubishi Lancer, Mitsubishi i-MIEV, Nissan Quest, Smart For Two, Volkswagen CC and Volkswagen Touareg.
Look for 'close out' deals on these vehicles in the upcoming months.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jack Gillis, 202-737-0766
September 11, 2017
CFA Link; Facebook Post and Tweet this
BUYER BEWARE: IN THE WAKE OF HARVEY AND IRMA HOW TO AVOID BUYING A FLOOD DAMAGED VEHICLE
With Harvey and Irma Flooding Millions of Vehicles, There’s a Good Chance Unscrupulous Sellers Will Try and Sell These Potentially Dangerous Vehicles
Washington, D.C. – With over 13 million vehicles in the path of Harvey and Irma, flood damaged vehicles could run in the millions. “While, hopefully, these vehicles will have their titles marked flood damaged and go to salvage yards, many will likely re-enter the market as used cars,” said Jack Gillis, the Consumer Federation of America’s Director of Public Affairs and author of The Car Book. Because of the computerization, electronics and sophisticated safety technology in today’s vehicles, it’s critical that you avoid getting stuck with one of these lemons. “Looks can be deceiving—with a nice clean up, these water infested vehicles, may actually look pretty good—which means knowing how to identify a flooded vehicle is critical. When it comes to buying a car, three out of four of us buy used. So there’s a big incentive for disreputable sellers to move flood damaged vehicles north hoping to sell them to unsuspecting buyers,” said Gillis.
Here are some important tips for avoiding a flood damaged vehicle:
1. Check the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) which is located on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield, with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) or CarFax (both currently offering free flood history information). Even if the database has no flood information, beware, as fraudsters have ways of getting around VIN registration information or it simply wasn’t reported.
2. Use your nose. Beware if the vehicle smells musty or damp or if you smell some kind of air freshener. Close up the windows and run the air conditioner and check for a moldy smell.
3. Look for dirt, mud and water stains. Check the carpets, seat upholstery, cloth lining inside the roof, if you see any dirt or mud stains, beware. Feel under the dashboard for dirt or moisture and look in the glove boxes, ashtray, and various other compartments for moisture or stains. If you see straight stain line either on the inside of the door panel, engine compartment or trunk—watch out, that’s probably how high the water went in the vehicle. Tip: If the carpeting, seat coverings or headliner seem too new for the vehicle, that’s a sign that they may have been replaced due to flood damage.
4. Listen for crunch. Pull the seats forward and back and try all of the safety belts. If you’re looking at an SUV with folding seats, try folding them all. Listen for the ‘crunchy’ sound of sand or dirt in the mechanisms or less than smooth operation.
5. Check the spare tire (or inflator) area. Look for mud, sand or stains on the spare tire and jack equipment and the well under the spare tire. Check under the trunk carpet for a rigid board and look to see if it is stained or has water damage.
6. Power up. Be sure to try all the power options including windows, locks, seats, moon roof, automatic doors, wipers, window washers, lights, AC system, etc. If any don’t work, sound funny, or operate erratically, beware. And don’t forget the sound system. Try out the radio, CD player and Bluetooth connectivity. Adjust the speakers front and back and side to side to listen for any crackling or speaker failure.
7. Check for rust or corrosion. Look around the doors, in the wheel wells, under the seats, under the hood and trunk and inside the engine compartment.
8. Look under the hood. Look at the air filter. It’s often easy to check and will show signs of water damage. Check the oil and transmission fluid. If it looks milky or has beads of water, watch out.
9. Take a test drive and listen for unusual engine or transmission sounds or erratic shifting and acceleration. Set the cruise control to see if it is working properly.
10. Check out the head and tail lights; look closely to see if there is any water or fogging inside. Same with the dashboard—are any of the gauges foggy or containing moisture droplets.
The Consumer Federation of America is a nonprofit association of more than 250 consumer groups that was founded in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education.
CHEVROLET PRESENTS CORVETTE GRAND SPORT TO ALL-STAR GAME MVP ROBINSON CANÓ2017-07-11
MIAMI — The 2017 Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, Robinson Canó, chose a Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport during the MVP award ceremony presented by Chevrolet at Marlins Park in Miami on Tuesday night.
Chevrolet, America’s most-awarded car company, gave Canó, who went 1-for-2 in the contest with a home run, RBI and a run scored, his choice between the 460-horsepower Corvette Grand Sport or the trail-ready Colorado ZR2.
This is Canó’s first All-Star MVP award and the third Seattle Mariners player, joining Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. (1992) and Ichiro Suzuki (2007). His solo home run at the top of the 10th inning proved to be the game-winner.
“Robinson Canó turned in a tremendous performance tonight and is an excellent example to all baseball fans, and especially our kids, that hustle, determination and teamwork are what wins, and that is why Chevrolet is proud to present the MVP award,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet.
Chevrolet has been the Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball® since 2005 and through its Chevrolet Youth Baseball program has donated more than 135,000 equipment kits, renovated more than 9,400 parks and impacted more than 6.7 million boys and girls across the U.S.
“At Chevrolet, we appreciate the positive effect that playing sports has on our kids and that is why it is so important for our brand and our dealers to support baseball at every level,” said Sweeney.
The Corvette Grand Sport that Canó chose features heritage-inspired design cues combined with a track-focused chassis and suspension elements that build on a legacy established in 1963, when five Grand Sport race cars were built under the direction of the Corvette’s first chief engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov. The Grand Sport offers estimated 0 to 60 mph performance of 3.6 seconds and quarter-mile capability of 11.8 seconds at 118 mph, with the available Z07 performance package and available paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission.
MIAMI — The 2017 Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, Robinson Canó, chose a Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport during the MVP award ceremony presented by Chevrolet at Marlins Park in Miami on Tuesday night.
Chevrolet, America’s most-awarded car company, gave Canó, who went 1-for-2 in the contest with a home run, RBI and a run scored, his choice between the 460-horsepower Corvette Grand Sport or the trail-ready Colorado ZR2.
This is Canó’s first All-Star MVP award and the third Seattle Mariners player, joining Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. (1992) and Ichiro Suzuki (2007). His solo home run at the top of the 10th inning proved to be the game-winner.
“Robinson Canó turned in a tremendous performance tonight and is an excellent example to all baseball fans, and especially our kids, that hustle, determination and teamwork are what wins, and that is why Chevrolet is proud to present the MVP award,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet.
Chevrolet has been the Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball® since 2005 and through its Chevrolet Youth Baseball program has donated more than 135,000 equipment kits, renovated more than 9,400 parks and impacted more than 6.7 million boys and girls across the U.S.
“At Chevrolet, we appreciate the positive effect that playing sports has on our kids and that is why it is so important for our brand and our dealers to support baseball at every level,” said Sweeney.
The Corvette Grand Sport that Canó chose features heritage-inspired design cues combined with a track-focused chassis and suspension elements that build on a legacy established in 1963, when five Grand Sport race cars were built under the direction of the Corvette’s first chief engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov. The Grand Sport offers estimated 0 to 60 mph performance of 3.6 seconds and quarter-mile capability of 11.8 seconds at 118 mph, with the available Z07 performance package and available paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission.
2018 Dodge Demon Roars Into New York Auto Show
by Larry Rust
After several months of teasing 'leaks', the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon officially arrived at the New York Auto Show.
Performance minded consumers were given a real treat seeing this special performance machine from Dodge. And performance it was, billed as the worlds fastest production car, built in the USA, with a 0-60 MPH in 2.3 seconds; a blink of the eye!
Rather than explain all the details, we want to share the Dodge official details.
2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon Pulls the WheelsFastest quarter-mile car in the world; banned by the NHRA
April 11, 2017 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Dodge rocked the high-performance car world in 2014 with the 707-horsepower Charger SRT Hellcat and Challenger SRT Hellcat, building supercar performance at affordable prices. They were the most powerful muscle cars ever – until now.
Today, Dodge is shaking the foundation of the entire performance car industry, launching New York International Auto Show week with its wickedly fast new 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon – highly capable on the street, absolutely dominating at the drag strip.
Powered by a 840-horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® Demon V-8, the limited-production Challenger SRT Demon is the world’s most powerful factory-production V-8 – bar none. NHRA-certified 9.65 seconds @ 140 mph makes the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon the fastest ¼-mile car in the world.
Performance numbers:
The Challenger SRT Demon also is the world’s first production car to lift the front wheels at launch and set the world record for longest wheelie from a standing start by a production car at 2.92 feet, certified by Guinness World Records. And hold onto your seat. The Challenger SRT Demon also registers the highest g-force (1.8 g) ever recorded at launch in a production car.
“With Demon, our goal was to build a car that would tattoo the Dodge logo into the subconscious of the general market, beyond even our loyal enthusiasts, said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA North America. “To do so, we had to set records that have never been set before, do more than has ever been done before, go beyond even the legendary Hellcat. The result: an 840-horsepower, 9-second muscle car unlike anything that has ever come before it.”
The Challenger SRT Demon’s record-setting performance is the result of collaboration among the Dodge//SRT, Design, Engineering, Powertrain and Manufacturing teams inside FCA US LLC, many of whom are experienced and active drag racers. While the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon remains a potent street car, every component was scrutinized and optimized for weight, capability and durability on the strip.
The performance records flow from an impressive list of street-legal production car industry firsts. That list includes:
Production of the limited-edition single model year Challenger SRT Demon begins later this summer, with 3,000 vehicles for the United States and 300 vehicles for Canada. Deliveries to Dodge//SRT dealers will begin this fall.
Dodge has named Hagerty as its official insurance provider of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon – Hagerty is a company for people who love cars and they already protect many of the rarest high performance cars in the world.
WOW!
by Larry Rust
After several months of teasing 'leaks', the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon officially arrived at the New York Auto Show.
Performance minded consumers were given a real treat seeing this special performance machine from Dodge. And performance it was, billed as the worlds fastest production car, built in the USA, with a 0-60 MPH in 2.3 seconds; a blink of the eye!
Rather than explain all the details, we want to share the Dodge official details.
2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon Pulls the WheelsFastest quarter-mile car in the world; banned by the NHRA
- 840 horsepower and 770 pounds-feet of torque from supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® Demon V-8 engine makes Dodge Challenger SRT Demon the most-powerful muscle car ever
- Highest horsepower V-8 production car engine ever produced
- First-ever front-wheel lift in production car (2.92 feet) as certified by Guinness World Records
- World’s fastest quarter-mile production car with an elapsed time (ET) of 9.65 seconds and 140 miles per hour (mph) as certified by National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)
- Challenger SRT Demon is too fast for the drag strip – officially banned by NHRA
- World’s fastest 0-60 production car: 2.3 seconds
- 0-30 miles per hour: 1.0 second
- Highest g-force acceleration of any production car: 1.8 g
- Air-Grabber™ induction system includes the largest functional hood scoop (45.2 square inches) of any production car
- Significant upgrades to create the Demon engine include:
- Larger 2.7-liter per rev supercharger; increased boost pressure to 14.5 psi
- Higher rpm limit of 6,500
- First-ever factory-production car with innovative SRT Power Chiller™ liquid-to-air intercooler chiller system
- First factory-production car with After-Run Chiller that keeps cooling the supercharger/charge air cooler after the engine is shut off
- First-ever, factory-production car designed to run on 100+ high-octane unleaded fuel or 91 octane on demand
- First-ever, factory-production car with TransBrake for more powerful and quicker launches
- First-ever, factory-production drag car with Torque Reserve, to deliver increased levels of power and torque at launch
- First-ever, factory-production car with front passenger seat delete
- Exclusive, serialized Demon Crate offers components that fully unleash the car’s potential at the drag strip
- Challenger SRT Demon is covered by FCA US LLC factory warranty, including three-year/36,000-mile limited vehicle warranty and five-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain coverage
- Production of limited-edition single model year (3,000 United States/300 Canada) Challenger SRT Demon begins later this summer; deliveries to Dodge//SRT dealers to begin this fall
- All customers who buy the new 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon receive one full-day session at Bob Bondurant School of High-performance Driving
- Dodge has named Hagerty as its official insurance provider of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
April 11, 2017 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Dodge rocked the high-performance car world in 2014 with the 707-horsepower Charger SRT Hellcat and Challenger SRT Hellcat, building supercar performance at affordable prices. They were the most powerful muscle cars ever – until now.
Today, Dodge is shaking the foundation of the entire performance car industry, launching New York International Auto Show week with its wickedly fast new 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon – highly capable on the street, absolutely dominating at the drag strip.
Powered by a 840-horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® Demon V-8, the limited-production Challenger SRT Demon is the world’s most powerful factory-production V-8 – bar none. NHRA-certified 9.65 seconds @ 140 mph makes the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon the fastest ¼-mile car in the world.
Performance numbers:
- 0-30 mph: 1.0 second
- 0-60 mph: 2.3 seconds
- Quarter-mile: 9.65 seconds at 140 mph
The Challenger SRT Demon also is the world’s first production car to lift the front wheels at launch and set the world record for longest wheelie from a standing start by a production car at 2.92 feet, certified by Guinness World Records. And hold onto your seat. The Challenger SRT Demon also registers the highest g-force (1.8 g) ever recorded at launch in a production car.
“With Demon, our goal was to build a car that would tattoo the Dodge logo into the subconscious of the general market, beyond even our loyal enthusiasts, said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA North America. “To do so, we had to set records that have never been set before, do more than has ever been done before, go beyond even the legendary Hellcat. The result: an 840-horsepower, 9-second muscle car unlike anything that has ever come before it.”
The Challenger SRT Demon’s record-setting performance is the result of collaboration among the Dodge//SRT, Design, Engineering, Powertrain and Manufacturing teams inside FCA US LLC, many of whom are experienced and active drag racers. While the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon remains a potent street car, every component was scrutinized and optimized for weight, capability and durability on the strip.
The performance records flow from an impressive list of street-legal production car industry firsts. That list includes:
- Factory-installed wider, Nitto street-legal drag radials for improved grip, 40 percent more launch force compared with SRT Hellcat tires
- Available Direct Connection engine controller calibrated for 100+ unleaded high-octane fuel
- SRT Power Chiller™ redirects air conditioning refrigerant to chill the charger air cooler
- After-Run Chiller runs the cooling fan and the low-temperature circuit coolant pump after engine shutdown
- TransBrake locks the output shaft of the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission to hold the car before launch, allowing the driver to increase engine rpm for higher torque and quicker response
- Torque Reserve boosts engine air flow and supercharger rpm before launch, delivering wickedly fast acceleration
- Drag Mode suspension tuning maximizes weight transfer to the rear wheels for better traction
- Drag Mode Launch Assist uses wheel speed sensors to watch for driveline-damaging wheel hop at launch and in milliseconds modifies the engine torque to regain full grip and then continues accelerating the car down the track
- Available narrow “front runner” wheels for use at drag strips cuts front-end weight
- Wide-body exterior styling, with concealed wheel well attachments house Challenger SRT Demon’s massively wide 315/40R18 tires
- Front passenger seat and rear seat deleted to reduce weight (can be optioned back for $1 each)
Production of the limited-edition single model year Challenger SRT Demon begins later this summer, with 3,000 vehicles for the United States and 300 vehicles for Canada. Deliveries to Dodge//SRT dealers will begin this fall.
Dodge has named Hagerty as its official insurance provider of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon – Hagerty is a company for people who love cars and they already protect many of the rarest high performance cars in the world.
WOW!
Chicago Auto Show 2017
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica was named the "2017 Family Vehicle of the Year" by the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) at the Media Preview kickoff breakfast for the Chicago Auto Show.
To qualify the vehicle must have four doors, be significantly updated or new within a year of MAMA's Spring Rally, appear at one of two MAMA Rallies and have a starting price less than $50,000.
Runner up to the Pacifica were the 2016 Mazda CX9 and the 2017 GMC Acadia.
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica was named the "2017 Family Vehicle of the Year" by the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) at the Media Preview kickoff breakfast for the Chicago Auto Show.
To qualify the vehicle must have four doors, be significantly updated or new within a year of MAMA's Spring Rally, appear at one of two MAMA Rallies and have a starting price less than $50,000.
Runner up to the Pacifica were the 2016 Mazda CX9 and the 2017 GMC Acadia.
Ford GT 2017
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 25, 2017 – Delivering the highest output of any EcoBoost® production engine to date, the all-new Ford GT couples its extraordinary power with impressive aerodynamic efficiency and advanced active dynamics to achieve a maximum speed of 216 mph – making it the fastest Ford production vehicle on the track ever.
Capable of an exceptional top speed, Ford’s all-new supercar is designed and optimized for track performance to honor its racing heritage. In 2016 development testing, with all contenders track-prepped with new fluids, fresh tires and optimal suspension settings, in identical conditions and with the same driver behind the wheel, Ford GT bested both the McLaren 675LT and Ferrari 458 Speciale at Calabogie Motorsports Park in Canada.
The numbers speak for themselves:
“Our expectation has always been that the EcoBoost V6 would perform exceptionally well in the Ford GT – both in terms of power as well as aerodynamic efficiency,” said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. “We tested and developed this powertrain through the Daytona Prototype race car that ran in IMSA for two seasons, last season racing with Ford GT. We are extremely pleased with how it performs, both on the track and on the road.”
