Wednesday, November 23, 2016

2016 LA Auto Show Video: 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Click on post title to view on YouTube.


Monday, November 21, 2016

Mitsubishi eX Concept


The Mitsubishi eX Concept is a 100 percent electric-powered compact SUV with a cruising range of 248.5 miles from a Twin Motor 4WD drivetrain that delivers a total output of 188 horsepower. The Ultrasonic miss-acceleration Mitigation System plus Brake Control uses radar to detect obstructions either in front or behind the vehicle and regulates motor power when the driver presses their foot on the accelerator by mistake to prevent the vehicle from going forward.

2018 Toyota C-HR Coming Next Spring


The all-new 2018 Toyota C-HR, with an appeal to buyers of the outgoing Scion brand, is powered by a 144 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a Sport and a manual shift mode  It goes on sale next spring with XLE and XLE Premium grades. The XLE Premium grade adds Smart Key and Push Button Start, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Front Seat Heaters.

Subaru VIZIV-7 SUV Concept Becoming Reality In Early 2018


The Subaru VIZIV-7 SUV Concept, with full three-row capability will be introduced to the North American market in early 2018.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country Wagon


The 2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country wagon, completing Volvo’s 90 Series line-up, is powered by a 362 horsepower version of Volvo’s Drive-E powertrain mated to an eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. Production of the car is set to start this Fall in Sweden.

2017 Volkswagen e-Golf


The 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf, using a new lithium-ion battery and 134 horsepower motor, has an increased range of about 50 percent of up to 124 miles on a single charge. The 7.2 kW on-board charger, standard on both SE and SEL Premium trims, enables the battery to be fully charged in less than six hours at a traditional charging station. The e-Golf vehicle is only available at participating dealers in select states.

2017 Honda Civic Si Coming Next Year


The 2017 Honda Civic Si Coupe and Si Sedan will be powered by a 1.5-liter, directed-injected and turbocharged DOHC in-line 4-cylinder engine with dual variable cam timing mated to a short-shifting 6-speed manual transmission and will launch next year as the latest additions to the 10th-generation Honda Civic lineup, joining the Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and just-launched Civic Hatchback.

2018 Audi Q5 Coming This Spring


The all-new 2018 Audi Q5, with all-new front fascia, more rear legroom and shoulder room, as well as increased cargo capacity, is powered by a 252 horsepower 2.0-liter TFSI® four-cylinder engine mated to an all-new seven-speed S tronic® dual-clutch transmission, accelerating from 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. Split folding 40/20/40 rear seatbacks recline and slide back and forward. The all-new Audi Q5 goes on sale in the Spring of 2017.


Thursday, November 17, 2016

All-New 2017 MINI Countryman Goes On Sale In March


The all-new 2017 MINI Countryman, coming in Cooper, Cooper S and the all new plug-in hybrid Cooper S E ALL4, is the biggest MINI ever and includes a model powered by both a three-cylinder MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology gasoline engine and an electric hybrid synchronous motor. With an option to plug in, the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 has a 3-cylinder gasoline engine that works in tandem with a powerful electric motor to produce a combined peak output of 221 horsepower, with the e-rear axle enabling all-season ALL4 traction. The new MINI Countryman will go on sale in March 2017 at MINI dealers across the U.S. with the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 plug-in hybrid following in June 2017.

Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet - Only 75 For U.S.


The Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet, based on the open-top S-Class, with seating for four and powered by a 621 horsepower 6.0L V12 biturbo engine mated to a 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, is limited to 300 worldwide and 75 cars for U.S. buyers. Mercedes tells me to expect a price of around $300,000.

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio


The all-new 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Stelvio Ti models are powered by a 280 horsepower all-aluminum 2.0-liter direct-injection 16-valve turbocharged and inter-cooled engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the Stelvio Quadrifoglio has a 505 horsepower all-aluminum direct-injection 2.9-liter 24-valve bi-turbo inter-cooled V-6 engine with a standard Q4 all-wheel-drive system that has a Cylinder Efficient Management deactivation system, which enables the engine to run on three of its six cylinders. The Stelvio is built on the Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan platform and can be customized with up to 13 exterior colors, seven wheel choices, ranging from 18 inches to 21 inches and an almost endless selection of interior color and trim choices.

