- Apple CarPlay partners could push back roll out to 2015: Advantage Android Auto? – Via Google News: Apple announced CarPlay during the WWDC this year a vehicle software that mirrors the iPhone’s display to the car’s center stack. With CarPlay, iOS …
- Dongfeng Motor Corporation is Not interested in NEVS Saab – CarNewsChina.com: China’s Dongfeng Motor Corporation has issued an official statement saying it never had any contact with NEVS Saab or with its shareholders concerning a possible take-over or an investment. On August 21 Economic-news magazine China Securities News published an article citing unnamed sources saying such contact had been established earlier this month.
- Google Driverless Car Might not be Completely Self-Driving – Via Google News: It has undoubtedly worked very hard to find a foot in the field of unusual vehicles. We are referring to the company’s dream self-driving car. It is truly a …
- Ford’s Enhanced Virtual-Reality Lab Becomes Reality – Wards The upgrade allows designers to perform walk-arounds of an entire virtual car and experience the model much like a consumer would at a dealership.
- Dealer files plan for parallel imports – Via Google News: A State-owned auto dealer in Shanghai’s free trade zone has submitted a plan to allow parallel imports of cars for regulator’s approval as the nation …
- VW will launch new Golf in 2017, report says – Automotive News: Volkswagen plans to launch the eighth generation of its best-selling Golf hatchback in 2017, just five years after launching the current model, a German magazine reported.
- Ram makes a power move in heated rivalry with Ford Super Duty – Automotive News: The rivalry between Ford’s venerable F series and Chrysler’s hard-charging Ram truck brand is heating up again. Chrysler today was expected to announce that it will offer a 2015 diesel-powered Ram Heavy Duty pickup with 865 pounds-feet of torque.
- The incentives debate: Who’s being ‘stupid’? – Automotive News: Some big rivals dismiss American Honda sales boss John Mendel’s grim warning that extended loan terms and other strategies being employed by competitors hurt resale values, customer loyalty and ultimately profits. So who’s right?
- Length of car loans rises, helps fuel sales – DetN: New car and truck loans have ballooned to an average of 51/2 years from four to five years not long ago, allowing buyers to afford more expensive vehicles and fulfill their urge to drive the newest thing now.
- Bigger, Global Automakers and Suppliers Performing Best as Industry Recovers – Wards: OEs that lead the list of best performers in the 2009-2013 period skew toward emerging-market automakers (and motorcycle producers), with none of the Detroit Three or European companies making the top 10.
- Chinese automotive manufacturers expanding abroad – Via Google News: China Chang’an Automobile Group manufactured cars on display at a Chongqing international auto exhibition, June 2013. (File photo/Xinhua).
- Alibaba to launch e-commerce platform for secondhand cars in China – Via Google News: China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba Group (web) has signed an agreement with China Grand Auto Services Co Ltd. (web), the country’s largest …
- Why General Motors is keeping its faith in Vauxhall’s Luton plant – Autocar: Britain’s oldest automotive plant is now the centre of the country’s commercial vehicle-making industry. Britain’s longest-running automotive factory is General Motors’ Vauxhall facility in Luton, where vehicles have been built continually since 1905. It may not build cars any more, but the 35-hectare site is now the jewel in the crown of Britain’s commercial vehicle-making industry.
- Hyundai Motor meets workers’ union today after boycott over wage – DetN: Hyundai Motor Co.’s management is meeting workers Sunday to resolve differences over wage demands after losing two days of extra weekend shifts to a boycott.
- Deepening rivalries test German luxury car dominance – Reuters: Berlin-based PR executive Herbert Franz should be a soft target for German luxury automakers – his last car was a BMW X3 – but he can’t wait to leave them behind.
- Report: Tesla building I-80 supercharger station – DetN: Tesla Motors Inc. is building a supercharger station in the Sierra Nevada north of Lake Tahoe where drivers of the company’s electric cars can recharge along Interstate 80, a newspaper says.
- King of the Cruise: Challenger Hellcat or Corvette Stingray? – DetN: At this year’s Cruise, I drove the dreamy new Dodge Hellcat and Corvette Stingray. But what if I had to choose? Which is more worthy?
- Supercharged 2014 Land Rover LR4: muscular enough to conquer any terrain – DetN: The new supercharged Land Rover, a true off-roader with a truck frame and sunroof, is known worldwide as the most rugged vehicle available for civilian use. It’s not pretty outside, and with a base price of $51,000 it certainly isn’t cheap. It will, however, conquer most any terrain on the planet.
- Shanghai GM Launches New Chevrolet Cruze – GM: The new Chevrolet Cruze, Shanghai GM’s new-generation midsize performance sedan, was officially launched today in Shenzhen.
- 2015 Porsche Boxster GTS/Cayman GTS First Review: A Dynamic Duo – KBB: When Porsche last redesigned its mid-engine roadster and coupe siblings, it decided to make them more distinctive by giving each a unique face.
- Volvo confirms new three-cylinder engine range – Autocar: Efficient new engine range, due to be rolled out after 2016, will help Volvo to reach strict emissions targets.
- GM’s Barra takes ice bucket challenge, calls out Gilbert – DetN: Now two of Detroit’s Big Three automotive CEOs have poured cold water over themselves to raise money and awareness to fight a disease.
- Safety group asks for probe of 7 million Chrysler vehicles – DetN: An auto safety advocacy group has asked the U.S. government to investigate power system failures in Chrysler vehicles that could cause them to stall while being driven.
- Why We’re Not Driving the Friendly Skies – NY Times: The dream of creating a flying car has reduced many would-be inventors to despair as they grasped the immensity of the engineering and design challenges of the divergent natures of airplanes and cars.
- Pie-in-the-Sky Flying Cars From the Past – NY Times: Tinkerers have tried to make cars fly since the early 20th century, with mixed results. Here are a few of them.
- The Green Zone: Ford System Knows When to Switch From Battery to Gas and Back Again – thedetroitbureau.com: Though still in the development stage, Ford’s Green Zone system promises to improve the energy efficiency of its battery-based vehicles. It could also help motorists avoid tolls for driving conventionally powered cars in urban areas. The technology can improve the functionality of vehicles, Ford claims.
- Chrysler Owners Sound Off on a Power Defect – NY Times: Stalling, failure to start and inadvertent operation of accessories are among the problems linked to Chrysler’s Totally Integrated Power Module.
- Hyundai, Kia Workers Strike at Korean Plants – Wards: The KMWU says on its website it had no choice but to call a strike as Hyundai negotiators would not budge on any of the union’s major proposals, including the key demand the automaker include bonus payments in calculating basic wages.
- New Corvette Z06 Gets 4% Price Hike to $78,995 – thedetroitbureau.com: If you’re looking to get behind the wheel of the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 be prepared to write a big check: the 2015 Z06 starts at $78,995 while the convertible comes in at $83,995. For that, you get a snarling 650 horsepower beast than can get 29 mpg on the highway.