Ford GT’s dry weight just tops 3,000 pounds, which places the supercar between its two primary competitors, the McLaren 675LT and Ferrari 488. Ford GT’s power-to-weight ratio is 4.72 pounds/horsepower.
“The Ford GT is all about performance,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, global product development and chief technical officer. “We achieved considerable weight savings with the carbon fiber architecture. We then reinvested some of that savings into where it counts most – performance, specifically, the active dynamics. The result is an even faster car.”
The active dynamics systems – for both suspension and aerodynamics – are designed to make the car perform with optimum downforce, drag and balance at any speed, creating a faster setup regardless of driver skill level.
Ford GT, with no excuses to give, has proven itself time and again, racing to class wins at Le Mans and numerous other tracks in both IMSA and WEC last season. The production Ford GT shares a great deal with the high-performance track version, with advanced aero and suspension features added that take it to another level.
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 25, 2017 – Delivering the highest output of any EcoBoost® production engine to date, the all-new Ford GT couples its extraordinary power with impressive aerodynamic efficiency and advanced active dynamics to achieve a maximum speed of 216 mph – making it the fastest Ford production vehicle on the track ever.
Capable of an exceptional top speed, Ford’s all-new supercar is designed and optimized for track performance to honor its racing heritage. In 2016 development testing, with all contenders track-prepped with new fluids, fresh tires and optimal suspension settings, in identical conditions and with the same driver behind the wheel, Ford GT bested both the McLaren 675LT and Ferrari 458 Speciale at Calabogie Motorsports Park in Canada.
The numbers speak for themselves:
- Ford GT: 2:09.8
- McLaren 675LT: 2:10.8
- Ferrari 458 Speciale: 2:12.9
“Our expectation has always been that the EcoBoost V6 would perform exceptionally well in the Ford GT – both in terms of power as well as aerodynamic efficiency,” said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. “We tested and developed this powertrain through the Daytona Prototype race car that ran in IMSA for two seasons, last season racing with Ford GT. We are extremely pleased with how it performs, both on the track and on the road.”
Ford GT’s dry weight just tops 3,000 pounds, which places the supercar between its two primary competitors, the McLaren 675LT and Ferrari 488. Ford GT’s power-to-weight ratio is 4.72 pounds/horsepower.
“The Ford GT is all about performance,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, global product development and chief technical officer. “We achieved considerable weight savings with the carbon fiber architecture. We then reinvested some of that savings into where it counts most – performance, specifically, the active dynamics. The result is an even faster car.”
The active dynamics systems – for both suspension and aerodynamics – are designed to make the car perform with optimum downforce, drag and balance at any speed, creating a faster setup regardless of driver skill level.
Ford GT, with no excuses to give, has proven itself time and again, racing to class wins at Le Mans and numerous other tracks in both IMSA and WEC last season. The production Ford GT shares a great deal with the high-performance track version, with advanced aero and suspension features added that take it to another level.
New 2017 Dodge Challenger GT Is World’s First and Only All-wheel-drive American Muscle CoupeDodge Challenger GT Joins Charger AWD to Complete the Dodge Lineup of All-wheel-drive Muscle Cars, Delivering Unparalleled Year-round Performance
December 7, 2016 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Designed and engineered for world-class precision, the new 2017 Dodge Challenger GT all-wheel drive (AWD) delivers the performance, power and all-weather capability to carve through some of the worst weather Mother Nature can dish out.
From winding through twisty stretches of mountain roads, escaping away to a snow-covered ski resort, to daily commutes through the slush and snow of Northeastern and Midwestern winters, the Challenger GT AWD is built to handle it all.
“Dodge is shifting the muscle car paradigm with the new 2017 Dodge Challenger GT – the world’s first and only all-wheel-drive American muscle coupe,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America. “The Challenger has always been the most wide-ranging and functional muscle coupe, and now, with the new 305-horsepower all-wheel-drive Challenger GT, we are stretching the functional and geographic boundaries even further.”
Available this winter
The new 2017 Dodge Challenger GT AWD model has a starting U.S Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $33,395 (excluding $1,095 destination charge).
With production beginning in January, the all-wheel-drive Dodge Challenger GT is scheduled to arrive at Dodge dealerships nationwide in the first quarter of 2017.
Power, precision and prowess
The 2017 Dodge Challenger GT AWD features Dodge’s award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, delivering 305 horsepower at 6,350 rpm and a responsive 268 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,800 rpm.
A tuned induction system and dual exhaust from the manifolds back to the tips help deliver more than 90 percent of the engine’s peak torque from 1,800 to 6,400 rpm – all for outstanding drivability and responsiveness. With the standard TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, Challenger GT offers up to an EPA-estimated 18 city/27 hwy miles per gallon (mpg).
The Dodge Challenger GT features Dodge’s high-performance all-wheel-drive system. Also found in the Charger AWD, this technologically advanced system includes an active transfer case and front-axle disconnect for excellent all-season performance and fuel economy. The Challenger GT seamlessly transitions between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive with no driver intervention. Under normal driving conditions, the front axle is disengaged and 100 percent of the engine’s torque is directed to the rear wheels. This preserves the outstanding fun-to-drive performance and handling characteristics inherent to rear-wheel-drive vehicles. When sensors indicate the need for additional traction, the system automatically engages the front axle, instantly transitioning Challenger GT into all-wheel-drive mode.
Enhanced with Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), the Challenger GT AWD has impressive handling on all surfaces, especially snow and ice. VDC provides excellent traction on slippery surfaces and also helps the driver maintain the desired vehicle path. Enhancing the on-road dynamic performance using precise front-to-rear torque control integrated with the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system, VDC maintains Challenger’s fun-to-drive character, regardless of road conditions.
In addition, the new Dodge Challenger GT AWD features paddle shifters and Sport mode. With Sport mode active, gear changes are quicker and revs are held higher for even more performance-oriented acceleration and higher shift dynamics. For even more control, the driver can also use the die-cast steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and view gear election through the full-color Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) centered in the instrument cluster.
The Challenger GT Super Track Pak button activates Dodge Performance Pages and launch control features embedded in the 8.4-inch touchscreen radio. Visible performance information, such as reaction times, 0-60 times, G-force indicator and lap times, can be monitored, and even mirrored, in the 7-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) customizable cluster display. The new Challenger GT model also features three-mode ESC with “full-off” mode, a fun feature for drifting through snowy scenes.
All-weather traction all year long, rain, sleet, snow or shine
For muscle car enthusiasts who want more all-weather traction, the new 2017 Dodge Challenger GT delivers premium amenities inside and out, including 19-inch aluminum wheels with Hyper Black finish and P235/55R19 BSW all-season performance tires, projector fog lamps, a deck-lid rear spoiler, ParkSense rear park assist and ParkView rear backup camera.
Challenger GT is equally well equipped on the inside with standard features, such as premium Nappa leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats with four-way power driver lumbar adjustment, heated steering wheel with power tilt and telescoping column, Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six Alpine speakers with 276-watt amplifier, bright pedals, universal garage door opener and Hectic Mesh aluminum bezels.
GT Interior Package
The all-new GT Interior package, which is unique to this Challenger AWD model, includes performance Nappa leather and Alcantara suede seats – available on a V-6 for the first time – nine Alpine speakers, including a subwoofer and a 506-watt amplifier, and the Dodge performance steering wheel. U.S MSRP for the GT Interior package is $995.
Performance-inspired design, all year round
1971-inspired design, both inside and out, the Dodge Challenger GT features refined exterior styling and heritage muscle-car appearance with split grille, pronounced and functional power bulge hood, LED halo headlamps and LED tail lamps.
About Dodge and SRT Brands
The Dodge brand is America’s mainstream performance brand. With the purification of the brand and consolidation with SRT, Dodge is focusing on its performance roots with every single model it offers. The Dodge and SRT brands offer a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out within their own segments. Dodge is the mainstream performance brand and SRT is positioned as the ultimate performance halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.
From muscle cars to minivans, crossovers and full-size SUVs, the Dodge brand’s full lineup of 2017 models deliver best-in-class horsepower, class-exclusive technology, unmatched capability and a slew of cool features, such as LED headlamps, Dodge signature racetrack tail lamps, active exhaust, cold-air induction, 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect infotainment centers and 7-inch customizable gauge clusters, to name a few. For the 2017 model year, the Dodge brand lineup features the 25th anniversary Viper, Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey, Charger and Challenger, including the new Charger Daytona and Challenger T/A, as well as the 707-horsepower Challenger SRT Hellcat, the most powerful and fastest muscle car ever and the Charger SRT Hellcat, the quickest, fastest and most powerful sedan in the world.
Courtesy of FCA.
- Segment-first: 2017 Dodge Challenger GT is the first two-door American muscle car with all-wheel drive, providing muscle car enthusiasts all-weather driving confidence exclusive to Dodge
- Challenger GT features the same high-performance all-wheel-drive system found in the award-winning Dodge Charger AWD with active transfer case and front-axle disconnect
- Dodge’s award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine is standard, delivering 305 horsepower at 6,350 rpm and a responsive 268 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,800 rpm
- New 2017 Dodge Challenger GT model has a starting U.S Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $33,395 (excluding $1,095 destination charge)
- Dodge Challenger GT AWD production is scheduled to begin in January 2017 and vehicles will be available in dealerships the first quarter of 2017
December 7, 2016 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Designed and engineered for world-class precision, the new 2017 Dodge Challenger GT all-wheel drive (AWD) delivers the performance, power and all-weather capability to carve through some of the worst weather Mother Nature can dish out.
From winding through twisty stretches of mountain roads, escaping away to a snow-covered ski resort, to daily commutes through the slush and snow of Northeastern and Midwestern winters, the Challenger GT AWD is built to handle it all.
“Dodge is shifting the muscle car paradigm with the new 2017 Dodge Challenger GT – the world’s first and only all-wheel-drive American muscle coupe,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America. “The Challenger has always been the most wide-ranging and functional muscle coupe, and now, with the new 305-horsepower all-wheel-drive Challenger GT, we are stretching the functional and geographic boundaries even further.”
Available this winter
The new 2017 Dodge Challenger GT AWD model has a starting U.S Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $33,395 (excluding $1,095 destination charge).
With production beginning in January, the all-wheel-drive Dodge Challenger GT is scheduled to arrive at Dodge dealerships nationwide in the first quarter of 2017.
Power, precision and prowess
The 2017 Dodge Challenger GT AWD features Dodge’s award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, delivering 305 horsepower at 6,350 rpm and a responsive 268 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,800 rpm.
A tuned induction system and dual exhaust from the manifolds back to the tips help deliver more than 90 percent of the engine’s peak torque from 1,800 to 6,400 rpm – all for outstanding drivability and responsiveness. With the standard TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, Challenger GT offers up to an EPA-estimated 18 city/27 hwy miles per gallon (mpg).
The Dodge Challenger GT features Dodge’s high-performance all-wheel-drive system. Also found in the Charger AWD, this technologically advanced system includes an active transfer case and front-axle disconnect for excellent all-season performance and fuel economy. The Challenger GT seamlessly transitions between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive with no driver intervention. Under normal driving conditions, the front axle is disengaged and 100 percent of the engine’s torque is directed to the rear wheels. This preserves the outstanding fun-to-drive performance and handling characteristics inherent to rear-wheel-drive vehicles. When sensors indicate the need for additional traction, the system automatically engages the front axle, instantly transitioning Challenger GT into all-wheel-drive mode.
Enhanced with Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), the Challenger GT AWD has impressive handling on all surfaces, especially snow and ice. VDC provides excellent traction on slippery surfaces and also helps the driver maintain the desired vehicle path. Enhancing the on-road dynamic performance using precise front-to-rear torque control integrated with the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system, VDC maintains Challenger’s fun-to-drive character, regardless of road conditions.
In addition, the new Dodge Challenger GT AWD features paddle shifters and Sport mode. With Sport mode active, gear changes are quicker and revs are held higher for even more performance-oriented acceleration and higher shift dynamics. For even more control, the driver can also use the die-cast steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and view gear election through the full-color Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) centered in the instrument cluster.
The Challenger GT Super Track Pak button activates Dodge Performance Pages and launch control features embedded in the 8.4-inch touchscreen radio. Visible performance information, such as reaction times, 0-60 times, G-force indicator and lap times, can be monitored, and even mirrored, in the 7-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) customizable cluster display. The new Challenger GT model also features three-mode ESC with “full-off” mode, a fun feature for drifting through snowy scenes.
All-weather traction all year long, rain, sleet, snow or shine
For muscle car enthusiasts who want more all-weather traction, the new 2017 Dodge Challenger GT delivers premium amenities inside and out, including 19-inch aluminum wheels with Hyper Black finish and P235/55R19 BSW all-season performance tires, projector fog lamps, a deck-lid rear spoiler, ParkSense rear park assist and ParkView rear backup camera.
Challenger GT is equally well equipped on the inside with standard features, such as premium Nappa leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats with four-way power driver lumbar adjustment, heated steering wheel with power tilt and telescoping column, Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six Alpine speakers with 276-watt amplifier, bright pedals, universal garage door opener and Hectic Mesh aluminum bezels.
GT Interior Package
The all-new GT Interior package, which is unique to this Challenger AWD model, includes performance Nappa leather and Alcantara suede seats – available on a V-6 for the first time – nine Alpine speakers, including a subwoofer and a 506-watt amplifier, and the Dodge performance steering wheel. U.S MSRP for the GT Interior package is $995.
Performance-inspired design, all year round
1971-inspired design, both inside and out, the Dodge Challenger GT features refined exterior styling and heritage muscle-car appearance with split grille, pronounced and functional power bulge hood, LED halo headlamps and LED tail lamps.
About Dodge and SRT Brands
The Dodge brand is America’s mainstream performance brand. With the purification of the brand and consolidation with SRT, Dodge is focusing on its performance roots with every single model it offers. The Dodge and SRT brands offer a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out within their own segments. Dodge is the mainstream performance brand and SRT is positioned as the ultimate performance halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.
From muscle cars to minivans, crossovers and full-size SUVs, the Dodge brand’s full lineup of 2017 models deliver best-in-class horsepower, class-exclusive technology, unmatched capability and a slew of cool features, such as LED headlamps, Dodge signature racetrack tail lamps, active exhaust, cold-air induction, 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect infotainment centers and 7-inch customizable gauge clusters, to name a few. For the 2017 model year, the Dodge brand lineup features the 25th anniversary Viper, Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey, Charger and Challenger, including the new Charger Daytona and Challenger T/A, as well as the 707-horsepower Challenger SRT Hellcat, the most powerful and fastest muscle car ever and the Charger SRT Hellcat, the quickest, fastest and most powerful sedan in the world.
Courtesy of FCA.
2016 Cadillac Escalade Earns President’s Award in AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards
EARNS HIGHEST SCORE TO DATE IN SURVEY OF 2015-16 NEW VEHICLE BUYERS 2016-06-08
The 2016 Cadillac Escalade today was named the Most Satisfying Luxury SUV and also earned the President’s Award in AutoPacific’s 2016 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards.
Escalade’s score of 810 was the highest Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA) score to date and it was the most satisfying vehicle overall in this year’s ratings. The President’s Award is only given when a vehicle’s overall score tops the previous score, according to AutoPacific.
The Cadillac brand was rated as the second most satisfying luxury brand overall in the California-based firm’s research.
“The new Escalade continues to set new standards for sophistication in its market segment, and having its product substance recognized by customers is the highest form of praise,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. “There are no more valuable opinions than those of our owners who drive Cadillacs every day.”
AutoPacific conducts the VSAs annually, measuring how satisfied an owner is with his or her new vehicle. VSAs are based on survey responses from more than 65,000 owners of new 2015 and 2016 model year cars and light trucks.
Escalade continues to win awards, especially since the current generation was fully redesigned in 2015. In the past year, Escalade has been named Best Luxury Large SUV for Families by U.S. News & World Report and a Consumer Guide Best Buy for 2016. Escalade also was given the Reader’s Choice Award, Best Luxury SUV by AutoGuide.com.
EARNS HIGHEST SCORE TO DATE IN SURVEY OF 2015-16 NEW VEHICLE BUYERS 2016-06-08
The 2016 Cadillac Escalade today was named the Most Satisfying Luxury SUV and also earned the President’s Award in AutoPacific’s 2016 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards.
Escalade’s score of 810 was the highest Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA) score to date and it was the most satisfying vehicle overall in this year’s ratings. The President’s Award is only given when a vehicle’s overall score tops the previous score, according to AutoPacific.
The Cadillac brand was rated as the second most satisfying luxury brand overall in the California-based firm’s research.
“The new Escalade continues to set new standards for sophistication in its market segment, and having its product substance recognized by customers is the highest form of praise,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. “There are no more valuable opinions than those of our owners who drive Cadillacs every day.”
AutoPacific conducts the VSAs annually, measuring how satisfied an owner is with his or her new vehicle. VSAs are based on survey responses from more than 65,000 owners of new 2015 and 2016 model year cars and light trucks.