All-New 2017 Mazda CX-5 Coming This Spring


The all-new 2017 Mazda CX-5, with a lower center of gravity and 10mm wider front and rear tread, offers a SKYACTIV-D 2.2 clean diesel engine, and a SKYACTIV-G 2.0 or SKYACTIV-G 2.5 direct-injection gasoline engines paired with either a six-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic or six-speed SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission. Also available is Mazda’s predictive i-ACTIV AWD system. The new CX-5 has G-Vectoring Control which by adjusting engine torque in response to steering wheel action, delivers unified control over lateral and longitudinal acceleration (G) forces and optimizes the vertical load on each wheel. The new CX-5 with gas engines will hit showrooms in the Spring while the diesel will follow later in the year.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

2018 Ford EcoSport Arrives In Early 2018


The all-new 2018 Ford EcoSport, equipped with either a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost® engine or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with Ford’s Intelligent 4WD as standard, will be available in S, SE, SES and Titanium trims. Both engines are mated to six-speed automatic transmissions. The all-new Ford EcoSport starts arriving in dealerships in early 2018.

Monday, November 14, 2016

2018 Audi A5 and S5 Coupe


The all-new 2018 Audi A5 and S5 Coupe offers a 252 horsepower 2.0-liter TFSI® four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed S tronic® dual-clutch transmission on the A5 and a newly designed 354 horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter TFSI® V6 engine on the S5 with an eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission. Every Audi A5 is standard-equipped with quattro® all-wheel drive. New for 2018, available Audi virtual cockpit and MMI® touch and driver assistance systems including standard Audi pre sense® city and available adaptive cruise control with stop & go and traffic jam assist.

2017 Chevrolet Spark ACTIV Coming In The First Quarter


The 2017 Chevrolet Spark ACTIV, with an Ecotec 1.4L engine, is a sportier version of the Spark featuring trail-inspired accents and upscale features and goes on sale in the first quarter of 2017 for $16,945 with manual transmission and $18,045 with continuously variable transmission. Fuel economy is GM estimated at 29 city and 37 highway with the manual transmission and 30 city/37 highway with the CVT.

2017 Ram Power Wagon Goes On Sale Soon


The 2017 Ram Power Wagon, built on a Ram 2500 platform and powered by a 410 horsepower 6.4-liter HEMI® V-8 engine, is priced at $53,015(including $1,320 destination charge) and goes on sale late this year. A $4,495 Leather & Luxury option package is offered on the Ram Power Wagon.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

October 2016 U.S. Auto Sales

General Motors (Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac) sold 258,626 vehicles, a 1.7 percent drop, in October while year-to-date sales of 2,471,023 is a 3.6 percent decline from 2015. Cadillac October sales of 13,948 is a 9.4 percent drop from last year while year-to-date sales of 133,234 is down 5.6 percent.

Ford total October sales were 188,813, down 11.7 percent versus a year ago. Lincoln sales made up 9,069 of that total, a 6.9 percent increase and year-to-date sales are 89,504, up 8.6 percent. Year-to-date total Ford sales are 2,177,269, a 0.4 percent decline from 2015.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. reported October 2016 sales of 186,295, a decrease of 8.7 percent from October 2015. Toyota Division posted October sales of 161,492, down 9.1 percent while Lexus posted October sales of 24,803, down 6.2 percent. Year-to-date TMS U.S.A. sales of 2,008,714 is a 2.3 drop from 2015.

FCA US (Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep, Fiat, Alfa Romeo) reported U.S. sales of 176,609, a 10 percent decrease compared with sales in October 2015. Year-to-date sales of 1,890,969 is up 2 percent over a year ago.

American Honda reported October sales of 126,161 Honda and Acura vehicles, a decrease of 4.2 percent versus October 2015. Honda division sales of 113,292 was down 2 percent while Acura sales of 12,869 was a 13.8 percent decline. Year-to-date American Honda sales of 1,354,541 is a 2.6 percent gain over last year.

Nissan Group announced total U.S. sales for October 2016 of 113,520, a decrease of 2.2 percent from the prior year. Nissan Division finished October with 102,312 sales, a 2.5 percent drop, while Infiniti sales of 11,208 was up 0.6 percent. Year-to-date Nissan Group sales of 1,296,544 is a 4.7 percent over 2015.

