According to Automotive News, Volkswagen of America doesn’t want the new Scirocco when it’s released in the next few years. The reason? Another two-door, Golf-based hatch would cannibalize sales of the GTI, and with American’s apparent distaste for hatches, sales would be underwhelming. Continue reading VW Scirocco won’t be coming to the U.S.
What did Chrysler do with its highly publicized production glut? Unloaded them onto fleets. Between September and February, 48.5-percent of Chrysler’s sales were sold in quantities of ten or more. Even more troubling to dealers and consumers, close to 80-percent were bought up by rental car companies, versus GM and Ford whose rental sales are closer to half of their total fleet sales. Continue reading Nearly half of Chrysler’s products go to fleets, Pontiac isn’t doing much better
Reporting on one luxury car hitting the market after another and a seemingly endless race for the latest in technological breakthroughs, it seems hard to believe, but the fiercest competition in the automotive industry is emerging in the ultra-low cost segment. As markets like India and China continue to develop, their billions of citizens are moving up from bicycles and scooters to low-cost cars, and the sticker prices keep getting lower and lower. Continue reading Cheaper by the Dozen: the race for the $3000 car
Slide into the snug, over-bolstered leather seat. Push the chunky key fob into a slot labeled “start/stop.†Tune an ear to combustion as smooth as a baby’s backside. Grab hold of the three-spoke leather-wrapped helm. Engage first gear. Mash the throttle and drop the clutch. Brace for wheel hop, snick through the gears to triple digit speeds, then slam on the brakes. Escape through the heavy driver’s door and slam it shut. Glance back at the Volkswagen Passat 2.0T. Continue reading Volkswagen Passat
If Toyota is the new GM, Kia is the new Toyota. After establishing a U.S. beachhead with price-oriented products, the Korean automaker has gradually expanded its reach by replacing its penalty boxes with vehicles sporting upmarket features and class-leading safety, while maintaining the brand’s value promise. The Rondo is yet another example of the kind of mass market machine The Big 2.5 should be building, but isn’t.    Continue reading Kia Rondo
Oh, we’re keepin’ it short ‘n’ Scandinavian this year, folks. Just two cars. Both from Sweden. What are they? What could they be? Continue reading Bargains to be Found at the 2007 NY Auto Show
It looks like a more athletic edition of the Aston Martin DB9 may be hitting the streets soon. The 450 HP 6.0L V-12 reportedly remains under the hood, backed up a six-speed manual gearbox. Aerodynamic changes inspired by the DBRS9 racer and the upcoming DBS flagship show up in the front corners and the huge rear diffuser. Continue reading Hotter Aston Martin DB9 takes to the ring
The grid in Bahrain looked similar to last week in Malaysia. Two Ferraris and two McLarens, side-by-side, but which McLaren was up front was a surprise. Felipe Massa took his fifth career pole position, with McLaren’s young superstar-in-the-making, Lewis Hamilton, swapping with teammate Fernando Alonso and taking second. Continue reading Spoiler Alert: F1 2007 Bahrain Grand Prix
The festivities from Long Beach are winding down as the Champ Cars just finished their second race of the season. The Long Beach Grand Prix has been a fixture on the open-wheel schedule for more than 20 years and even if the series has lost some of its drawing power, the racing was as good as ever. Continue reading Spoiler Alert: 2007 Champ Car Long Beach Grand Prix
Toyota’s foray into the world of full-sized pickups has taught the company several lessons –- the hard way. According to Automotive News, the automaker is trying to adjust the production of certain trim levels to meet market demand; increasing output on some, while reducing others. Continue reading Toyota getting educated, changing Tundra’s model mix
Autoblog Chinese has the early word on Buick’s Shanghai Motor Show concept, and it’s got another familiar name attached to it: Riviera. Better still, it’s a coupe — no Dodge Charger-style door growth here. The Riviera is being called a “global” concept that showcases Buick’s future design DNA. Penned at GM’s Pan Asia Technical Center, the Shanghai show is just the first venue at which it’ll be shown. Continue reading Shanghai Motor Show Preview: Buick Riviera Concept
Orange buildings show planned expansion. Earlier today, we covered AutoWeek’s latest report on the Porsche Panamera. This week, Porsche held the “topping out” ceremony for that car’s new production facility in Leipzig. Part of a €150,000,000 expansion of the Leipzig plant, where the automaker already builds the Cayenne SUV, Continue reading Porsche’s Panamera production push spurs €150 million Leipzig investment