Escalade continues to win awards, especially since the current generation was fully redesigned in 2015. In the past year, Escalade has been named Best Luxury Large SUV for Families by U.S. News & World Report and a Consumer Guide Best Buy for 2016. Escalade also was given the Reader’s Choice Award, Best Luxury SUV by AutoGuide.com.
2017 Camaro SS 50th Anniversary EDition to Pace the 500.
INDIANAPOLIS – A unique version of the new, 2017 Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition will lead the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 next month, driven by motorsports legend Roger Penske, who is marking 50 years as a race team owner.
It’s the ninth time Camaro has served as the pace car and the 27th time for Chevrolet, dating back to 1948.
“Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500 have a long, storied history and it’s an honor to mark the respective milestones of the Indy 500 race and the Camaro simultaneously,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president of Global Product Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. “It’s also a privilege to have Roger Penske perform the driving duties, as his team has helped Chevrolet earn four consecutive IndyCar manufacturer titles since 2012.”
Four identically prepared pace cars will support the race, all with exclusive Abalone White exteriors featuring “100th Running of the Indianapolis 500” graphics on the doors and the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway wing-and-wheel logo on the quarter panels. They also incorporate the exterior cues and graphics that are unique to the Camaro 50th Anniversary package that goes on sale this summer.
With 455 horsepower on tap, the Camaro SS pace cars require no performance modifications to lead the racing field.
“Chevrolet and Roger Penske are inextricably linked to the heritage of the Indianapolis 500,” said J. Douglas Boles, president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “When he leads the pack on May 29, behind the wheel of the Camaro SS, he will drive the race into its next 100 years and strengthen the bond Chevrolet and Indianapolis forged a century ago.”
For 2016, Chevrolet drivers will be looking to build on last year’s results of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” when the top four finishers were Chevy-powered, led by race-winner and Team Penske driver Juan Pablo Montoya. It was his second Indy 500 victory and the 16th for Team Penske.
No other racing team has recorded more wins at the Brickyard than Team Penske, and it started with driver Mark Donohue’s victory in 1972. Penske and Donohue established their relationship six years earlier, when Penske transitioned from driver to team owner. They quickly found success in SCCA’s Trans-Am Series, with Donohue piloting an early Camaro Z/28 racecar, winning three of 12 races in 1967 and 10 of 13 in 1968.
Penske tackled the Indy 500 for the first time in 1969, while still campaigning a Camaro in Trans-Am. Donohue was his driver for both series. Later, racers including Mario Andretti, Al Unser and Rick Mears drove for Penske, with Mears winning four Indianapolis 500 races and helping solidify Team Penske as an Indy powerhouse in the 1980s. That legacy advances this year, as Roger Penske seeks his 17th Indy 500 title as a team owner. (Photo by Bret Kelley)
INDIANAPOLIS – A unique version of the new, 2017 Camaro SS 50th Anniversary Edition will lead the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 next month, driven by motorsports legend Roger Penske, who is marking 50 years as a race team owner.
It’s the ninth time Camaro has served as the pace car and the 27th time for Chevrolet, dating back to 1948.
“Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500 have a long, storied history and it’s an honor to mark the respective milestones of the Indy 500 race and the Camaro simultaneously,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president of Global Product Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. “It’s also a privilege to have Roger Penske perform the driving duties, as his team has helped Chevrolet earn four consecutive IndyCar manufacturer titles since 2012.”
Four identically prepared pace cars will support the race, all with exclusive Abalone White exteriors featuring “100th Running of the Indianapolis 500” graphics on the doors and the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway wing-and-wheel logo on the quarter panels. They also incorporate the exterior cues and graphics that are unique to the Camaro 50th Anniversary package that goes on sale this summer.
With 455 horsepower on tap, the Camaro SS pace cars require no performance modifications to lead the racing field.
“Chevrolet and Roger Penske are inextricably linked to the heritage of the Indianapolis 500,” said J. Douglas Boles, president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “When he leads the pack on May 29, behind the wheel of the Camaro SS, he will drive the race into its next 100 years and strengthen the bond Chevrolet and Indianapolis forged a century ago.”
For 2016, Chevrolet drivers will be looking to build on last year’s results of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” when the top four finishers were Chevy-powered, led by race-winner and Team Penske driver Juan Pablo Montoya. It was his second Indy 500 victory and the 16th for Team Penske.
No other racing team has recorded more wins at the Brickyard than Team Penske, and it started with driver Mark Donohue’s victory in 1972. Penske and Donohue established their relationship six years earlier, when Penske transitioned from driver to team owner. They quickly found success in SCCA’s Trans-Am Series, with Donohue piloting an early Camaro Z/28 racecar, winning three of 12 races in 1967 and 10 of 13 in 1968.
Penske tackled the Indy 500 for the first time in 1969, while still campaigning a Camaro in Trans-Am. Donohue was his driver for both series. Later, racers including Mario Andretti, Al Unser and Rick Mears drove for Penske, with Mears winning four Indianapolis 500 races and helping solidify Team Penske as an Indy powerhouse in the 1980s. That legacy advances this year, as Roger Penske seeks his 17th Indy 500 title as a team owner. (Photo by Bret Kelley)
FORD BEGINS TAKING OWNER APPLICATIONS FOR ALL-NEW FORD GT SUPERCAR AT FORDGT.COM
Limited production of the all-new Ford GT inspired Ford Performance to create a unique, customer-focused experience to help select potential owners for the new supercar. Approved applicants will work with the new Ford GT Concierge Service for a personalized purchase experience.
“The purchase process for the Ford GT is as unique as our all-new supercar,” said Henry Ford III, global marketing manager, Ford Performance. “We understand GT customers are strong ambassadors for Ford Motor Company, and we look forward to providing them a service as distinct as the car itself.”
The Ford GT is the most advanced Ford production vehicle ever, featuring the latest in lightweighting, aerodynamics and EcoBoost® engine technology – an innovation showcase for the Ford brand.
Applicants will have an opportunity to identify their preferred Ford dealership in GT-approved markets and, if approved, will complete their purchase with the help of their dealer and the new Ford GT Concierge Service.
Accepted applicants from around the world will be contacted by the concierge and provided a tailored experience – not only through the ordering and delivery but through years of ownership.
The new Ford GT website also offers a configurator that allows anyone to build a virtual GT and easily share their dream combinations from a number of color, wheels and interior themes with the world through social media.
For production, eight exterior colors can be paired with one of seven different stripe colors, giving the Ford GT customer many choices to keep their vehicle as unique as they are.
Pricing for the Ford GT is expected to have a starting price in the mid-$400,000s, excluding destination and delivery.
The Ford GT will be one of the rarest Ford products ever. Production is limited to 250 units per year, and the initial ordering period will cover the first two years of production - 500 vehicles.
The web-based application process for the first round of applications for the all-new Ford GT closes on May 12, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Build your Ford GT today at FordGT.com.
- Applications for the all-new Ford GT supercar may be submitted starting today for the first two years of production - 500 vehicles, via FordGT.com website; online configurator allows anyone to build the Ford GT of their dreams
- Limited production inspired a unique, customer-focused purchase experience open to all; application process to help identify potential Ford GT owners who will celebrate Ford brand
- All-new Ford GT Concierge Service to launch for personalized purchase experience
Limited production of the all-new Ford GT inspired Ford Performance to create a unique, customer-focused experience to help select potential owners for the new supercar. Approved applicants will work with the new Ford GT Concierge Service for a personalized purchase experience.
“The purchase process for the Ford GT is as unique as our all-new supercar,” said Henry Ford III, global marketing manager, Ford Performance. “We understand GT customers are strong ambassadors for Ford Motor Company, and we look forward to providing them a service as distinct as the car itself.”
The Ford GT is the most advanced Ford production vehicle ever, featuring the latest in lightweighting, aerodynamics and EcoBoost® engine technology – an innovation showcase for the Ford brand.
Applicants will have an opportunity to identify their preferred Ford dealership in GT-approved markets and, if approved, will complete their purchase with the help of their dealer and the new Ford GT Concierge Service.
Accepted applicants from around the world will be contacted by the concierge and provided a tailored experience – not only through the ordering and delivery but through years of ownership.
The new Ford GT website also offers a configurator that allows anyone to build a virtual GT and easily share their dream combinations from a number of color, wheels and interior themes with the world through social media.
For production, eight exterior colors can be paired with one of seven different stripe colors, giving the Ford GT customer many choices to keep their vehicle as unique as they are.
Pricing for the Ford GT is expected to have a starting price in the mid-$400,000s, excluding destination and delivery.
The Ford GT will be one of the rarest Ford products ever. Production is limited to 250 units per year, and the initial ordering period will cover the first two years of production - 500 vehicles.
The web-based application process for the first round of applications for the all-new Ford GT closes on May 12, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Build your Ford GT today at FordGT.com.
Chevrolet, Buick and GMC to Expand Military Discount Program
DETROIT – Today through May 31, 2016, Chevrolet, Buick and GMC will expand their military discount programs for all 21 million U.S. military veterans and their spouses, in honor of National Military Appreciation Month.
“These brave men and women have done so much for our country,” said Steve Hill, GM vice president of U.S. sales and service. “Making sure all veterans can take advantage of our military discount to celebrate Military Appreciation Month is one small way we can express our gratitude.”
GM offers the industry’s most comprehensive automotive military discount program. The program is typically available to U.S. military veterans within one year of separation, active-duty personnel, reservists, retirees and their spouses. In honor of May’s National Military Appreciation Month, the program expands to include all veterans – regardless of their separation date – and their spouses.
The discount is available for popular models, including the all-new Chevrolet Malibu, GMC Sierra and Buick Encore. Because the discount can be combined with most current incentives, veterans could save thousands of dollars on some vehicles. For details, visit gmmilitarydiscount.com.
“The Military Discount is one of many GM efforts to say thank you to U.S. military families,” said Ken Barrett, GM chief diversity officer and a former U.S. Navy captain. “Through our strong partnerships with Building for America’s Bravest,Hiring Our Heroes and the Achilles Freedom Team, we are committed to hiring and helping veterans.”
GM has supported the U.S. military since 1917, when 90 percent of GM’s truck production was directed towards WWI manufacturing. During WWII, GM converted all its plant facilities in support of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s call for an “Arsenal of Democracy,” and has produced more U.S. military vehicles than any manufacturer in history.
Today, GM is hiring and helping the latest generation of veterans as they return home. As a national partner of Hiring Our Heroes, GM joined other military-friendly employers to help the campaign find jobs for more than 500,000 veterans since 2012.
In 2016, GM was the only automaker named a “Best for Vets” employer by Military Times and a “Military Spouse Friendly” employer by Military Spouse magazine.
DETROIT – Today through May 31, 2016, Chevrolet, Buick and GMC will expand their military discount programs for all 21 million U.S. military veterans and their spouses, in honor of National Military Appreciation Month.
“These brave men and women have done so much for our country,” said Steve Hill, GM vice president of U.S. sales and service. “Making sure all veterans can take advantage of our military discount to celebrate Military Appreciation Month is one small way we can express our gratitude.”
GM offers the industry’s most comprehensive automotive military discount program. The program is typically available to U.S. military veterans within one year of separation, active-duty personnel, reservists, retirees and their spouses. In honor of May’s National Military Appreciation Month, the program expands to include all veterans – regardless of their separation date – and their spouses.
The discount is available for popular models, including the all-new Chevrolet Malibu, GMC Sierra and Buick Encore. Because the discount can be combined with most current incentives, veterans could save thousands of dollars on some vehicles. For details, visit gmmilitarydiscount.com.
“The Military Discount is one of many GM efforts to say thank you to U.S. military families,” said Ken Barrett, GM chief diversity officer and a former U.S. Navy captain. “Through our strong partnerships with Building for America’s Bravest,Hiring Our Heroes and the Achilles Freedom Team, we are committed to hiring and helping veterans.”
GM has supported the U.S. military since 1917, when 90 percent of GM’s truck production was directed towards WWI manufacturing. During WWII, GM converted all its plant facilities in support of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s call for an “Arsenal of Democracy,” and has produced more U.S. military vehicles than any manufacturer in history.
Today, GM is hiring and helping the latest generation of veterans as they return home. As a national partner of Hiring Our Heroes, GM joined other military-friendly employers to help the campaign find jobs for more than 500,000 veterans since 2012.
In 2016, GM was the only automaker named a “Best for Vets” employer by Military Times and a “Military Spouse Friendly” employer by Military Spouse magazine.
2017 Corvette Grand Sport
Auction of First 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Collector’s Edition to Benefit Karmanos Cancer Institute2016-04-05 DETROIT – The first retail production 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Collector’s Edition will be auctioned Friday, April 8, in lot #3003 at 6 p.m. EDT at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach, Fl. Auction. One hundred percent of the sale price from the auction will benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.
The auction extends General Motors’ long-standing support of the Karmanos Cancer Institute, one of only 45 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country. Last year, the auction raised $200,000 by auctioning the first Cadillac CT6 luxury sedan at Barrett-Jackson.
Chevrolet is donating the first retail production, VIN #001 – of the all-new Corvette Grand Sport Collector’s Edition – in support of Karmanos Cancer Institute’s 34th Annual Dinner which will be held Saturday, April 16, at Michigan Motion Picture Studios in Pontiac, Mich. In addition, the GM Foundation has once again made a significant grant of $400,000 to also fund cancer research at Karmanos.
This year’s Annual Dinner Chairs are Paula and Steve Kiefer, vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain at General Motors. This is the sixth consecutive year General Motors has been a major sponsor for this signature fundraiser, with a GM executive chairing the event.
The Karmanos Cancer Institute is a unique, integrated center of research, patient care and education, dedicated to the prevention, early detection, treatment and eventual eradication of cancer. Based in Detroit, Mich., Karmanos is at the forefront of developing new cancer treatments that will benefit cancer patients around the globe.
Grand Sport, the latest member of the Corvette lineup, combines signature Corvette DNA with ingenious engineering to create a stunning, track-ready aerodynamic sports car. The Grand Sport Collector Edition is a limited production edition and features a Watkins Glen Gray Metallic exterior with Tension Blue hash-mark graphics, satin black full-length stripes, black wheels and an exclusive Tension Blue full leather and suede-wrapped interior. The Tension Blue color is a bold, modern take on the hue historically associated with the Grand Sport. Inside, a three-dimensional representation of an original Grand Sport race car is embossed in the headrests and that shape is also used on an instrument panel plaque that carries a unique build sequence number.
The 2017 Grand Sport features a 6.2L LT1 V8 engine, capable of 460 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. The compact design lowers the hoodline, providing optimal weight balance. A dry-sump oil system delivers oil flow through the most extreme cornering, helping Grand Sport deliver a consistently high level of performance. The coupe and convertible go on sale this summer in the U.S. and in the fall in Europe. The Collector’s Edition will be offered later in the model year in the U.S. and Europe.
Those unable to attend the Palm Beach Collector Car Auction may bid online at www.barrett-jackson.com. To register, call 480-421-6694 or email absentee@barrett-jackson.com. Since this is a charity sale, Barrett-Jackson will waive all buyer and seller fees. The winning bidder will receive a letter of authenticity.
For more information about Karmanos Cancer Institute’s 34th Annual Dinner on April 16, to purchase tickets or to make a donation, contact Kelly at 313-576-8108 or smileyk@karmanos.org. You may also visit www.karmanos.org/annualdinner. Benefactor tickets are $750 and Patron tickets are $525.
The auction extends General Motors’ long-standing support of the Karmanos Cancer Institute, one of only 45 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country. Last year, the auction raised $200,000 by auctioning the first Cadillac CT6 luxury sedan at Barrett-Jackson.
Chevrolet is donating the first retail production, VIN #001 – of the all-new Corvette Grand Sport Collector’s Edition – in support of Karmanos Cancer Institute’s 34th Annual Dinner which will be held Saturday, April 16, at Michigan Motion Picture Studios in Pontiac, Mich. In addition, the GM Foundation has once again made a significant grant of $400,000 to also fund cancer research at Karmanos.
This year’s Annual Dinner Chairs are Paula and Steve Kiefer, vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain at General Motors. This is the sixth consecutive year General Motors has been a major sponsor for this signature fundraiser, with a GM executive chairing the event.
The Karmanos Cancer Institute is a unique, integrated center of research, patient care and education, dedicated to the prevention, early detection, treatment and eventual eradication of cancer. Based in Detroit, Mich., Karmanos is at the forefront of developing new cancer treatments that will benefit cancer patients around the globe.
Grand Sport, the latest member of the Corvette lineup, combines signature Corvette DNA with ingenious engineering to create a stunning, track-ready aerodynamic sports car. The Grand Sport Collector Edition is a limited production edition and features a Watkins Glen Gray Metallic exterior with Tension Blue hash-mark graphics, satin black full-length stripes, black wheels and an exclusive Tension Blue full leather and suede-wrapped interior. The Tension Blue color is a bold, modern take on the hue historically associated with the Grand Sport. Inside, a three-dimensional representation of an original Grand Sport race car is embossed in the headrests and that shape is also used on an instrument panel plaque that carries a unique build sequence number.