Hyundai Motor America sales totaled 62,505 vehicles (including Genesis brand sales of 1,201), a 4.2 percent rise over last year. Year-to-date sales of 650,193, a 1.9 percent rise over 2015.

Kia Motors America sold 48,977 vehicles, a 2.1 percent drop from a year ago, while year-to-date sales of 540,741, a 2.8 percent increase over 2015.

Subaru of America reported 53,760 vehicle sales for October 2016, a 4.1 percent increase over October 2015 sales of 51,629 vehicles. Subaru also reported year-to-date sales of 500,647 vehicles, a 4.2 percent gain over the same period in 2015.

Volkswagen of America reported sales of 24,779 in October, down 18.5 percent from a year ago. Year-to-date sales of 256,047 is down 13.1 percent. Separately, Audi of America October sales of 17,721 was a 0.1 percent increase over 2015 while year-to-date sales of 169,900 is up 2.9 percent over last year.

Mercedes-Benz USA reported October sales of 31,801 vehicles for the month, down 2.1 percent from last year. Mercedes-Benz brand sales were 28,659, a decrease of 1.0 percent from same month last year while Mercedes-Benz Vans sold 2,724, down 2.7 percent and smart sold 418 cars. On a year-to-date basis, MBUSA posted a grand total of 310,205 units in October, increasing 0.7% from the previous year. Mercedes-Benz brand 2016 sales of 277,863 is down 0.4 percent. Adding year-to-date-sales of 27,880 for Vans and 4,462 for smart, MBUSA posted a grand total of 310,205 units in October, an increase of 0.7% from the previous year.

BMW Group October sales (including MINI) were 27,971, down 16.6 percent and year-to-date are 297,015, a 9.6 percent drop. Sales of BMW brand vehicles were 24,017, a decrease of 18.4 percent in October. Year-to-date, the BMW brand sales of 254,150 vehicles is down 9.0 percent in the first ten months of 2015.

Mazda North American Operations reported October U.S. sales of 22,711 vehicles, a decrease of 10.8 percent versus last year. Year-to-date sales through October are 246,978 vehicles, a 7.6 percent decline.

Jaguar Land Rover reported October 2016 U.S. sales of 8,751, a 7 percent increase from October 2015. Jaguar sales were 3,219, a 226 percent and  Land Rover sales were 5,532, down 23 percent. Year-to-date, Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales are 83,491, up 23 percent from 2015.

Volvo Car USA reported U.S. sales of 6,340 vehicles. Year-to-date, VCUSA has sold 64,872, a 20.6 increase year-over-year.

Porsche Cars North America announced another record breaking October sales result of 4,506 vehicles, a 10.7 percent gain. Year-to-date sales of 44,752, up 3.2 percent over 2015.

Results will be posted as manufacturers report.

Lotus Evora Sport 410 Coming To North America Next Summer


The Lotus Evora Sport 410 is powered by a 410 horsepower 3.5-litre 6-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or an available six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddle shifters andcan sprint from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds. The Lotus Evora Sport 410 is limited to a global production run of 150 vehicles per year, and is on sale now for $120,000 in Germany and $100,400 in the U.K. and Japan for $144,000 and the rest of world markets. An adapted version of the Evora Sport 410 for the North American market will follow in summer 2017.

2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43 Coming Early Next Year


The 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43 SUV, the ninth model in its new line of AMG 43 performance vehicles, replacing the GLE400, features a 362 horsepower AMG-enhanced 3.0L V6 biturbo powertrain with the AMG-enhanced 9G- TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission. The AMG GLE43 SUV will go on sale by early 2017.

2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport Starts At $22,485


The 2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport has a starting MSRP of $22,485 (including $835 destination charge) for the 201 horsepower 1.6L Turbo-GDI engine mated to the standard 6-speed manual transmission. The Elantra Sport with a 7-speed DCT and paddle shifters starts at $23,585. The available Premium Package for $2,400 adds an 8” navigation system, 8-speaker Infinity premium audio system with Clari-Fi Music restoration technology, Blue Link connectivity, a power sunroof, Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-traffic Alert & Lane Change Assist, dual automatic temperature control with auto defogger, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink and a compass.