Top News:
- New Volkswagen Arteon – CC replacement shown for first time – Autocar: New Arteon executive saloon will be revealed at the Geneva motor show next year, and will go on sale in the summer
- Toyota Gazoo Racing: what the heck is a Gazoo anyway? – Autocar: The Japanese manufacturer’s motorsport division is named Toyota Gazoo Racing, but it is nothing to do with The Great Gazoo from The Flintstones
- New Toyota Supra performance hybrid tests at the ‘Ring – Autocar: Hybrid FT-1 concept to inspire final model, although we won’t see it until after its BMW Z5 sister car; new shots show car testing at the Nürburgring
- Initial Report About SpaceX Explosion Imminent – WSJ: Elon Musk’s SpaceX is expected to give federal authorities a preliminary investigative report pinpointing fueling procedures as the most likely cause of a September unmanned rocket explosion.
- Ferrari GTC4 V8 targets younger buyers – Autocar: Italian brand wants its new rear-wheel-drive four-seater to draw in new customers
- Toyota adjusts car-truck ratio – Automotive News: Toyota is working to rebalance its U.S. portfolio and production to get its roughly 50-50 car-truck sales split more in line with a market that’s running 60-40 in favor of light trucks.
- Fuel-cell champions still hedge their bets – Automotive News: Toyota, Hyundai and Honda are all committed to a multifaceted approach that includes a mix of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles.
- Jaguar I-Pace to be built by Magna Steyr – Automotive News: Automotive News sibling publication Automobilwoche reported then that Magna would manufacture an electric vehicle and the new Land Rover…
- VW charts its long journey back – Automotive News: Volkswagen’s global strategy pegs the U.S. as a critical market and production base, but recognizes that a full recovery there will be a long-term project at best.
- VW to export U.S.-built Atlas to Russia – Automotive News: Volkswagen will export the seven-seat Atlas crossover to Russia from the United States starting at the end of next year, a source…
- Volvo ahead of curve for autonomous car cabin design – Autocar: Volvo Concept 26 cabin featured seats designed for an autonomous car
- Toyota’s 7-year, 130,000-mile worldwide quest to conquer the future – Automotive News: FIVE CONTINENTS DRIVE: Last week, Automotive News Asia Editor Hans Greimel for three days joined the Argentina leg of Toyota’s Five Continents Drive, the automaker’s audacious seven-year gambit to reboot its mindset toward making ever…
- Which brands generate the best profits? – Automotive News: Profits at Toyota and Honda dealerships are growing, while BMW, Lexus and many luxury brands are seeing double-digit profit declines this year, estimates by Haig Partners show.
- Mini’s redesigned Countryman stretches into new segment – Automotive News: The redesigned Mini Countryman has grown enough in size to compete in the compact crossover segment where it will take on both premium and volume players.
- AutoNation to leap into auction business – Automotive News: AutoNation is getting into the auction business in a much bigger way with plans to open four AutoNation-branded auto auctions over the next two years, going to five sites from one now.
- JK Wrangler&’s final act: Special editions – Automotive News: Jeep is stretching out consumer interest in the outgoing JK Wrangler by offering a number of special limited-edition packages over the next year while consumers await the arrival of the redesigned JL Wrangler in the second half of 2017.
- Mercedes CLS successor to come in 2018 – Automotive News: The successor to the Mercedes-Benz CLS, a four-door sedan with coupelike styling, will arrive in 2018 on a new platform that’s lighter, longer and roomier.
- Porsche poised for another sales gain in ’17 – Automotive News: Porsche North America CEO Klaus Zellmer says the brand can increase sales again in 2017 despite a declining luxury market. He forecasts sales comebacks for Panamera, 911 and Boxster, which all have been down in 2016 due to changeovers.
- How ‘Japan’s Tesla’ stays competitive … by sharing its tech with rivals – CNBC: Dubbed “Japan’s Tesla,” GLM develops its own technology for electric … for growth and to stave off competition as upstart Tesla Motors moves away…
- Alpine A120 to be first of several high-performance models – Autocar: Alpine A120, imagined by Autocar
- Hot Toyota sub-brand poised to rival Mercedes-AMG and BMW M – Autocar: Toyota Gazoo Racing competes in the World Endurance Championship
- Kia Soul EV sales near 20000 units – Yonhap: The Kia Soul electric vehicle from South Korea’s No. 2 automaker Kia Motors Corp. has sold nearly 20,000 units globally…