The 2017 Grand Sport features a 6.2L LT1 V8 engine, capable of 460 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. The compact design lowers the hoodline, providing optimal weight balance. A dry-sump oil system delivers oil flow through the most extreme cornering, helping Grand Sport deliver a consistently high level of performance. The coupe and convertible go on sale this summer in the U.S. and in the fall in Europe. The Collector’s Edition will be offered later in the model year in the U.S. and Europe.
Those unable to attend the Palm Beach Collector Car Auction may bid online at www.barrett-jackson.com. To register, call 480-421-6694 or email absentee@barrett-jackson.com. Since this is a charity sale, Barrett-Jackson will waive all buyer and seller fees. The winning bidder will receive a letter of authenticity.
For more information about Karmanos Cancer Institute’s 34th Annual Dinner on April 16, to purchase tickets or to make a donation, contact Kelly at 313-576-8108 or smileyk@karmanos.org. You may also visit www.karmanos.org/annualdinner. Benefactor tickets are $750 and Patron tickets are $525.
Carrying on the tradition from years past, Corvette is introducing the New 2017 Grand Sport. It will be available late summer 2017. More details to follow.
Corvette Racing Finishes 1 & 2 in the Rolex 24 GTLM Class
by Rick Tavel
The #4 C7.R driven by Gavin, Milner, Fassler, won the Rolex 24 by less than a car length to their team mates Garcia, Magnussen and Rockefeller. (Photo: IMSA)An outstanding effort by the entire Corvette Racing Team pays off with an impressive one/two finish in GTLM.Corvetted – January 31, 2016 -
The #4 C7.R driven by Gavin, Milner, Fassler, won the Rolex 24 by less than a car length to their team mates Garcia, Magnussen and Rockefeller. (Photo: IMSA)An outstanding effort by the entire Corvette Racing Team pays off with an impressive one/two finish in GTLM.Corvetted – January 31, 2016 -
After 24 grueling hours of hard fought racing in the WeatherTech SportsCar Series, the Corvette Racing team won the Rolex 24 at Daytona GTLM class with the #4 and #3 Corvette C7.Rs finishing first and second respectively. During the last twenty minutes the two Corvettes were actually battling each other to determine which one would take the checkered flag with Oliver Gavin driving the #4 Corvette barely edging out Antonio Garcia in the #3 by less than four feet. It was a stunning victory for the Corvette Racing Team winning the world famous endurance race for the second year in a row.
by Rick Tavel
The #4 C7.R driven by Gavin, Milner, Fassler, won the Rolex 24 by less than a car length to their team mates Garcia, Magnussen and Rockefeller. (Photo: IMSA)An outstanding effort by the entire Corvette Racing Team pays off with an impressive one/two finish in GTLM.Corvetted – January 31, 2016 -
The #4 C7.R driven by Gavin, Milner, Fassler, won the Rolex 24 by less than a car length to their team mates Garcia, Magnussen and Rockefeller. (Photo: IMSA)An outstanding effort by the entire Corvette Racing Team pays off with an impressive one/two finish in GTLM.Corvetted – January 31, 2016 -
After 24 grueling hours of hard fought racing in the WeatherTech SportsCar Series, the Corvette Racing team won the Rolex 24 at Daytona GTLM class with the #4 and #3 Corvette C7.Rs finishing first and second respectively. During the last twenty minutes the two Corvettes were actually battling each other to determine which one would take the checkered flag with Oliver Gavin driving the #4 Corvette barely edging out Antonio Garcia in the #3 by less than four feet. It was a stunning victory for the Corvette Racing Team winning the world famous endurance race for the second year in a row.
The 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Final Edition: Limited-production model bids farewell to legendary sports sedan
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today announced the details of the limited-production 2015 Lancer Evolution Final Edition. Arguably the originator of the four-door sports car genre, the Lancer Evolution has seen ten generations – three of which were sold in the U.S. over 12 years. To send it off in style, Mitsubishi Motors will offer 1,600 numbered Final Edition models to the U.S. market with a MSRP of $37,995.
The Lancer Evolution Final Edition is based off the current GSR model, with exterior and interior enhancements not previously offered on the GSR. The heart of the Final Edition is a 5-speed transmission paired with a turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder 2.0L engine, producing 303 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 305 lb-ft torque at 4,000 rpm. Performance is further enhanced by use of lightweight two-piece Brembo® brake rotors up front, accompanied by Bilstein shock absorbers and Eibach springs at all four corners. As with all 2015 Lancer Evolutions, the Final Edition model features Mitsubishi's innovative and unmatched Super All-Wheel control system.
The Final Edition model receives exterior upgrades including a Final Edition badge in the rear, black painted aluminum roof, dark chrome painted Enkei® alloy wheels, gloss black center bumper and hood air outlet and dark chrome front grille surround. Final Edition models will be offered in four colors: new Pearl White, Rally Red, Mercury Gray and Octane Blue.
Inside, a numbered plaque on the center console denotes each of the 1,600 units created. In addition, Final Edition models receive a black headliner, pillars, sun visors and assist handles, and red accent stitching for sport seats, steering wheel, shift knob, console lid, floormats and e-brake handle.
"With its incredible combination of power, agility and Super All-Wheel Control, the Lancer Evolution is one of the most well-known sports sedans and is revered by 'gearheads' around the globe," said MMNA executive vice president, Don Swearingen. "The Final Edition model pays homage to Evo's remarkable place in automotive history and takes it one step further as the most powerful mass-production Lancer Evolution ever built."
- The Final Edition is based off the current GSR model featuring new enhancements and increases to horsepower and torque
- Only 1,600 units will be sold in the U.S. market, each marked by a numbered plaque.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today announced the details of the limited-production 2015 Lancer Evolution Final Edition. Arguably the originator of the four-door sports car genre, the Lancer Evolution has seen ten generations – three of which were sold in the U.S. over 12 years. To send it off in style, Mitsubishi Motors will offer 1,600 numbered Final Edition models to the U.S. market with a MSRP of $37,995.
The Lancer Evolution Final Edition is based off the current GSR model, with exterior and interior enhancements not previously offered on the GSR. The heart of the Final Edition is a 5-speed transmission paired with a turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder 2.0L engine, producing 303 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 305 lb-ft torque at 4,000 rpm. Performance is further enhanced by use of lightweight two-piece Brembo® brake rotors up front, accompanied by Bilstein shock absorbers and Eibach springs at all four corners. As with all 2015 Lancer Evolutions, the Final Edition model features Mitsubishi's innovative and unmatched Super All-Wheel control system.
The Final Edition model receives exterior upgrades including a Final Edition badge in the rear, black painted aluminum roof, dark chrome painted Enkei® alloy wheels, gloss black center bumper and hood air outlet and dark chrome front grille surround. Final Edition models will be offered in four colors: new Pearl White, Rally Red, Mercury Gray and Octane Blue.
Inside, a numbered plaque on the center console denotes each of the 1,600 units created. In addition, Final Edition models receive a black headliner, pillars, sun visors and assist handles, and red accent stitching for sport seats, steering wheel, shift knob, console lid, floormats and e-brake handle.
"With its incredible combination of power, agility and Super All-Wheel Control, the Lancer Evolution is one of the most well-known sports sedans and is revered by 'gearheads' around the globe," said MMNA executive vice president, Don Swearingen. "The Final Edition model pays homage to Evo's remarkable place in automotive history and takes it one step further as the most powerful mass-production Lancer Evolution ever built."
Jaguar cuts prices and offers free maintenance in the U.S.
With sales dropping 4.4% through August, Jaguar has dropped prices and is offering a free scheduled maintenance program for their vehicles. Price reductions will be done through lower pricing or making more options as standard equipment.
Jaguar is hoping to increase their U.S.market share with these price changes and also with an expanded lineup of vehicles. The price changes along with a free scheduled maintenance program and improved warranty will begin on 2016 models.
With sales dropping 4.4% through August, Jaguar has dropped prices and is offering a free scheduled maintenance program for their vehicles. Price reductions will be done through lower pricing or making more options as standard equipment.
Jaguar is hoping to increase their U.S.market share with these price changes and also with an expanded lineup of vehicles. The price changes along with a free scheduled maintenance program and improved warranty will begin on 2016 models.
Chevrolet Lifts Lid on 2016 Camaro ConvertibleSegment’s most advanced top is fully automatic, with refined appearance 2015-06-24
(Photo and article -courtesy of GM)
DETROIT – Let the sun shine in. Chevrolet will offer a convertible model of the all-new 2016 Camaro, featuring the segment’s most advanced top.
The 2016 Camaro is the only convertible in the segment to offer all of the following:
“The 2016 Camaro coupe will set the benchmark for the segment in terms of technology, performance and design,” said Todd Christensen, Camaro marketing manager. “Adding the most sophisticated top in the segment brings another level of refinement – and driving enjoyment – to the Camaro convertible.”
The new Camaro convertible arrives in early 2016.
Like the Camaro coupe, the convertible benefits from a stiffer, lighter structure that helps reduce total vehicle weight by at least 200 pounds compared to the model it replaces. Consequently, the Camaro convertible retains the coupe’s sharp chassis tuning and nimble reflexes.
“From the beginning, the Camaro’s architecture was developed to incorporate a convertible with uncompromised driving dynamics,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “Customers will appreciate what they don’t feel: quivers, cowl shake or an under-damped chassis typically found in a four-seat convertible.”
The architecture also enables the Camaro convertible’s sleek design, allowing the top to fold down completely beneath the belt line. The hard tonneau cover automatically covers the folded top, creating a finished appearance.
“With many convertibles, you have to affix a tonneau cover manually – if it’s done at all,” said Tom Peters, design director. “The Camaro convertible’s automatically deploying hard tonneau not only makes it easier to enjoy convertible driving when the inspiration hits, it ensures the car always looks its best.”
(Photo and article -courtesy of GM)
DETROIT – Let the sun shine in. Chevrolet will offer a convertible model of the all-new 2016 Camaro, featuring the segment’s most advanced top.
The 2016 Camaro is the only convertible in the segment to offer all of the following:
- Fully automatic operation with latches that automatically release and secure the top
- Capability of opening or closing at speeds up to 30 mph
- Remote opening with the key fob
- A hard tonneau cover that deploys automatically, providing a more refined, finished appearance when the top is lowered and stowed.
“The 2016 Camaro coupe will set the benchmark for the segment in terms of technology, performance and design,” said Todd Christensen, Camaro marketing manager. “Adding the most sophisticated top in the segment brings another level of refinement – and driving enjoyment – to the Camaro convertible.”
The new Camaro convertible arrives in early 2016.
Like the Camaro coupe, the convertible benefits from a stiffer, lighter structure that helps reduce total vehicle weight by at least 200 pounds compared to the model it replaces. Consequently, the Camaro convertible retains the coupe’s sharp chassis tuning and nimble reflexes.
“From the beginning, the Camaro’s architecture was developed to incorporate a convertible with uncompromised driving dynamics,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “Customers will appreciate what they don’t feel: quivers, cowl shake or an under-damped chassis typically found in a four-seat convertible.”
The architecture also enables the Camaro convertible’s sleek design, allowing the top to fold down completely beneath the belt line. The hard tonneau cover automatically covers the folded top, creating a finished appearance.
“With many convertibles, you have to affix a tonneau cover manually – if it’s done at all,” said Tom Peters, design director. “The Camaro convertible’s automatically deploying hard tonneau not only makes it easier to enjoy convertible driving when the inspiration hits, it ensures the car always looks its best.”
Biggest Recall in History of Automotive Industry: What Should Consumers Do?
Jack Gillis, CFA’s Automotive Expert and author of The Car Book Available for Comment
Washington D.C. — “There is good news and bad news with the announcement of the Takata air bag recall: the good news, millions more Americans are covered for a fix to this serious problem, the bad news, it could take years to get safe parts manufactured and replaced in affected vehicles,” said Jack Gillis, CFA’s automotive expert and author of The Car Book, published with the Center for Auto Safety.
What Consumers Need to Do:
“The sooner you contact a dealer, the sooner you’ll get on the list for repairs,” said Gillis. “Traditional recall response rates are around 70%, so in the end, if consumers don’t respond to this recall, there could potentially be over 10 million vehicles with this dangerous defect on the road.”
“While the root cause of this problem is not fully understood, humid regions with high moisture in the air can exacerbate the problem. Consumers in those areas have likely already received a recall notice and should respond immediately,” added Gillis.
Jack Gillis, CFA’s Automotive Expert and author of The Car Book Available for Comment
Washington D.C. — “There is good news and bad news with the announcement of the Takata air bag recall: the good news, millions more Americans are covered for a fix to this serious problem, the bad news, it could take years to get safe parts manufactured and replaced in affected vehicles,” said Jack Gillis, CFA’s automotive expert and author of The Car Book, published with the Center for Auto Safety.
What Consumers Need to Do:
- Obtain your vehicle’s identification number (VIN) by looking in at your dash from the outside of the driver’s side or on the outer edge of the driver’s door. (It is also available on your registration card.)
- Go to www.safercar.gov/vin and type in your VIN.
- If your vehicle is part of the recall, contact ANY dealer of your vehicle immediately to schedule a replacement appointment—there is no charge for this fix.
- Ask your dealer (or the manufacturer of your vehicle) for a ‘loaner vehicle’ while parts are being manufactured.
“The sooner you contact a dealer, the sooner you’ll get on the list for repairs,” said Gillis. “Traditional recall response rates are around 70%, so in the end, if consumers don’t respond to this recall, there could potentially be over 10 million vehicles with this dangerous defect on the road.”
“While the root cause of this problem is not fully understood, humid regions with high moisture in the air can exacerbate the problem. Consumers in those areas have likely already received a recall notice and should respond immediately,” added Gillis.
Ford's 2015 EcoBoost Challenge Tour
by Larry Rust
This year Ford is holding their EcoBoost challenge at seventeen cities throughout the United States. The event recently visited the Chicago area and I had the pleasure of being invited to attend the Media Event which was held one day prior to the opening to the general public.
This is the third year that Ford has had this event and it has been expanded to more cities after having great success in the previous two years. This challenge allows the general public to experience the Ford EcoBoost engine and vehicle features up close and at one's own pace.
A popular part of this event was the chance to drive the EcoBoost Mustangs in both an automatic transmission version as well as manual. This was done on a closed course where one can experience the acceleration, braking and maneuverability of the 2015 Mustang with the EcoBoost feature.
At another driving station, there were two simulators set up to assist those who are unfamiliar with manual transmissions with building confidence in ones shifting ability. These newly acquired skills were then put to the test driving a Ford Focus 1.0 Liter EcoBoost on a closed course.
Another closed course had been set up so that the driver could compare a Ford with the EcoBoost feature to a competitor's comparable model. The new F-150 Pickup V6 was situated against the Chevy Silverado V8. This is the challenge I decided to try. The course allowed me to compare acceleration, braking, riding over a rough road and maneuverability around a series of quick turns. I was quite impressed with the new F-150, particularly its acceleration and ride. Other comparisons could be made
with the Ford Edge vs. the Toyota Highlander and the Ford Escape vs. the Honda CRV.
In another area, a reaction course was set up so that the driver could be checked on his or her reaction
time on acceleration in either a Fiesta ST or a Focus ST.
My favorite part of the event was being able to take a vehicle out on the road for a test drive. The
models available to drive were the 2015 Expedition, Edge, Fusion, Transit Connect, and Focus. The Edge
test drive included a demonstration of the Park Assist feature which automatically backs the Edge
between two parked cars. I drove both the Expedition, which had the King Ranch trim, and the Edge in
the Titanium trim package. Both were very impressive in performance, styling and comfort.
This was a great event to attend. Also, anyone from the general public who attends has a chance to win
a 2015 Ford Edge. For more information and the schedule of upcoming cities go to
www.ecoboostdrive.com. It is a great investment of time for automobile enthusiasts.
by Larry Rust
This year Ford is holding their EcoBoost challenge at seventeen cities throughout the United States. The event recently visited the Chicago area and I had the pleasure of being invited to attend the Media Event which was held one day prior to the opening to the general public.
This is the third year that Ford has had this event and it has been expanded to more cities after having great success in the previous two years. This challenge allows the general public to experience the Ford EcoBoost engine and vehicle features up close and at one's own pace.
A popular part of this event was the chance to drive the EcoBoost Mustangs in both an automatic transmission version as well as manual. This was done on a closed course where one can experience the acceleration, braking and maneuverability of the 2015 Mustang with the EcoBoost feature.
At another driving station, there were two simulators set up to assist those who are unfamiliar with manual transmissions with building confidence in ones shifting ability. These newly acquired skills were then put to the test driving a Ford Focus 1.0 Liter EcoBoost on a closed course.
Another closed course had been set up so that the driver could compare a Ford with the EcoBoost feature to a competitor's comparable model. The new F-150 Pickup V6 was situated against the Chevy Silverado V8. This is the challenge I decided to try. The course allowed me to compare acceleration, braking, riding over a rough road and maneuverability around a series of quick turns. I was quite impressed with the new F-150, particularly its acceleration and ride. Other comparisons could be made
with the Ford Edge vs. the Toyota Highlander and the Ford Escape vs. the Honda CRV.
