by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 14, 2013
The “other” Chrysler Group brand will be making a big splash when the annual SEMA Show rolls into Las Vegas next month, Mopar planning to reveal 20 different customized versions of various Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Fiat and SRT models – and perhaps a unique vehicle of its...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 14, 2013
The new BMW 4-Series is about to go topless. We got our first look at the Bavarian maker’s 4-Series last January when the compact coupe stormed onto the stage at the Detroit Auto Show. The convertible will make its debut at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show next...
by Joseph Szczesny | Oct 14, 2013
Volkswagen AG and General Motors are locked in a bitter duel over sales leadership in China with the edge going to VW during the first nine months of the year. With China now the world’s largest automotive market, dominance means more than bragging rights. GM already...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 11, 2013
Cadillac will begin offering its first battery-car, the plug-in 2014 ELR, in January. Sharing the basic underpinnings of the more mainstream Chevrolet Volt, the Caddy ELR will test the waters for more up-market battery vehicles – and begin the General Motors’...
by Joseph Szczesny | Oct 11, 2013
The quality of General Motors vehicles is getting better but consumers still tend to believe cars from Toyota and Honda are more reliable, according to independent research. And that’s a serious problem the Detroit maker is struggling to overcome, particularly along...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 11, 2013
With pedestrian fatalities taking an unexpected rise in recent years, automakers are looking for ways to not only reduce the death toll but quite literally steer clear of pedestrians in the first place. Both Toyota and Ford this week unveiled new high-tech systems...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 11, 2013
With its highway fuel economy estimated at 41 mpg, the new Mazda3 is one of the most efficient models in the U.S. compact segment, the maker giving much of the credit to its new SkyActiv-G powertrain. Mazda is quickly shifting most of its products to the new SkyActiv...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 10, 2013
Ford has done an admirable job of establishing the EcoBoost name in the market as shorthand for the maker’s latest fuel-saving powertrain technology. So, some folks might be excused for getting confused by the news that a Ford EcoBoost-powered racer has just set a new...
by Joseph Szczesny | Oct 10, 2013
Is the auto industry approaching a high-tech era of accident-free driving? New rules in Europe going into effect in 2014 will require vehicles to have advanced driver assistance features such as lane departure and forward collision warning systems to get a top safety...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 10, 2013
They’ve barely reached dealer showrooms in any significant numbers but General Motors’ new full-size pickups have been hammered by a recall. According to GM, the seats in the new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 models could fail if the trucks are hit from...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 9, 2013
Toyota has become the latest maker to try to use price cuts to spur demand for its struggling battery-based products, trimming as much as $4,620 off the MSRP of the plug-in version of its otherwise popular Prius Hybrid. Virtually every automaker marketing advanced...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 9, 2013
Floundering French automaker PSA Peugeot-Citroen may soon be getting a new accent, reports from China suggesting one of the booming Asian nation’s larger domestic manufacturers, Dongfeng Motor, is set to purchase a 30% stake in Peugeot for about $1.6 billion. But the...
