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Some name changing may be on the Kia agenda for the U.S. market.  Hyundai Motor Co. Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun told an Automotive News reporter Kia’s is considering changing its U.S. lineup nomenclature from product names to alphanumerics.
In South Korea and some other markets, the names are already partially alphanumeric.   For example, the mid-sized sedan known as the Optima in the U.S. is named the K5, a large sedan known as Cadenza in some markets — but not yet sold in the United States — is named the K7, and the Forte likely will become the K3. Read the rest of this entry »

Chrysler Group has arranged to build a new eight-speed automatic transmission (the HP8) under license from the ZF Group of Germany.  According to Automotive News, the automaker plans to spend $300 million for the installation of tooling and equipment at the Transmission Plant 1 and Kokomo Casting Plant in Indiana.  They will be the first company licensed to build the innovative new transmissions.   Initially, Chrysler will use Germany-built units until the U.S. plant is ready in 2013; however, there is no indication which Chrysler or Fiat vehicles will be using the transmissions.

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BRISTOL, TN.– A team of drivers including NASCAR star David Ragan and four Ford Mustang engineers, drove a 2011 Mustang V-6, using a single tank of gas, to complete 1,457 laps of the Bristol Speedway in a Ford sponsored event called the Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge.  The team averaged 48.5 mpg, logging 776.5 miles during the event.  The drive took 17 hours and 40 minutes at an average speed of 43.9 mph.

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According a report issued by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the number American senior citizen drivers, over age 70, with a driver’s license has increased.  In 1997, 73 percent of the over 70 population had a driver’s license and in 2008, that number increased to 78 percent — that translates to 28 million licensed drivers over 70 years old.  The study also shows the number of fatal crashes per licensed driver over 70 fell 37 percent from 1997 to 2008.  For drivers over 80 the number of fatal crashes declined by nearly half.  Seniors, however, are still more likely to die in a crash than a younger driver.  A driver over 70 is three times more likely to be killed in an accident than a driver 35 to 54 years old, however, that number is down from 3.5 times n 1997.

The final Viper is scheduled to roll off the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit, Mich. around noon on July1, 2010.  Viper Club of America (VCA) members will be gathering for a special event and group photo.

The final current-gen Viper will enter the world into the waiting arms of D’Ann Rauh (the lucky owner of the final modern-day Viper) when takes ownership of her historic Snake. Rauh and her husband Wayne together own the largest private Viper collection in the world.  The collection will grow to 31 Vipers when this last one reaches their home in Arp, Texas. Read the rest of this entry »

The big trucks may have lost some of the appeal for some shoppers, but for people who need them to pull, haul or carry large items there is no option.

Trucks have also been a big profit center for the U.S. automakers and Chrysler, General Motors and Ford have all been working hard to build better trucks in hopes of retaining market share in that very competitive and lucrative market. Read the rest of this entry »

Louisville, Kentucky – Forget Cadillac Escalade, Lexus LX 470, Toyota Land Cruiser and Lincoln Navigator – the Infiniti QX56 is SUV King of the Hill.

Two dramatic strokes from a Japanese calligraphy brush started the process of designing this second generation Infiniti.  Inspired by the brush strokes, designers created clean bodylines, led by a traditional Infiniti family grill, wave-like hood and the ‘wide eyes’ for the Xenon headlights.  Front fender vents, a forward sweeping D-pillar and massive 20- and 22-inch tires complete the muscular exterior with a distinctive new look. Read the rest of this entry »

Cadillac announced today it will provide owners of all 2011 models with frequently required maintenance services for the first four years or 50,000 miles as it seeks to build the best customer service experience in the luxury segment.

The program, called Cadillac Premium Care Maintenance, covers scheduled oil changes, tire rotations, replacement of engine and cabin air filters and a multi-point vehicle inspection. Read the rest of this entry »

San Diego – It was not too many years ago, that Buick was more associated with older, more conservative drivers.  The last couple of years, new models like the Enclave and LaCrosse have started to change that perception and with the recent rollout of the Regal, it throws open the door…Buick is America’s new driver’s brand. Read the rest of this entry »

It had been nearly three years since we had driven a Lincoln MKZ, so we were anxious to see where Ford had taken this midsize sedan.  The MKZ was refreshed this year with a long list of new driver aids like adaptive HID headlights, rain sensor wipers and a new instrument panel with the next generation Lincoln center stack. Read the rest of this entry »