In another area, a reaction course was set up so that the driver could be checked on his or her reaction
time on acceleration in either a Fiesta ST or a Focus ST.
My favorite part of the event was being able to take a vehicle out on the road for a test drive. The
models available to drive were the 2015 Expedition, Edge, Fusion, Transit Connect, and Focus. The Edge
test drive included a demonstration of the Park Assist feature which automatically backs the Edge
between two parked cars. I drove both the Expedition, which had the King Ranch trim, and the Edge in
the Titanium trim package. Both were very impressive in performance, styling and comfort.
This was a great event to attend. Also, anyone from the general public who attends has a chance to win
a 2015 Ford Edge. For more information and the schedule of upcoming cities go to
www.ecoboostdrive.com. It is a great investment of time for automobile enthusiasts.
GMC Offers Special Pricing for All Veterans Through June GM Military Discount covers all 22 million veterans, regardless of separation date 2015-05-08
DETROIT – For U.S. military veterans waiting for the right time to purchase a GMC truck, crossover or SUV, GMC is expanding the GM Military Discount to all veterans – regardless of separation date – through June 30.
The expanded discount is part of GM Military Appreciation Month, which began May 1. Last year, more than 40,000 active-duty, reserves, retired and veteran service members used the discount to purchase vehicles from eligible GM brands, including veteran Kathryn Scott of Reidsville, Ga. who bought a new GMC Terrain.
“The process was easy – all I had to do was show my DD Form 214 separation papers and my dealer (NeSmith Chevrolet Buick GMC Inc. in Claxton, Ga.) took care of everything,” said Scott, who served eight years in the U.S. Air Force, most recently at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. “I love my Terrain, and it was nice to put the savings toward other things I needed to take care of.”
The most comprehensive military pricing program of any automaker covers all 22 million active-duty, reserves, retired and veteran service members and spouses from every military branch: U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard during May and June. After June 30, the discount applies to active-duty, reserves and retired military and spouses, and veterans and spouses within a year of separation.
First offered in 2008, the GM Military Discount Program features pricing below the suggested retail price for eligible vehicles. It can be combined with most other current incentives from GMC, as well as a $750 discount for USAA Insurance members. Customers must take delivery by June 30, 2015.
“At a time when more Americans have been buying trucks, crossovers and SUVs, it is a privilege to have the opportunity to make a GMC more attainable to the men and women have served this country,” said Duncan Aldred, U.S. vice president, GMC sales.
All GMC models, including the Denali trim, are eligible for the GM Military Discount:
DETROIT – For U.S. military veterans waiting for the right time to purchase a GMC truck, crossover or SUV, GMC is expanding the GM Military Discount to all veterans – regardless of separation date – through June 30.
The expanded discount is part of GM Military Appreciation Month, which began May 1. Last year, more than 40,000 active-duty, reserves, retired and veteran service members used the discount to purchase vehicles from eligible GM brands, including veteran Kathryn Scott of Reidsville, Ga. who bought a new GMC Terrain.
“The process was easy – all I had to do was show my DD Form 214 separation papers and my dealer (NeSmith Chevrolet Buick GMC Inc. in Claxton, Ga.) took care of everything,” said Scott, who served eight years in the U.S. Air Force, most recently at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. “I love my Terrain, and it was nice to put the savings toward other things I needed to take care of.”
The most comprehensive military pricing program of any automaker covers all 22 million active-duty, reserves, retired and veteran service members and spouses from every military branch: U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard during May and June. After June 30, the discount applies to active-duty, reserves and retired military and spouses, and veterans and spouses within a year of separation.
First offered in 2008, the GM Military Discount Program features pricing below the suggested retail price for eligible vehicles. It can be combined with most other current incentives from GMC, as well as a $750 discount for USAA Insurance members. Customers must take delivery by June 30, 2015.
“At a time when more Americans have been buying trucks, crossovers and SUVs, it is a privilege to have the opportunity to make a GMC more attainable to the men and women have served this country,” said Duncan Aldred, U.S. vice president, GMC sales.
All GMC models, including the Denali trim, are eligible for the GM Military Discount:
- GMC Canyon midsize pickup, the newest member of the GMC family and winner of AutoWeek’s 2015 “Best of the Best” Truck award and Ward’s 10 Best Interiors
- GMC Sierra 1500 – the most powerful light duty pickup on the market – and Sierra HD full-size pickups, all new for the 2014 model year
- GMC Terrain small SUV and GMC Acadia large crossover
- Yukon and Yukon XL full-size SUVs, all new for the 2015 model year
- GMC Savana passenger vans
Chevrolet Builds a Special Camaro SS for Chicago Blackhawk Hockey Fans
This fantastic looking Camaro SS will be won by a lucky fan, but you have to enter a contest to win it.
NEW FORD MUSTANG CAUSES INTERNET STAMPEDE IN EUROPE AS HALF A MILLION CONFIGURE ICONIC CAR IN FIRST MONTH
13/03/15
from Ford
During the first week, more Mustang models were specified online than any other Ford vehicle. Ford Mustang websites, enabling customers to build and price a Mustang to a chosen specification attracted more than 1.1 million visits from mid-January to mid-February.
Data for that period indicated that the new Mustang equipped with the 314PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine accounted for half of all configurations. The other half were specified with the 418PS 5.0-litre V8 engine.
“The rush to configure Mustang online represents 50 years of pent up demand across Europe,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “For some people, the new Mustang is the car they have waited for their whole lives.”
Confirming European tastes for sports cars with accessible performance, the most popular specification overall was the EcoBoost-equipped model with six-speed manual transmission, chosen for 37 per cent of models configured. Manual transmissions overall accounted for two-thirds of models specified.
Of the five largest European sales markets – UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain – the powerful 5.0-litre V8 engine was most popular in the UK (54 per cent) and Germany (60 per cent). The EcoBoost engine was most popular in Italy (61 per cent), Spain (59 per cent) and France (55 per cent).
The top colours were Race Red and black, each accounting for 20 per cent. In the biggest five sales markets, the most popular colours were:
The Ebony leather interior finish was chosen by 61 per cent across Europe, and 28 per cent of those who configured models online also chose to specify the Custom Pack, which includes:
The Ford Mustang is exclusively available to order in Europe at new FordStore locations opening across the region primarily in metropolitan areas. Never before has Mustang gone on sale worldwide and the new Mustang will be available to customers in more than 100 markets. First shipments are headed for Asia, with vehicles arriving in continental Europe mid-year and in the U.K. with right-hand drive in the second half of the year.
Ford made the first 500 Ford Mustangs for Europe available to reserve during the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final. More than 9,300 people registered online for a chance to reserve one of the models during the match, the first 500 registrations placed in just 30 seconds.
13/03/15
from Ford
- New Mustang is available to order in Europe for the first time in the 50-year history of the iconic pony car
- Europeans configure and price nearly 500,000 new Ford Mustang models online in the first month
- Ford websites enabling customers to explore pricing and options for the all-new Mustang attract 1.1 million visits
- Half of all models configured with the fast, fuel-efficient 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine, half with powerful 5.0-litre V8 versions – two thirds chose manual transmissions. Race Red and black are the top colours
During the first week, more Mustang models were specified online than any other Ford vehicle. Ford Mustang websites, enabling customers to build and price a Mustang to a chosen specification attracted more than 1.1 million visits from mid-January to mid-February.
Data for that period indicated that the new Mustang equipped with the 314PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine accounted for half of all configurations. The other half were specified with the 418PS 5.0-litre V8 engine.
“The rush to configure Mustang online represents 50 years of pent up demand across Europe,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “For some people, the new Mustang is the car they have waited for their whole lives.”
Confirming European tastes for sports cars with accessible performance, the most popular specification overall was the EcoBoost-equipped model with six-speed manual transmission, chosen for 37 per cent of models configured. Manual transmissions overall accounted for two-thirds of models specified.
Of the five largest European sales markets – UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain – the powerful 5.0-litre V8 engine was most popular in the UK (54 per cent) and Germany (60 per cent). The EcoBoost engine was most popular in Italy (61 per cent), Spain (59 per cent) and France (55 per cent).
The top colours were Race Red and black, each accounting for 20 per cent. In the biggest five sales markets, the most popular colours were:
- U.K.– Race Red (22 per cent) and Deep Impact Blue (17 per cent)
- France– Race Red (24 per cent) and black (19 per cent)
- Germany– black (21 per cent) and Race Red (18 per cent)
- Italy– black (27 per cent) and Race Red/Deep Impact Blue (13 per cent)
- Spain– black (27 per cent) and Race Red (19 per cent)
The Ebony leather interior finish was chosen by 61 per cent across Europe, and 28 per cent of those who configured models online also chose to specify the Custom Pack, which includes:
- “Shaker Pro” premium audio system with navigation
- Climate controlled seats, reverse parking sensors
- Lustre Nickel multi-spoke 19in alloy wheels
- Side window chrome surrounds on the fastback model
The Ford Mustang is exclusively available to order in Europe at new FordStore locations opening across the region primarily in metropolitan areas. Never before has Mustang gone on sale worldwide and the new Mustang will be available to customers in more than 100 markets. First shipments are headed for Asia, with vehicles arriving in continental Europe mid-year and in the U.K. with right-hand drive in the second half of the year.
Ford made the first 500 Ford Mustangs for Europe available to reserve during the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final. More than 9,300 people registered online for a chance to reserve one of the models during the match, the first 500 registrations placed in just 30 seconds.
Fifth-gen Camaro Approaches 500,000 U.S. SalesProduction milestone caps five years as America’s best-selling performance car
3-13-2015
DETROIT – Talk about a big family: Chevrolet expects to deliver the 500,000th fifth-generation Camaro in the United States this month.
The fifth-generation Camaro has been a runaway success for Chevrolet since it went on sale in August 2009. Camaro passed Mustang in 2010, to become America’s best-selling performance car – a title Camaro has retained for five consecutive years. In the process, the Camaro has helped build the Chevrolet family – with 63 percent of retail buyers new to GM.
“The fifth-generation Camaro has clearly resonated with both long-time Camaro fans, and first time performance-car buyers,” said Todd Christensen, Camaro marketing manager. “That sets the bar high for the next chapter of the car’s history.”
Remarkably, the Camaro continues to gain momentum, even as the fifth-generation Camaro nears the end of production this year. In 2014, Camaro total sales increased 7.1 percent for its second-best year of sales since its introduction. For the first two months of 2015, total sales are up 3.6 percent over 2014:
August through December 2009 61,648
2010 calendar year 81,299
2011 calendar year 88,249
2012 calendar year 84,391
2013 calendar year 80,567
2014 calendar year 86,297
January through February 2015 11,364
Total: 493,815
In its final year for the fifth generation, the 2015 Camaro lineup offers a broad range of models that balance style, performance and efficiency:
3-13-2015
DETROIT – Talk about a big family: Chevrolet expects to deliver the 500,000th fifth-generation Camaro in the United States this month.
The fifth-generation Camaro has been a runaway success for Chevrolet since it went on sale in August 2009. Camaro passed Mustang in 2010, to become America’s best-selling performance car – a title Camaro has retained for five consecutive years. In the process, the Camaro has helped build the Chevrolet family – with 63 percent of retail buyers new to GM.
“The fifth-generation Camaro has clearly resonated with both long-time Camaro fans, and first time performance-car buyers,” said Todd Christensen, Camaro marketing manager. “That sets the bar high for the next chapter of the car’s history.”
Remarkably, the Camaro continues to gain momentum, even as the fifth-generation Camaro nears the end of production this year. In 2014, Camaro total sales increased 7.1 percent for its second-best year of sales since its introduction. For the first two months of 2015, total sales are up 3.6 percent over 2014:
August through December 2009 61,648
2010 calendar year 81,299
2011 calendar year 88,249
2012 calendar year 84,391
2013 calendar year 80,567
2014 calendar year 86,297
January through February 2015 11,364
Total: 493,815
In its final year for the fifth generation, the 2015 Camaro lineup offers a broad range of models that balance style, performance and efficiency:
- The 323-horsepower V-6-powered LS coupe and LT coupe and convertible – including the 2LS with an EPA-rated 30 mpg on the highway
- The Camaro SS coupe and convertible, with a 6.2L V-8 delivering up to 426 horsepower
- The road-racing-inspired Camaro 1LE performance package with unique gearing, suspension tuning and tires that make the model capable of more than 1 g of lateral acceleration
- The 580-horsepower supercharged Camaro ZL1 coupe and convertible – the most powerful Camaro in history
- The track-capable Camaro Z/28 (coupe only), which was named Motor Trend’s 2014 Best Driver’s Car – the first American-brand car to receive the award.
Petty Mustang
as reported by Fox News
Now here’s a Mustang fit for a king. The King, that is.
Petty’s Garage, the performance house run by racing legend Richard Petty, has teamed up with Ford to build 143 special edition Mustang GTs. Petty Motorsports runs a Mustang in NASCAR’s Xfinity series along with two Ford Fusions in Sprint Cup.
One hundred of the cars will be Stage 1 models featuring a 627 hp supercharged Ford Racing/Roush Performance supercharged 5.0-liter V8, MagnaFlow center exhaust, HRE FlowForm wheels, Petty’s Garage bodykit including a stock car-inspired spoiler, custom upholstery and Richard Petty’s autograph on the dash. They’ll sell for $62,410, including the price of the donor car.
Forty-three Stage 2 models will also be offered for $92,410 and fitted with Petty Blue trimmed three-piece 20-inch forged HRE wheels, a Wildwood big brake upgrade with Petty Blue calipers, and a two-tone black over (you guessed it) Petty Blue paint job with the number 43 ghosted into the roof pillars.
Both versions come with Ford/Roush and Petty’s Garage warranties covering the add-on parts. Orders for build slots are now being taken at all Ford dealerships nationwide.
as reported by Fox News
Now here’s a Mustang fit for a king. The King, that is.
Petty’s Garage, the performance house run by racing legend Richard Petty, has teamed up with Ford to build 143 special edition Mustang GTs. Petty Motorsports runs a Mustang in NASCAR’s Xfinity series along with two Ford Fusions in Sprint Cup.
One hundred of the cars will be Stage 1 models featuring a 627 hp supercharged Ford Racing/Roush Performance supercharged 5.0-liter V8, MagnaFlow center exhaust, HRE FlowForm wheels, Petty’s Garage bodykit including a stock car-inspired spoiler, custom upholstery and Richard Petty’s autograph on the dash. They’ll sell for $62,410, including the price of the donor car.
Forty-three Stage 2 models will also be offered for $92,410 and fitted with Petty Blue trimmed three-piece 20-inch forged HRE wheels, a Wildwood big brake upgrade with Petty Blue calipers, and a two-tone black over (you guessed it) Petty Blue paint job with the number 43 ghosted into the roof pillars.
Both versions come with Ford/Roush and Petty’s Garage warranties covering the add-on parts. Orders for build slots are now being taken at all Ford dealerships nationwide.
Ford F-150 and Volkswagen Awarded Honors at Detroit Auto Show
The Ford F-150 truck was named North American Truck of the Year for 2015 at the Detroit Auto Show. As well as the Volkswagen Golf was named the North American Car of the Year. These awards are a result of voting by a panel of Automotive Journalists.
The Ford F-150 truck was named North American Truck of the Year for 2015 at the Detroit Auto Show. As well as the Volkswagen Golf was named the North American Car of the Year. These awards are a result of voting by a panel of Automotive Journalists.
New Names and Bold Bodies Coming to Scion in 2015
First-Ever Scion Sedan and Scion iM on the way
TORRANCE, Calif., (Jan. 7, 2015) – Like many others, Scion has a New Year’s Resolution to
debut an all-new body by spring. And not surprisingly, all eyes will be on its backside as Scion
will be adding its first-ever sedan to its line-up.
The new sedan will be introduced in April at the New York International Auto Show along with
the all-new Scion iM. The iM is the official name for the production version of the iM Concept car
shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.
Together, the two vehicles represent two of the three new models Scion will bring to market in
the next three years aimed at independently minded 18-34 year olds. The trio will bring exciting
options for Scion’s younger customers looking for vehicles to support both adventure and
sensibility.
First-Ever Scion Sedan and Scion iM on the way
TORRANCE, Calif., (Jan. 7, 2015) – Like many others, Scion has a New Year’s Resolution to
debut an all-new body by spring. And not surprisingly, all eyes will be on its backside as Scion
will be adding its first-ever sedan to its line-up.
The new sedan will be introduced in April at the New York International Auto Show along with
the all-new Scion iM. The iM is the official name for the production version of the iM Concept car
shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.
Together, the two vehicles represent two of the three new models Scion will bring to market in
the next three years aimed at independently minded 18-34 year olds. The trio will bring exciting
options for Scion’s younger customers looking for vehicles to support both adventure and
sensibility.
First 2015 Corvette Z06s on Their Way to Customers Most capable model in Chevrolet's history now shipping from Bowling Green 2014-12-01
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Chevrolet is now shipping the all-new 2015 Corvette Z06 coupe from Bowling Green Assembly and some early customers could receive the much-anticipated supercar later this week.
