Automotive News

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Toyota Prius c, 2012: New hybrid's popularity prompts price gouging in Florida

Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield, who writes for the auto portal High Gear Media, has a story about price gouging for the new and vastly popular 2012 Toyota Prius C, the carmaker's subcompact hybrid. According to the report, a dealership in Coconut Creek, Fla., has taken the concept of inflated sticker prices to an extreme — about one third of the original sticker price. Gordon-Bloomfield was alerted to the situation by a reader who forwarded an image of the extreme price of a Toyota Prius c located at Al Hendrickson Toyota and bearing the words "Market Value Adjustment." Translated, that means price gouging. The 2012 Toyota Prius c, which debuted about a week about at dealers, has a sticker price of about $19,000

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Toyota Prius c, 2012: superior mpg, value price equals strong sales debut

The 2012 Toyota Prius c, the new five-door, sub-compact hatchback and the smallest in the carmaker's lineup of hybrids, debuted impressively in its first week on the market. In its first three days of sales since its March 12 debut, 1,021 Toyota Prius c models sold in the United States, According to Toyota, that number eclipses the sales totals for the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf in February. "A number of factors drive the auto market, and fuel prices is one of them,” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division. “With 53 miles-per-gallon in the city and priced under $19,000, the timing for Prius c couldn’t be better." During the first half of

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Hyundai fighting recall of Sonata Hybrid for seatbelt issue

Hyundai continues its increasingly strong position among carmakers, and it now believes it can do well against a more powerful industry leader — the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Hyundai has been ordered to recall and replace center rear seat belts in 14,728 Sonata hybrids from model years 2011 and 2012. But the automaker is seeking a review of the recall and is filing for an exemption. The Korean automaker has fixed the issue believed to be a safety concern for 1,633 Sonata Hybrids in its possession. But Hyundai believes there's no further risk for slightly more than 13,000 other Hyundai hybrids in the public sector. Several auto web sites are reporting the issue in question is whether seatbelts

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Historic Ferrari racing returning to Laguna Seca Raceway

Historic Ferraris and their modern-day relatives will take to the race track May 18-20 for Ferrari Racing Days at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Ferrari 458s will compete alongside their predecessor the F430s in the Ferrari Challenge as well as separate 599XX, FXX and Shell Historic races. “We had a tremendous response to this event last year,” said Gill Campbell, CEO/raceway general manager. “Ferrari’s have such a loyal following and we had participants and spectators from around the world turn out to see these cars in their natural environment – the race track.” The single marque racing series allows Ferrari owners and drivers seeking to sharpen their skills to compete against each other on some of the finest

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Toyota Venza, 2013: Revised grille, more technology for New York Auto Show debut

The 2013 Toyota Venza crossover, which will feature a restyled exterior design, will make its North American debut as part of the Toyota display at the 2012 New York Auto Show, April 6-15 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York In addition to enhanced exterior styling, added value through several new standard convenience features and updated option packages that include the Entune™ multi-media system for 2013 model year. Venza’s aerodynamic shape has been modified with a new upper and lower grille, fog lamps and rear taillights. The updated styling is complemented by a new 19-inch wheel design and three new exterior colors: Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl, and Cosmic Gray Mica. The 2013 Venza will continue to be available in

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Toyota recalls more than 681,000 Camry, Venza and Tacoma trucks

Toyota is recalling more than 681,000 Camry, Venza and Tacoma vehicles from 2005 to 2011 because of faulty warning lamps, faulty steering cables and the inability of some cars to start. Approximately 495,000 Toyota Tacoma trucks from 2005 to early 2009 will be recalled to replace the steering wheel spiral cable assembly. A combined total of 186,500 Camry (2009) and Venza (2009 and 2011) are also being recalled because of faulty stop lamp switches. Due to the combination of steering wheel spiral cable design and characteristics unique to the Tacoma chassis, friction between the spiral cable and the retainer in the steering wheel spiral cable assembly may occur in some vehicles. Friction over time may result in loss of connectivity

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Bugatti auctioning ride and drive of Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Bugatti Automobiles will auction the opportunity to drive a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport during the RM Auctions’ 14th annual Amelia Island sale on March 10. The winner will get a ride and drive in the Grand Sport with Bugatti’s official test pilot on either the East or West Coast on roads such as Pacific Coast Highway or the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway. When the roof is closed, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, which has a price of $1.8 million, can reach 253 mph. RM Auctions is the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. The auction will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 10. Full-day previews will be held March 8 – 9 from 9 a.m.

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Automotive advertisers drive away from Rush Limbaugh program

Four companies with automotive-related products or services are among the more than two dozen advertisers who have exited the Rush Limbaugh radio program since the syndicated broadcaster made unflattering remarks on his February 29 show. GEICO, AOL, All-State and Sears have all withdrawn sponsorship of the program after its host unloaded on Sandra Fluke. The Georgetown University law student spoke to Congress last month in favor of President Barack Obama's policy requiring insurers to offer contraceptives to women. Limbaugh's use of the words "slut" and "prostitute" drew immediate reaction, with a rapidly increasing number of program sponsors quickly exiting. AOL Autos is among America Online's most popular channels. The search engine portal and online news provider withdrew its sponsorship with

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Chevy Volt's love-hate relationship: Image issues remain for car of the year