“It has been an incredible opportunity to work on Chevy’s most capable model,” said Jeff Lamarche, plant manager of General Motors’ Bowling Green Assembly plant, “It truly is an amazing car, and we’re thrilled to get them into the hands of our eager customers.”
The new Corvette Z06 offers the most choice for customers in the model’s history. It is the first Z06 to offer an available eight-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission and, thanks to a stronger aluminum frame, a removable roof panel. In addition, it is the first time since 1963 that the Z06 is available as a convertible – which will arrive in early 2015.
The new LT4 supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine is SAE-certified at 650 horsepower (485 kW) at 6,400 rpm and 650 lb-ft of torque (881 Nm) at 3,600 rpm – making the 2015 Corvette Z06 the most powerful production car ever from General Motors and one of the most powerful production cars available in the United States.
To balance performance and efficiency, the LT4 leverages a trio of advanced technologies – direct injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing –with a new, more efficient supercharger.
The LT4 helps make the Corvette Z06 the most capable car in the brand’s history. The Z06 accelerates from a rest to 60 mph in only 2.95 seconds when equipped with the all-new, available eight-speed automatic transmission – and achieves it in 3.2 seconds with the standard seven-speed manual transmission.
A quarter-mile sprint takes just 10.95 seconds with the eight-speed automatic and 11.2 seconds with the seven-speed manual. With both versions, the Corvette Z06 hits 127 mph at the end of the quarter-mile.
When it comes to braking performance, the Z06 can stop from 60 mph in only 99.6 feet. That’s the best braking performance of any production car GM has ever tested. Additionally, the Corvette Z06 achieves 1.2 g in lateral acceleration compared with the Corvette’s previous best 1.13 g.
All test results were achieved with Z06 coupes fitted with the Z07 Performance package, which adds Brembo carbon ceramic brake rotors and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The Z07 package also features the most aggressive aerodynamic package available on the Corvette Z06, which delivers the most downforce of any production car GM has ever tested.
The Z06 also offers the industry-first Performance Data Recorder – or PDR – which enables users to record high-definition video, with telemetry overlays, of their driving experiences on and off the track. The racing-derived system is included with the available navigation system
Pricing for the 2015 Corvette Z06 starts at $78,995 including destination, while the convertible model will start at $83,995.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Chevrolet is now shipping the all-new 2015 Corvette Z06 coupe from Bowling Green Assembly and some early customers could receive the much-anticipated supercar later this week.
“It has been an incredible opportunity to work on Chevy’s most capable model,” said Jeff Lamarche, plant manager of General Motors’ Bowling Green Assembly plant, “It truly is an amazing car, and we’re thrilled to get them into the hands of our eager customers.”
The new Corvette Z06 offers the most choice for customers in the model’s history. It is the first Z06 to offer an available eight-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission and, thanks to a stronger aluminum frame, a removable roof panel. In addition, it is the first time since 1963 that the Z06 is available as a convertible – which will arrive in early 2015.
The new LT4 supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine is SAE-certified at 650 horsepower (485 kW) at 6,400 rpm and 650 lb-ft of torque (881 Nm) at 3,600 rpm – making the 2015 Corvette Z06 the most powerful production car ever from General Motors and one of the most powerful production cars available in the United States.
To balance performance and efficiency, the LT4 leverages a trio of advanced technologies – direct injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing –with a new, more efficient supercharger.
The LT4 helps make the Corvette Z06 the most capable car in the brand’s history. The Z06 accelerates from a rest to 60 mph in only 2.95 seconds when equipped with the all-new, available eight-speed automatic transmission – and achieves it in 3.2 seconds with the standard seven-speed manual transmission.
A quarter-mile sprint takes just 10.95 seconds with the eight-speed automatic and 11.2 seconds with the seven-speed manual. With both versions, the Corvette Z06 hits 127 mph at the end of the quarter-mile.
When it comes to braking performance, the Z06 can stop from 60 mph in only 99.6 feet. That’s the best braking performance of any production car GM has ever tested. Additionally, the Corvette Z06 achieves 1.2 g in lateral acceleration compared with the Corvette’s previous best 1.13 g.
All test results were achieved with Z06 coupes fitted with the Z07 Performance package, which adds Brembo carbon ceramic brake rotors and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The Z07 package also features the most aggressive aerodynamic package available on the Corvette Z06, which delivers the most downforce of any production car GM has ever tested.
The Z06 also offers the industry-first Performance Data Recorder – or PDR – which enables users to record high-definition video, with telemetry overlays, of their driving experiences on and off the track. The racing-derived system is included with the available navigation system
Pricing for the 2015 Corvette Z06 starts at $78,995 including destination, while the convertible model will start at $83,995.
ALL-NEW 2016 SORENTO MAKES NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT AT LOS ANGELES AUTO
SHOWBeautifully Redesigned CUV is Packed with Premium Materials and Amenities, Offers More Head and Legroom in All Three Rows, and is Capable Enough to Handle any Adventure-Seeker’s Lifestyle
Inspired Exterior
Reimagining the Sorento was no easy task for Kia’s designers, as the previous generation was lauded for its exceptional design. Not unlike the sophisticated Cross GT concept, which debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in 2013, the new Sorento finds some of its design inspiration in nature, as well as in the journey to nature’s outdoor adventures, revealing a vehicle of exceptional exterior presence that is larger than the outgoing model in nearly every way.
Overall, the all-new Sorento takes on a brawnier, more planted stance, communicating its edginess and rugged personality. The clean profile is easily recognizable as Sorento, enhanced with stronger shoulders and a long hood to deliver a more aerodynamic and sleek appearance. Combining a significantly longer 109.4-inch wheelbase (up 3.1 inches) and overall width that’s broadened to 74.4 inches (increased by 0.2 inches) the Sorento’s packaging is more efficient and allows for greater interior room. The aggressively styled front end, with its narrower headlight design, is an evolution of the upper fascia seen on the Cross GT concept and bears a strong family resemblance to the all-new highly praised Sedona multipurpose vehicle. Distinctive LED positioning lights set the Sorento apart from others in the midsize CUV segment. Sitting below the headlights, the lower intake and fog lamp pockets are more prominent, creating a sportier appearance, which blends harmoniously with the overall design proportions. Premium enhancements include available LED rear dimensional tail lamps and LED fog lamps. The Sorento’s muscular body sits atop four new alloy wheel designs ranging from 17 to 19 inches, depending on trim level.
Class-Up Interior
With an overall interior theme focused on the stability of a horizontal plane, the design motif provides a strong foundation for the premium textures and high-quality materials found throughout the 2016 Sorento’s cabin. The liberal application of soft-touch materials is particularly evident around the instrument panel, center console and door panels.
Depending on trim level, the ready-for-adventure 2016 Sorento comes with standard 40/20/40 second-row folding five-passenger (4-cylinder models) or 50/50 folding third-row seven-passenger (V6 models) seating configurations. The seating system of the new Sorento is designed to offer optimum comfort and ideal seating positions to fulfill the needs of every occupant. For added luxury, also available are heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, 14-way power driver and 8-way power passenger seats, driver’s seat thigh extension, a 4-way headrest with one-button adjustment, dual-zone HVAC and Kia’s second-generation panoramic sunroof, as well as available premium Nappa leather trim seating surfaces, similar to those found in Kia’s luxury flagship sedan, the K900. Second- and third-row passengers will enjoy enhanced comfort thanks to a 0.5-inch increase in rear passenger space for both rows and a roomier flattened second-row center floor. Access to third-row seating is improved with 1.5 inches of additional boarding space, while headroom throughout the cabin is also increased.
Overall cargo volume in the new Sorento increases from 72.5 cu.-ft. to 74 cu.-ft., while cargo volume behind the 3rd row increases from 9.1 cu.-ft. to 11 cu.-ft., providing increased space for essentials and active-lifestyle equipment without sacrificing rear-passenger room. In addition, an easy-folding lever allows various seating arrangements, flexible luggage space and greater overall versatility. Users can fold the second-row seatback without opening the rear door by pulling the lever mounted on the luggage-area side trim. This feature allows quick and easy loading of large cargo.
The available premium sound system is well suited to Sorento’s now-more-upscale interior environment. Piping in music from an available 630 watt, 12-speaker Infinity® 2 stereo system with an 11-channel amplifier, audiophile sound has gone mobile in the Sorento with the addition of Clari-Fi music restoration technology. Clari–Fi scans all types of compressed audio files for lost music details and intelligently corrects waveform deficiencies based on existing music information and audio source quality. It then recaptures the missing highs and lows, restores the vocals to their natural tone, returns to a true stereo sound and removes unwanted distortions and artifacts.
Progressive Technology - UVO3
New in the 2016 Sorento, four additional UVO eServices are now available: Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score1. Additionally, with the introduction of the Kia App store, select apps can be downloaded for free from iTunes® 4 or Google PlaySM 5 . The Kia app connector is now available for partnership with the content community, including Pandora® 6 , iHeart® Radio6and Yelp® 8 . Many more new technologies for comfort and convenience are featured in the new UVO system, including Siri® 4 “Eyes Free9” and Local Search – powered by Google® – for finding locations, addresses and points of interest. Sirius XM Travel Link10, offering access to traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports scores, stock information and movie times, keeps you well connected while taking those weekend excursions in the Sorento.
Accessed through a crystal-clear 8-inch capacitive-touch color screen, the available navigation11 system features SD card storage for MAP DATA and USB 2.0 support for high-speed updates as well as integrated rear backup camera, Bluetooth12 hands-free support and UVO voice recognition. A 4.3-inch TFT color touch screen is standard and also incorporates Bluetooth, and UVO voice recognition capability.
A New Driving Experience
The core of the all-new 2016 Sorento is its significantly modified platform. The enhanced structure increases torsional rigidity by 14 percent over the previous generation. Fifty-three percent of the unit-body consists of advanced high-strength steel, a 115 percent increase over the outgoing model. Liberal application of industrial strength adhesives, the use of dual-seal lip joints as well as large diameter and laser welding techniques combine to make the 2016 model the most robust Sorento ever.
The all-new 2016 Sorento offers a number of safety features, including seatbelt anchor pretensioners and six airbags, help give Sorento drivers the confidence and peace-of-mind they need when driving their families on the nation’s highways and bi-ways. All Sorento models come standard with active safety features such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC)13, Traction Control System (TCS)13, Brake Assist System (BAS)13, Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)13, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)13 and Antilock Braking System (ABS)13. Additional technologies such as Roll Over Mitigation (ROM)13 and Cornering Brake Control (CBC)13 on AWD models also were added as standard equipment for improved dynamic control and safety.
New available driver aid technology, including Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)14, Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS)14, Smart Cruise Control (SCC)14, Blind Spot Detection (BSD)14, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Surround View Monitor (SVM)14, help provide Sorento owners with a more convenient daily driving experience.
The 2016 Sorento combines a strong base with additional design improvements to reduce NVH and provide a comfortable and quiet driving experience. Updates to the rear suspension include a redesigned rear cross-member span that’s longer than the outgoing model for improved wheel travel over harsh roads and revised bushings to help reduce road noise. Vertically mounted rear shocks contribute to a comfortable ride no matter what the driving conditions.
Up front, the Sorento’s revised suspension geometry and responsive steering system result in a quick and nimble behind-the-wheel feel. Ride and handling are optimized with the application of an "H" shaped subframe, four-point bushing mountings, and Hydraulic Rebound Stopper-type shock absorbers. The available Rack-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) features direct mounting of the electric motor on the steering rack, enhancing steering response and improving handling.
Sorento continues to offer an advanced AWD system that automatically routes power to the wheel with the most traction. When conditions call for more sure-footed capability, the 4WD Lock Mode splits engine power evenly between the front and rear drive shafts. The system also provides drivers the added stability of Torque Vector Cornering Control (TVCC). The TVCC system is activated when yaw and steering sensors detect unwanted understeer.
The spirited front- or all-wheel drive experience is brought to life with a choice of three engines, including a 2.4-liter inline-4 GDI, a 3.3-liter V6 GDI and a new 2.0-liter inline-4 GDI turbocharged powerplant. The 2.4-liter engine, with new Electronic Intake Continuously Variable Valve Timing (E-CVVT–) delivers a capable 185 horsepower. On the other end of the engine range, the Sorento’s V6 gallops to the tune of 290 horses on the open road and is now able to tow up to 5,000 lbs. In the middle, the new turbocharged I-4 provides a best-of-both-worlds scenario, making a stout 240 horsepower while also delivering commendable fuel efficiency15. All three engines channel energy through an electronically controlled six-speed automatic gearbox featuring Sportmatic shifting.
About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA proudly serves as the ”Official Automotive Partner” of the NBA and LPGA and surpassed the 500,000 annual sales mark for the second consecutive year in 2013 following the launch of seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles, including the rear-drive K900 flagship sedan16, Cadenza premium sedan, Sorento CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Soul Electric Vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, the Forte compact sedan, Forte5 and Forte Koup, Rio and Rio 5-door subcompacts and the Sedona midsize multi-purpose vehicle, through a network of more than 765 dealers across the United States. Kia’s U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, builds the Optima* and Sorento* and is responsible for the creation of more than 14,000 plant and supplier jobs.
SHOWBeautifully Redesigned CUV is Packed with Premium Materials and Amenities, Offers More Head and Legroom in All Three Rows, and is Capable Enough to Handle any Adventure-Seeker’s Lifestyle
- With a new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine option as well as a stronger body structure, longer wheelbase and dynamic driving improvements, Sorento delivers a premium utility experience
- Kia’s popular U.S.-built Sorento is the first vehicle in North America to offer Clari-Fi1 digital music restoration technology by Harman
Inspired Exterior
Reimagining the Sorento was no easy task for Kia’s designers, as the previous generation was lauded for its exceptional design. Not unlike the sophisticated Cross GT concept, which debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in 2013, the new Sorento finds some of its design inspiration in nature, as well as in the journey to nature’s outdoor adventures, revealing a vehicle of exceptional exterior presence that is larger than the outgoing model in nearly every way.
Overall, the all-new Sorento takes on a brawnier, more planted stance, communicating its edginess and rugged personality. The clean profile is easily recognizable as Sorento, enhanced with stronger shoulders and a long hood to deliver a more aerodynamic and sleek appearance. Combining a significantly longer 109.4-inch wheelbase (up 3.1 inches) and overall width that’s broadened to 74.4 inches (increased by 0.2 inches) the Sorento’s packaging is more efficient and allows for greater interior room. The aggressively styled front end, with its narrower headlight design, is an evolution of the upper fascia seen on the Cross GT concept and bears a strong family resemblance to the all-new highly praised Sedona multipurpose vehicle. Distinctive LED positioning lights set the Sorento apart from others in the midsize CUV segment. Sitting below the headlights, the lower intake and fog lamp pockets are more prominent, creating a sportier appearance, which blends harmoniously with the overall design proportions. Premium enhancements include available LED rear dimensional tail lamps and LED fog lamps. The Sorento’s muscular body sits atop four new alloy wheel designs ranging from 17 to 19 inches, depending on trim level.
Class-Up Interior
With an overall interior theme focused on the stability of a horizontal plane, the design motif provides a strong foundation for the premium textures and high-quality materials found throughout the 2016 Sorento’s cabin. The liberal application of soft-touch materials is particularly evident around the instrument panel, center console and door panels.
Depending on trim level, the ready-for-adventure 2016 Sorento comes with standard 40/20/40 second-row folding five-passenger (4-cylinder models) or 50/50 folding third-row seven-passenger (V6 models) seating configurations. The seating system of the new Sorento is designed to offer optimum comfort and ideal seating positions to fulfill the needs of every occupant. For added luxury, also available are heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, 14-way power driver and 8-way power passenger seats, driver’s seat thigh extension, a 4-way headrest with one-button adjustment, dual-zone HVAC and Kia’s second-generation panoramic sunroof, as well as available premium Nappa leather trim seating surfaces, similar to those found in Kia’s luxury flagship sedan, the K900. Second- and third-row passengers will enjoy enhanced comfort thanks to a 0.5-inch increase in rear passenger space for both rows and a roomier flattened second-row center floor. Access to third-row seating is improved with 1.5 inches of additional boarding space, while headroom throughout the cabin is also increased.
Overall cargo volume in the new Sorento increases from 72.5 cu.-ft. to 74 cu.-ft., while cargo volume behind the 3rd row increases from 9.1 cu.-ft. to 11 cu.-ft., providing increased space for essentials and active-lifestyle equipment without sacrificing rear-passenger room. In addition, an easy-folding lever allows various seating arrangements, flexible luggage space and greater overall versatility. Users can fold the second-row seatback without opening the rear door by pulling the lever mounted on the luggage-area side trim. This feature allows quick and easy loading of large cargo.
The available premium sound system is well suited to Sorento’s now-more-upscale interior environment. Piping in music from an available 630 watt, 12-speaker Infinity® 2 stereo system with an 11-channel amplifier, audiophile sound has gone mobile in the Sorento with the addition of Clari-Fi music restoration technology. Clari–Fi scans all types of compressed audio files for lost music details and intelligently corrects waveform deficiencies based on existing music information and audio source quality. It then recaptures the missing highs and lows, restores the vocals to their natural tone, returns to a true stereo sound and removes unwanted distortions and artifacts.
Progressive Technology - UVO3
New in the 2016 Sorento, four additional UVO eServices are now available: Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score1. Additionally, with the introduction of the Kia App store, select apps can be downloaded for free from iTunes® 4 or Google PlaySM 5 . The Kia app connector is now available for partnership with the content community, including Pandora® 6 , iHeart® Radio6and Yelp® 8 . Many more new technologies for comfort and convenience are featured in the new UVO system, including Siri® 4 “Eyes Free9” and Local Search – powered by Google® – for finding locations, addresses and points of interest. Sirius XM Travel Link10, offering access to traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports scores, stock information and movie times, keeps you well connected while taking those weekend excursions in the Sorento.
Accessed through a crystal-clear 8-inch capacitive-touch color screen, the available navigation11 system features SD card storage for MAP DATA and USB 2.0 support for high-speed updates as well as integrated rear backup camera, Bluetooth12 hands-free support and UVO voice recognition. A 4.3-inch TFT color touch screen is standard and also incorporates Bluetooth, and UVO voice recognition capability.
A New Driving Experience
The core of the all-new 2016 Sorento is its significantly modified platform. The enhanced structure increases torsional rigidity by 14 percent over the previous generation. Fifty-three percent of the unit-body consists of advanced high-strength steel, a 115 percent increase over the outgoing model. Liberal application of industrial strength adhesives, the use of dual-seal lip joints as well as large diameter and laser welding techniques combine to make the 2016 model the most robust Sorento ever.
The all-new 2016 Sorento offers a number of safety features, including seatbelt anchor pretensioners and six airbags, help give Sorento drivers the confidence and peace-of-mind they need when driving their families on the nation’s highways and bi-ways. All Sorento models come standard with active safety features such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC)13, Traction Control System (TCS)13, Brake Assist System (BAS)13, Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)13, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)13 and Antilock Braking System (ABS)13. Additional technologies such as Roll Over Mitigation (ROM)13 and Cornering Brake Control (CBC)13 on AWD models also were added as standard equipment for improved dynamic control and safety.
New available driver aid technology, including Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)14, Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS)14, Smart Cruise Control (SCC)14, Blind Spot Detection (BSD)14, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Surround View Monitor (SVM)14, help provide Sorento owners with a more convenient daily driving experience.
The 2016 Sorento combines a strong base with additional design improvements to reduce NVH and provide a comfortable and quiet driving experience. Updates to the rear suspension include a redesigned rear cross-member span that’s longer than the outgoing model for improved wheel travel over harsh roads and revised bushings to help reduce road noise. Vertically mounted rear shocks contribute to a comfortable ride no matter what the driving conditions.
Up front, the Sorento’s revised suspension geometry and responsive steering system result in a quick and nimble behind-the-wheel feel. Ride and handling are optimized with the application of an "H" shaped subframe, four-point bushing mountings, and Hydraulic Rebound Stopper-type shock absorbers. The available Rack-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) features direct mounting of the electric motor on the steering rack, enhancing steering response and improving handling.
Sorento continues to offer an advanced AWD system that automatically routes power to the wheel with the most traction. When conditions call for more sure-footed capability, the 4WD Lock Mode splits engine power evenly between the front and rear drive shafts. The system also provides drivers the added stability of Torque Vector Cornering Control (TVCC). The TVCC system is activated when yaw and steering sensors detect unwanted understeer.
The spirited front- or all-wheel drive experience is brought to life with a choice of three engines, including a 2.4-liter inline-4 GDI, a 3.3-liter V6 GDI and a new 2.0-liter inline-4 GDI turbocharged powerplant. The 2.4-liter engine, with new Electronic Intake Continuously Variable Valve Timing (E-CVVT–) delivers a capable 185 horsepower. On the other end of the engine range, the Sorento’s V6 gallops to the tune of 290 horses on the open road and is now able to tow up to 5,000 lbs. In the middle, the new turbocharged I-4 provides a best-of-both-worlds scenario, making a stout 240 horsepower while also delivering commendable fuel efficiency15. All three engines channel energy through an electronically controlled six-speed automatic gearbox featuring Sportmatic shifting.
About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA proudly serves as the ”Official Automotive Partner” of the NBA and LPGA and surpassed the 500,000 annual sales mark for the second consecutive year in 2013 following the launch of seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles, including the rear-drive K900 flagship sedan16, Cadenza premium sedan, Sorento CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Soul Electric Vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, the Forte compact sedan, Forte5 and Forte Koup, Rio and Rio 5-door subcompacts and the Sedona midsize multi-purpose vehicle, through a network of more than 765 dealers across the United States. Kia’s U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, builds the Optima* and Sorento* and is responsible for the creation of more than 14,000 plant and supplier jobs.
Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV Makes North American Debut at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today unveiled the futuristic Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV during the Mitsubishi press conference at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Featuring bold styling and a performance-oriented yet highly efficient plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain, the Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV crossover hints at the future design direction for Mitsubishi Motors production vehicles in North America and further reaffirms the automaker's commitment to the U.S. market.
"We brought the Concept XR-PHEV to LA so that we could talk about our new design direction and how future products will be taking clues from its dynamic lines," said MMNA Executive Vice President, Don Swearingen. "We also brought it to LA to reinforce the message that Mitsubishi is here to stay in the United States. As we regrow the brand we will introduce new models while updating existing ones, creating a new look and a new value proposition for the brand."
Sales of Mitsubishi models in the U.S. have sustained a year-long upward trajectory. Outlander Sport has led the way with year-to-date sales up over 25% from the previous year and thanks to the addition of the Mirage to the lineup in 2014, overall sales in the U.S. are up 28.9% year-over-year.
- Mitsubishi Motors showcases the Concept XR-PHEV featuring bold styling, high performance and an efficient plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain at LAAS 2014
- This futuristic crossover design study hints at the upcoming direction of U.S. Mitsubishi cars
- Join us in the conversation on your preferred social media channels using #FindYourOwnLane and #Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today unveiled the futuristic Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV during the Mitsubishi press conference at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Featuring bold styling and a performance-oriented yet highly efficient plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain, the Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV crossover hints at the future design direction for Mitsubishi Motors production vehicles in North America and further reaffirms the automaker's commitment to the U.S. market.
"We brought the Concept XR-PHEV to LA so that we could talk about our new design direction and how future products will be taking clues from its dynamic lines," said MMNA Executive Vice President, Don Swearingen. "We also brought it to LA to reinforce the message that Mitsubishi is here to stay in the United States. As we regrow the brand we will introduce new models while updating existing ones, creating a new look and a new value proposition for the brand."
Sales of Mitsubishi models in the U.S. have sustained a year-long upward trajectory. Outlander Sport has led the way with year-to-date sales up over 25% from the previous year and thanks to the addition of the Mirage to the lineup in 2014, overall sales in the U.S. are up 28.9% year-over-year.
PRESS KIT: 2016 FIAT 500XThe FIAT Brand Continues to Expand With the All-new Fiat 500X
“The Fiat 500X will significantly expand the reach of the FIAT brand in North America,” said Jason Stoicevich, Head of FIAT Brand North America, Chrysler Group LLC. “The all-new 500X delivers the Italian design and personality that we are known for, along with an unprecedented level of equipment and technology. In addition, it will be the first vehicle in our portfolio to offer an advanced all-wheel-drive system that will provide customers with peace of mind in all driving conditions.”
With comfortable seating for five, world-class craftsmanship, and superior ride and handling, the Fiat 500X delivers driving excitement, technology, safety and functionality to the rapidly growing small crossover segment.
In the United States, the all-new Fiat 500X is available with the fuel-efficient 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission, with an output of 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. The 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2 engine produces 180 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque, and is paired exclusively to a nine-speed automatic transmission on all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive models.
A disconnecting rear axle allows for reduced parasitic loss when all-wheel-drive capability is not needed, improving fuel efficiency. The Dynamic Selector system allows the driver to choose from three modes (Auto, Sport and Traction +) for the most suitable vehicle configuration for different driving conditions.
The 2016 Fiat 500X offers up to 70 standard and available safety and security features, including Forward Collision Warning-Plus, LaneSense Departure Warning-Plus, Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection. Electronic stability control (ESC) with Hill-start Assist and electronic roll mitigation is standard on all models, as are seven air bags.
Loaded with technology and convenience, the Fiat 500X is available with features like Uconnect 6.5 radio with a 6.5-inch high-resolution touchscreen and navigation, Bluetooth streaming audio, Uconnect Access Via Mobile, a 3.5-inch color thin-film transistor (TFT) cluster display, Keyless Enter-N-Go, and heated front seats and steering wheel.
The all-new Fiat 500X was designed at Centro Stile in Turin, Italy, where designers leveraged the character and iconic features of the Fiat 500 into a larger and more mature package. On the exterior, design elements like double headlamps, a trapezoidal nose, the signature “whiskers and logo” face and the rounded clamshell hood pay homage to the original Cinquecento. The purposeful and distinct Italian design carries through to the interior with clever storage, body-color instrument panel, a circular cluster display and iconic door handles.
The 2016 Fiat 500X is available in five trim levels: Pop, Easy, Lounge, and for a more rugged look, Trekking and Trekking Plus. The Trekking and Trekking Plus models feature unique front and rear fascia designs, and satin silver accents for a distinct, adventurous appearance.
Crafted in Italy at Fiat Automobiles’ Melfi assembly plant, the all-new Fiat 500X will arrive in FIAT studios in North America in the first half of 2015. As a global vehicle, it will go on sale in more than 100 countries worldwide.
- 2016 Fiat 500X combines iconic Italian style with functionality, performance and all-wheel-drive confidence
- All-new crossover highlights continued expansion of FIAT brand in North America
- Delivers contemporary Italian design with iconic Cinquecento features in a larger, more capable package
- Features advanced drive systems, including two engine options, available nine-speed automatic transmission, and available all-wheel drive with disconnecting rear axle for improved fuel efficiency
- Loaded with up to 70 advanced safety and security features
- Available in five trim models and 12 exterior colors to offer the personality that FIAT vehicles are known for
“The Fiat 500X will significantly expand the reach of the FIAT brand in North America,” said Jason Stoicevich, Head of FIAT Brand North America, Chrysler Group LLC. “The all-new 500X delivers the Italian design and personality that we are known for, along with an unprecedented level of equipment and technology. In addition, it will be the first vehicle in our portfolio to offer an advanced all-wheel-drive system that will provide customers with peace of mind in all driving conditions.”
With comfortable seating for five, world-class craftsmanship, and superior ride and handling, the Fiat 500X delivers driving excitement, technology, safety and functionality to the rapidly growing small crossover segment.
In the United States, the all-new Fiat 500X is available with the fuel-efficient 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission, with an output of 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. The 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2 engine produces 180 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque, and is paired exclusively to a nine-speed automatic transmission on all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive models.
A disconnecting rear axle allows for reduced parasitic loss when all-wheel-drive capability is not needed, improving fuel efficiency. The Dynamic Selector system allows the driver to choose from three modes (Auto, Sport and Traction +) for the most suitable vehicle configuration for different driving conditions.
The 2016 Fiat 500X offers up to 70 standard and available safety and security features, including Forward Collision Warning-Plus, LaneSense Departure Warning-Plus, Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection. Electronic stability control (ESC) with Hill-start Assist and electronic roll mitigation is standard on all models, as are seven air bags.
Loaded with technology and convenience, the Fiat 500X is available with features like Uconnect 6.5 radio with a 6.5-inch high-resolution touchscreen and navigation, Bluetooth streaming audio, Uconnect Access Via Mobile, a 3.5-inch color thin-film transistor (TFT) cluster display, Keyless Enter-N-Go, and heated front seats and steering wheel.
The all-new Fiat 500X was designed at Centro Stile in Turin, Italy, where designers leveraged the character and iconic features of the Fiat 500 into a larger and more mature package. On the exterior, design elements like double headlamps, a trapezoidal nose, the signature “whiskers and logo” face and the rounded clamshell hood pay homage to the original Cinquecento. The purposeful and distinct Italian design carries through to the interior with clever storage, body-color instrument panel, a circular cluster display and iconic door handles.
The 2016 Fiat 500X is available in five trim levels: Pop, Easy, Lounge, and for a more rugged look, Trekking and Trekking Plus. The Trekking and Trekking Plus models feature unique front and rear fascia designs, and satin silver accents for a distinct, adventurous appearance.
Crafted in Italy at Fiat Automobiles’ Melfi assembly plant, the all-new Fiat 500X will arrive in FIAT studios in North America in the first half of 2015. As a global vehicle, it will go on sale in more than 100 countries worldwide.
Lexus LF-C2 Concept Dazzles at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show With World Premiere of 2+2 Roadster
Open Air Luxury GT Concept Explores The Lexus Brand’s Design Themes
November 19, 2014
LOS ANGELES — Nov. 19, 2014 — Beautiful sunshine, warm weather, and winding roads are the perfect complements to the Lexus LF-C2 concept that made its global debut at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show today. The LF-C2 concept is a design study in the form of a 2+2 roadster and explores key styling themes involved in the Lexus brand’s future, bolder styling direction. The LF-C2 is also a luxury Grand Touring concept inspired by the brand’s passion for driving.
"The LF-C2 concept shows what’s in store for our brand’s future design direction,” said Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager.
“This concept shows consumers around the world Lexus’ devotion to emotional designs as well as our passion for an exceptional driving experience.”
The LF-C2 concept involves a highly styled 2+2 layout, and is derived from a pure and simple sports coupe idea. Its open-air design allows the driver and passengers to feel the wind through their hair, while enjoying the car’s performance characteristics on their favorite twisty road. As a roadster concept, the LF-C2 concept does not have any kind of top covering the cabin.
The exterior styling of the LF-C2 was influenced by the way various surface shapes interact with different types of light. Designers created edges, planes and curvature that would allow the LF-C2 to exude a different character when seen from different angles and under different lighting conditions. This objective when combined with Lexus’ layered paint process results in a striking and progressive interpretation of an open top luxury GT.
The brilliant, golden yellow is produced by a multi-layer paint process. The first coat is a primer, followed by silver, a clear coat, then the yellow that reflects off the silver to give the brilliant luster. A final top coat is then applied.
“We’ve been instinctively drawn to and inspired by those things that capture the beauty of light,” said Yasuo Kajino, chief designer LF-C2, Lexus Design Division. “When you put something in the right light, people see it in a way they never have before.”
The front fascia of the LF-C2 is highlighted by a more experimental expression of Lexus’ signature spindle-shaped grille. The concept’s grille features a refined braided mesh theme that exemplifies Lexus’ high level of craftsmanship and changes its appearance when viewed from different angles and lighting conditions. It sits between triangle-shaped LED headlights, a signature element of Lexus sports cars, and stylish indicator lamps that initiate the character line of the LF-C2. The character line sweeps through the car’s arrow-shaped body and ends at the abbreviated rear deck. Vents in the front bumper send cool air to the brakes as well as help manage airflow through the body to help keep the front end stable at high speed.
The LF-C2’s profile shows a swooping line from the car’s front bumper fin to the steeply-angled A-pillar. Small vents in the side sills direct air to the rear brakes and out the fin-like rear diffusers. The rear end of the LF-C2 is highlighted by Lexus L-shaped taillight bulbs, an exhaust system with chrome-covered quad exhaust tips, and an expressive new rear diffuser design. The concept’s impactful stance is planted by five-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels.
Step inside, and the LF-C2 treats its occupants to a luxurious and spacious cabin that flawlessly matches the sporty elegance of the exterior. The exterior extends into the cabin as the center console originates from the rear deck and runs down the length of the cabin all the way to the dashboard. The dashboard design is presents functional simplicity with an attractive-yet-straightforward instrument cluster, a central video monitor controlled by a Remote Touchpad on the center console and a classically-styled analog clock placed between the central air vents. The thick leather-wrapped steering wheel implies that this is a driver’s car, as do the form-fitting seats.
The LF-C2’s interior designers opted to instill a balanced atmosphere of power and simplicity that harmonizes with our primary senses. White-and-gray leather surfaces are soft to the touch while LED lights that run along the length of the interior below the windows. The inviting cabin of the LF-C2 blends the open-air excitement that results from an eye-catching roadster blended with a heavy dose of Lexus luxury.
Open Air Luxury GT Concept Explores The Lexus Brand’s Design Themes
November 19, 2014
LOS ANGELES — Nov. 19, 2014 — Beautiful sunshine, warm weather, and winding roads are the perfect complements to the Lexus LF-C2 concept that made its global debut at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show today. The LF-C2 concept is a design study in the form of a 2+2 roadster and explores key styling themes involved in the Lexus brand’s future, bolder styling direction. The LF-C2 is also a luxury Grand Touring concept inspired by the brand’s passion for driving.
"The LF-C2 concept shows what’s in store for our brand’s future design direction,” said Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager.
“This concept shows consumers around the world Lexus’ devotion to emotional designs as well as our passion for an exceptional driving experience.”