A few days after its production temporarily stopped because of low sales, the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid has been named the 2012 European Car of the Year at the Geneva Auto Show. It shares the award with Opel Ampera, its European sibling. The Volt won North American Car of the Year in 2011 among several other accolades. But the Volt has also been a controversial newcomer to the green car market. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated the vehicle after several odd batteries fires. And although the NHTSA reported the Volt wasn’t defective, sales have not improved. General Motors says it has received about 7,000 orders for the Ampera in Europe already and expected to sell more than

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Jaguar Land Rover, Chery propose joint venture to make cars in China

Jaguar Land Rover and Chery Automobile Company hope to gain approval for a nearly $3 billion joint automotive venture in eastern China, according to a two-source report by Reuters. If the deal is approved, it would be located in Shanghai in Changshu City and the facility would first manufacture Land Rover SUVs, followed by Jaguars. Jaguar Land Rover, controlled by Tata Motors of India, had previously attempted joint venture deals with other Chinese partners, but negotiations stalled. Last year, Jaguar Land Rover sold about 42,000 cars in China, while German stronghold Audi sold approximately 313,000 vehicles. Approval for automotive manufacturers to build cars in China has become increasingly difficult. Fuji Heavy Industries, which intends to make Subarus with Chery in

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Chevy Volt hybrid unplugged by GM for five weeks via low sales

The Chevrolet Volt, the plug-in hybrid highly touted by General Motors but not overwhelmingly accepted by the car-buying public, has fallen short of GM’s anticipated sales predictions and thus will not be made for five weeks beginning March 19. According to the carmaker, production will stop through April 23 at its Hamtramck assembly plant in Detroit. The plant had increased its production to full speed in Feb. 6. from March 19 until April 23. Sales of the Volt in February more than tripled from a year earlier to 1,023. But sales are below what’s needed to meet Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson’s goal of 45,000 deliveries in the U.S. this year. In 2011, GM hoped to sell 10,000 Chevy Volts,

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Justin Bieber gets 2012 Fisker Karma as surprise 18th birthday gift on Ellen DeGeneres Show

Justin Bieber has joined an expanding list of celebrities who own Fisker Karma cars. The pop singer was presented with one of the exclusive $100,000 plug-in hybrids for his 18th birthday March 1 as a surprise gift on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "You work really really hard," his manager, Scooter Braun, said during the presentation. "I always yell at you, 'Don't get anything flashy!' You know, we're not about that. Be humble, be humble. And I kind of broke my own rule." Bieber looked shocked when he walked toward the vehicle. "That's for me?! That's crazy!" Actor Leonardo DiCaprio received the first Fisker Karma made. Former vice-president Al Gore and former Secretary of State Colin Powell also own the unique

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Ferrari unveils its fastest coupe ever, 0-60 mph 3.1 seconds

Ferrari doesn't need to market its products much. Its reputation is intact as the world's most respected sports car. Unless, of course, the Italian carmaker really has something boast about — like the fastest car it has ever built. And so it is. The F12berlinetta, the replacement coupe for the 599 GTB, will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds and 0-100 mph in 8.5 seconds. The new mid-engined V12 coupé has 730 horsepower and weighs 3,472 pounds, about 150 pounds less the the Ferrari 599. The F12berlinetta also uses 30 percent less fuel than the 599. Here are the full technical specifications of the F12berlinetta: Engine – 6262cc V12; Maximum power output – 740 CV at 8500 rpm; Maximum

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Volkswagen assumes title sponsorship of Sea Otter Classic cycling festival

Volkswagen has assumed title sponsorship of the Sea Otter Classic, the largest bicycle festival in North America, and will be the key new component among several changes for the April 19-22 event at Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey. The event's offical name is Volkswagen Sea Otter Classic Powered by SRAM. Also new for 2012 event, which features pro and amateur racing in numerous cycling disciplines, is the introduction of cyclocross racing, an expanded kids' riding area, an invitational downhill skateboarding exhibition and enhanced outreach for female cyclists. “Sea Otter provides us with the perfect partnership to expand on our commitment to environmental sustainability that goes beyond fuel-efficient vehicles,” said Jonathan Browning, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. “We’re

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Sexy model's 'Seduction' still selling FIAT Abarth . . . now eight million times

Since its debut about 3 1/2 months ago, the FIAT 500 Abarth commercial Seduction, which features Romanian model Catrinel Menghia and was showcased in the 2012 Super Bowl, has now been viewed nearly 8 million times on YouTube. In the one-minute spot, a young man fantasizes while seeing a beautiful woman's skirt slightly rise. Menghia is the woman who morphs into the Fiat. She also stars in the Nissan Juke Sports Illustrated commercials. When the woman catches the young man staring at her, she approachs, slaps him, then pulls him closer and whispers into his ear. Via translation, she says: What are you looking at? Uh!? What are you looking at?! (slap) Are you undressing me with your eyes? Poor

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Lexus tops Consumer Reports 2012 best list, Jeep gets top two worst spots

The Lexus 460L luxury sedan has been awarded top honors for best road test, while Jeep has dubious honors with vehicles receiving the worst two scores in Consumer Reports best and worst lists for 2012. Consumer Reports ranked the Lexus LS 460L at the top with a road test score of 99, followed by BMW 135i at 97; Infiniti G37 sedan at 95; Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE; Audi A6 (3.0T); Infiniti M37 and Nissan Altima 3.5 SR at 93. The Audi A8 L, Lexus ES 350 and Nissan Altima 2.5 S all appeared on the list as well with a score of 91 each. The magazine’s list is determined by 50 individualized tests and evaluations. Scores reflect how well a

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