The LF-C2 concept involves a highly styled 2+2 layout, and is derived from a pure and simple sports coupe idea. Its open-air design allows the driver and passengers to feel the wind through their hair, while enjoying the car’s performance characteristics on their favorite twisty road. As a roadster concept, the LF-C2 concept does not have any kind of top covering the cabin.
The exterior styling of the LF-C2 was influenced by the way various surface shapes interact with different types of light. Designers created edges, planes and curvature that would allow the LF-C2 to exude a different character when seen from different angles and under different lighting conditions. This objective when combined with Lexus’ layered paint process results in a striking and progressive interpretation of an open top luxury GT.
The brilliant, golden yellow is produced by a multi-layer paint process. The first coat is a primer, followed by silver, a clear coat, then the yellow that reflects off the silver to give the brilliant luster. A final top coat is then applied.
“We’ve been instinctively drawn to and inspired by those things that capture the beauty of light,” said Yasuo Kajino, chief designer LF-C2, Lexus Design Division. “When you put something in the right light, people see it in a way they never have before.”
The front fascia of the LF-C2 is highlighted by a more experimental expression of Lexus’ signature spindle-shaped grille. The concept’s grille features a refined braided mesh theme that exemplifies Lexus’ high level of craftsmanship and changes its appearance when viewed from different angles and lighting conditions. It sits between triangle-shaped LED headlights, a signature element of Lexus sports cars, and stylish indicator lamps that initiate the character line of the LF-C2. The character line sweeps through the car’s arrow-shaped body and ends at the abbreviated rear deck. Vents in the front bumper send cool air to the brakes as well as help manage airflow through the body to help keep the front end stable at high speed.
The LF-C2’s profile shows a swooping line from the car’s front bumper fin to the steeply-angled A-pillar. Small vents in the side sills direct air to the rear brakes and out the fin-like rear diffusers. The rear end of the LF-C2 is highlighted by Lexus L-shaped taillight bulbs, an exhaust system with chrome-covered quad exhaust tips, and an expressive new rear diffuser design. The concept’s impactful stance is planted by five-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels.
Step inside, and the LF-C2 treats its occupants to a luxurious and spacious cabin that flawlessly matches the sporty elegance of the exterior. The exterior extends into the cabin as the center console originates from the rear deck and runs down the length of the cabin all the way to the dashboard. The dashboard design is presents functional simplicity with an attractive-yet-straightforward instrument cluster, a central video monitor controlled by a Remote Touchpad on the center console and a classically-styled analog clock placed between the central air vents. The thick leather-wrapped steering wheel implies that this is a driver’s car, as do the form-fitting seats.
The LF-C2’s interior designers opted to instill a balanced atmosphere of power and simplicity that harmonizes with our primary senses. White-and-gray leather surfaces are soft to the touch while LED lights that run along the length of the interior below the windows. The inviting cabin of the LF-C2 blends the open-air excitement that results from an eye-catching roadster blended with a heavy dose of Lexus luxury.
The Toyota Mirai Brings the Future to Your Driveway
Fuel Cell Electric Sedan Marks Turning Point for Zero-Emission Vehicles
Range and Refuel Time Compete with Traditional Internal Combustion Engines
World-Class, 360 Degree Ownership Experience
Available for Sale or Lease in California Beginning Fall 2015
For the second time in a generation, Toyota has re-imagined the future of mobility.
The Toyota Mirai is a four-door, mid-size sedan with performance that fully competes with traditional internal combustion engines – but it uses no gasoline and emits nothing but water vapor. The groundbreaking fuel cell electric vehicle is powered by hydrogen, re-fuels in about five minutes, and travels up to 300 miles on a full tank.
Mirai will be available to customers in California beginning in fall 2015, with additional markets tracking the expansion of a convenient hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Powered by an industry-leading fuel cell electric drivetrain and supported by an exceptional 360-degree ownership experience, Mirai marks a turning point for consumer expectations for a zero-emission vehicle.
Making its Mark with Performance
In its basic operation, a fuel cell vehicle works much like a battery electric vehicle. But instead of the large drive battery, Mirai’s fuel cell stack combines hydrogen gas from tanks with oxygen to produce electricity that powers the electric motor.
Toyota’s proprietary fuel cell stack represents a major leap forward in performance, delivering one of the world’s best power outputs of 3.1 kW/L at a dramatically reduced size that fits under the front driver and passenger seats. The system provides Mirai with a maximum output of 153hp, accelerating from 0-60 in 9.0 seconds and delivering a passing time of 3 seconds from 25-40 mph.
What’s more, thanks to fuel cell technology’s versatility and adaptability, the Mirai offers performance options that go well beyond a traditional automobile. In fact, the vehicle will be offered with an optional power take off (PTO) device that enables Mirai to serve as a mobile generator in case of emergency. With the PTO accessory, Mirai is capable of powering home essentials in an average house for up to a week in an emergency – while emitting only water in the process.
Safe and Reliable Transportation
Toyota began fuel cell development in Japan in the early 90s and have developed a series of fuel cell vehicles, subjecting them to more than a million miles of road testing. In the last two years alone, fuel cell test vehicles have logged thousands of miles on North American roads. This includes hot testing in Death Valley, cold testing in Yellowknife, Canada, steep grade hill climbs
Fuel Cell Electric Sedan Marks Turning Point for Zero-Emission Vehicles
Range and Refuel Time Compete with Traditional Internal Combustion Engines
World-Class, 360 Degree Ownership Experience
Available for Sale or Lease in California Beginning Fall 2015
For the second time in a generation, Toyota has re-imagined the future of mobility.
The Toyota Mirai is a four-door, mid-size sedan with performance that fully competes with traditional internal combustion engines – but it uses no gasoline and emits nothing but water vapor. The groundbreaking fuel cell electric vehicle is powered by hydrogen, re-fuels in about five minutes, and travels up to 300 miles on a full tank.
Mirai will be available to customers in California beginning in fall 2015, with additional markets tracking the expansion of a convenient hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Powered by an industry-leading fuel cell electric drivetrain and supported by an exceptional 360-degree ownership experience, Mirai marks a turning point for consumer expectations for a zero-emission vehicle.
Making its Mark with Performance
In its basic operation, a fuel cell vehicle works much like a battery electric vehicle. But instead of the large drive battery, Mirai’s fuel cell stack combines hydrogen gas from tanks with oxygen to produce electricity that powers the electric motor.
Toyota’s proprietary fuel cell stack represents a major leap forward in performance, delivering one of the world’s best power outputs of 3.1 kW/L at a dramatically reduced size that fits under the front driver and passenger seats. The system provides Mirai with a maximum output of 153hp, accelerating from 0-60 in 9.0 seconds and delivering a passing time of 3 seconds from 25-40 mph.
What’s more, thanks to fuel cell technology’s versatility and adaptability, the Mirai offers performance options that go well beyond a traditional automobile. In fact, the vehicle will be offered with an optional power take off (PTO) device that enables Mirai to serve as a mobile generator in case of emergency. With the PTO accessory, Mirai is capable of powering home essentials in an average house for up to a week in an emergency – while emitting only water in the process.
Safe and Reliable Transportation
Toyota began fuel cell development in Japan in the early 90s and have developed a series of fuel cell vehicles, subjecting them to more than a million miles of road testing. In the last two years alone, fuel cell test vehicles have logged thousands of miles on North American roads. This includes hot testing in Death Valley, cold testing in Yellowknife, Canada, steep grade hill climbs
in San Francisco and high altitude trips in Colorado. The Toyota-designed carbon fiber hydrogen tanks have also undergone extreme testing to ensure their strength and durability in a crash.
This extended legacy of research and development is reflected in Mirai’s safety and reliability. At Toyota’s advanced Higashifuji Safety Center, the vehicle has been subjected to extensive crash testing to evaluate a design specifically intended to address frontal, side and rear impacts and to provide excellent protection of vehicle occupants. A high level of collision safety has also been achieved to help protect the fuel cell stack and high-pressure tanks against body deformation.
Mirai will also feature a broad range of standard onboard safety technologies, including vehicle pre-collision, blind spot monitor, lane departure alert, drive start control and automatic high beams.
Focused on the Consumer
Toyota believes that outstanding vehicle performance must be matched by an exceptional ownership experience. And Toyota is committed to delivering on that promise.
When it hits the market in 2015, customers can take advantage of Mirai’s $499 per month/36 month lease option, with $3649 due at lease signing, or purchase the vehicle for $57,500. With combined state and federal incentives of $13,000 available to many customers, the purchase price could potentially fall to under $45,000.
The vehicle will be matched by a comprehensive, 360-degree Ownership Experience offering a range of services, including:
Building a Convenient Refueling Infrastructure
In addition, Toyota continues to support the development of a convenient and reliable hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
Research at the University of California Irvine’s Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) has found that 68 stations, located at the proper sites, could handle a FCV population of at least 10,000 vehicles. Those stations are on their way to becoming a reality. By the end of 2015, 3 of California’s 9 active hydrogen stations and 17 newly-constructed stations are scheduled to be opened to the general public, with 28 additional stations set to come online by the end of 2016, bringing the near-term total to 48 stations
This extended legacy of research and development is reflected in Mirai’s safety and reliability. At Toyota’s advanced Higashifuji Safety Center, the vehicle has been subjected to extensive crash testing to evaluate a design specifically intended to address frontal, side and rear impacts and to provide excellent protection of vehicle occupants. A high level of collision safety has also been achieved to help protect the fuel cell stack and high-pressure tanks against body deformation.
Mirai will also feature a broad range of standard onboard safety technologies, including vehicle pre-collision, blind spot monitor, lane departure alert, drive start control and automatic high beams.
Focused on the Consumer
Toyota believes that outstanding vehicle performance must be matched by an exceptional ownership experience. And Toyota is committed to delivering on that promise.
When it hits the market in 2015, customers can take advantage of Mirai’s $499 per month/36 month lease option, with $3649 due at lease signing, or purchase the vehicle for $57,500. With combined state and federal incentives of $13,000 available to many customers, the purchase price could potentially fall to under $45,000.
The vehicle will be matched by a comprehensive, 360-degree Ownership Experience offering a range of services, including:
- 24/7 concierge service, with calls answered by a dedicated fuel cell representative;
- 24/7 enhanced roadside assistance, including towing, battery, flat tire assistance, trip interruption reimbursement, and loaner vehicle;
- Three years of Toyota Care maintenance, which covers all recommended factory maintenance, up to 12,000 miles annually;
- Eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on fuel cell components;
- Entune and three years of complimentary Safety Connect, including hydrogen station map app; and,
- Complimentary hydrogen fuel for up to three years.
Building a Convenient Refueling Infrastructure
In addition, Toyota continues to support the development of a convenient and reliable hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
Research at the University of California Irvine’s Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) has found that 68 stations, located at the proper sites, could handle a FCV population of at least 10,000 vehicles. Those stations are on their way to becoming a reality. By the end of 2015, 3 of California’s 9 active hydrogen stations and 17 newly-constructed stations are scheduled to be opened to the general public, with 28 additional stations set to come online by the end of 2016, bringing the near-term total to 48 stations
Nineteen of those 48 stations will be built by FirstElement Fuels, supported by a $7.3 million loan from Toyota. The company has also announced additional efforts to develop infrastructure in the country’s Northeast region. In 2016, Air Liquide, in collaboration with Toyota, is targeting construction of 12 stations in five states – New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
2015 Camaro Commemorative Edition Debuts at SEMA
Special edition celebrates culmination of segment-leading fifth-generation Camaro
Chevrolet revealed the 2015 Camaro Commemorative Edition at the SEMA Show. The special edition celebrates the success of the fifth-generation Camaro – which is on track to be America’s best-selling performance car for five consecutive years – and marks the final year for the fifth generation. The special edition goes on sale this spring.
More than 400,000 fifth-generation Camaros have been sold since April 2009. Since then, Camaro has been America’s best-selling performance car for four consecutive years. Camaro sales for the first 10 months of 2014 are up 8 percent over the same period a year ago, and Camaro currently leads Mustang by 10,000 sales – putting Camaro on track to be America’s favorite performance car for a fifth consecutive year.
“The fifth-generation Camaro was a success from the moment it was introduced, in attracting both long-time Camaro fans and new buyers who have never owned a Chevrolet,” said Todd Christensen, Camaro Marketing Manager. “We wanted to create a special edition Camaro that celebrates that success as the fifth generation comes to a close as the end of the model year.”
The 2015 Camaro Commemorative Special Edition is available on 2LT and 2SS coupes and convertibles and includes the RS package.
The exterior features of the Commemorative Edition include unique 20-inch wheels; exclusive stripe; body-color front splitter; ZL1 rear spoiler; and Commemorative Edition fender emblems.
Five exterior color combinations are available: Black with Cyber Gray stripe, Silver Ice Metallic with Cyber Gray stripe, Summit White with silver stripe, Ashen Gray Metallic with silver stripe and Red Hot with black stripe. SS models receive a body-color hood insert.
The new Adrenaline Red interior, only offered on the Commemorative Edition, features adrenaline red and black leather seating surfaces, adrenaline red instrument panel insert and red stitching on the seats, steering wheel, shift knob, shift boot, door trim armrest and center console lid. Additional details exclusive to the Commemorative Edition include a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel and Commemorative Edition sill plates.
Fifth-generation Camaro special editions
The Commemorative Edition builds on the fifth-generation Camaro’s legacy of uniquely equipped, limited-run models with custom-inspired exterior and interior appointments. Previous special editions included:
Special edition celebrates culmination of segment-leading fifth-generation Camaro
Chevrolet revealed the 2015 Camaro Commemorative Edition at the SEMA Show. The special edition celebrates the success of the fifth-generation Camaro – which is on track to be America’s best-selling performance car for five consecutive years – and marks the final year for the fifth generation. The special edition goes on sale this spring.
More than 400,000 fifth-generation Camaros have been sold since April 2009. Since then, Camaro has been America’s best-selling performance car for four consecutive years. Camaro sales for the first 10 months of 2014 are up 8 percent over the same period a year ago, and Camaro currently leads Mustang by 10,000 sales – putting Camaro on track to be America’s favorite performance car for a fifth consecutive year.
“The fifth-generation Camaro was a success from the moment it was introduced, in attracting both long-time Camaro fans and new buyers who have never owned a Chevrolet,” said Todd Christensen, Camaro Marketing Manager. “We wanted to create a special edition Camaro that celebrates that success as the fifth generation comes to a close as the end of the model year.”
The 2015 Camaro Commemorative Special Edition is available on 2LT and 2SS coupes and convertibles and includes the RS package.
The exterior features of the Commemorative Edition include unique 20-inch wheels; exclusive stripe; body-color front splitter; ZL1 rear spoiler; and Commemorative Edition fender emblems.
Five exterior color combinations are available: Black with Cyber Gray stripe, Silver Ice Metallic with Cyber Gray stripe, Summit White with silver stripe, Ashen Gray Metallic with silver stripe and Red Hot with black stripe. SS models receive a body-color hood insert.
The new Adrenaline Red interior, only offered on the Commemorative Edition, features adrenaline red and black leather seating surfaces, adrenaline red instrument panel insert and red stitching on the seats, steering wheel, shift knob, shift boot, door trim armrest and center console lid. Additional details exclusive to the Commemorative Edition include a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel and Commemorative Edition sill plates.
Fifth-generation Camaro special editions
The Commemorative Edition builds on the fifth-generation Camaro’s legacy of uniquely equipped, limited-run models with custom-inspired exterior and interior appointments. Previous special editions included:
- Camaro Transformers (2010 and 2012)
- Camaro Indy Pace Car (2010 and 2011)
- Camaro Synergy Series (2011)
- Camaro Neiman Marcus Edition (2011)
- Camaro Synergy Series (2012)
- Camaro 45th Anniversary (2012)
- Camaro Dusk (2013)
- Camaro Hot Wheels Edition (2013).
- The 323-horsepower V-6-powered LS coupe and LT coupe and convertible – including the 2LS with an EPA-rated 30 mpg on the highway – which match performance with efficiency.
- The SS coupe and convertible come with Chevy’s legendary small-block V-8, featuring a 6.2L engine delivering up to 426 horsepower and 0-60 acceleration 4.7 seconds.
- The road-racing-inspired Camaro 1LE performance package for SS coupe (manual transmission only), with unique gearing, suspension tuning and tires that make it capable of more than 1 g of lateral acceleration.
- The Camaro ZL1 (coupe and convertible), which is at home on the race track, the drag strip or daily commuting. It features a supercharged 6.2L V-8 with 580 horsepower and 556 lb-ft of torque – making the ZL1 the most powerful Camaro ever from Chevrolet. It is also the most technologically advanced, with standard Magnetic Ride Control and, on coupe models, Performance Traction Management.
- The Camaro Z/28 – the most track-capable Camaro ever. It features exterior elements designed like a race car to produce downforce that presses the car against the track for greater grip – up to 1.08 g in cornering acceleration – and faster lap times. Motor Trend named it their Best Driver’s Car for 2014.
- Chevrolet has also offered the COPO Camaro since 2012, a hand-built race car designed exclusively for drag racing. It’s the first purpose-built Camaro race car from Chevy and the quickest Camaro ever from the factory. Only 69 were built in 2012, 2013 and 2014, with 69 planned for 2015.