News Service

Hyundai sets record yearly sales mark in 10 months

Hyundai, capitalizing on the increasing popularity of its Sonata, Elantra and new Veloster models, has eclipsed its previous yearly sales record after the first 10 months of 2011. Hyundai sold 538,228 vehicles in the United States in 2010, but through October this year has sold 545,316 vehicles — an increase of 27 percent from October, 2010. Year to date, Hyundai sales are up 21 percent versus the 2010 in total, and up 31 percent at retail. Sales to fleet accounts represent 11 percent of the total sales year-to-date and eight percent for the month of October. Thirty-seven percent of Hyundai vehicles sold in October achieved 40 MPG fuel economy ratings. Santa Fe and Tucson, Hyundai’s crossover line-up, registered sales increases

Hyundai Genesis, 2012: The most feared car in the world?

The 2012 Hyundai Genesis is one of the most feared cars in the auto industry. For a base price of $34,000 you get all of the luxury that once was the sole domain of car companies like Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. You also get a 333 HP engine that pulls like a steam locomotive. You also get all of the features usually associated with luxury cars including lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, heated and cooled driver's seat, as well as heated passenger and rear seats. You also get soft leather over almost every surface with traditional French stitching. Roman Mica, contributing editor to TheWeeklyDriver.com and publisher of the The Fast Lane Car, www.tflcar.com, shares his opinion about the impressive 2012

Another Saab story: Chinese buy ailing Swedish carmaker

Chinese distributor Pang Da Automobile Trade and auto manufacturer Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile have purchased Saab, the struggling 62-year-old Swedish automaker who proudly once marketed itself as "Built From Jets," for $142 million. If the transaction is completed by Nov. 15, it will designate the second time Saab has been purchased in the past two years. General Motors sold Saab to Swedish Automotive in early 2010 as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. Swedish Automotive is a Dutch company then known as Spyker, a high-end brand of hand-made sports cars. But Saab continued to struggle under the new ownership. China has become the largest market in the world for auto sales. Ford Motor sold its Swedish Volvo unit to Chinese automaker

Ron Howard set to direct F1 film on Nikki Lauda, Ferrari

Ron Howard, whose long acting, directing and producing career have included auto-related movies Grand Theft Auto and American Graffiti, is in pre-production for another auto-themed film, Rush. The film, in which Ferrari will likely be consulting, depicts legendary Ferrari race driver Niki Lauda’s perilous quest in 1976 to repeat as Formula One Champion. Howard was recently in Italy and met with Lauda and Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, who was in charge of the Ferrari race team Howard was given a tour of the Ferrari factory and nearby locations in a Ferrari — and with Lauda driving. Rumored for a 2013 release, Rush currently may include actors Olivia Wilde, Chris Hemsworth and Russell Crowe. James RaiaA sports, travel and business

Scion tops Japan's reliability dominance in Consumer Reports annual survey; Ford stumbles

Scion lead the dominance of nine Japanese car manufacturers among the top 10, while Ford dramatically stumbled in the annual most reliable survey conducted by Consumer Reports magazine. The best and worst-performing brands is based on feedback from 1.3 million subscribers to the United States-based publication. The Scion xD was identified as the best model, followed by Lexus (CT 200h) as the next highest-rated model. Acura came in third place, followed by Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Infiniti, Subaru and Nissan. Volvo was the best-performing non-Japanese brand in 10th place. Hyundai and Kia, both of South Korea, took the next two spots, with Jeep in 13th place, was the top U.S. brand. Ford fell from 10th to 20th place. Among 27 brands

Eyecare professionals offer tips for improved night driving

As days get shorter, night driving increases. As a result, statistics tell problematic a story. Nearly one in three drivers have more difficulty seeing while driving at night. Twentypercent of all drivers have difficulty seeing signs or exits while driving at night. And 20 percent of all drivers have difficulty seeing animals, viewing pedestrians and judging distances at night. On the new edition of Healthy Vision, host Dr. Val Jones discusses changes to vision in the dark and advice is offered by optometrist Dr. Cristina Schnider and John Ulczyski, Vice President of the National Safety Council, for improved eye care and safer driving at night. Here are some key statistics: * Beginning at age 20, the amount of light needed

Record price expected for 117-year-old steam motorcycle

A historic 1894 Roper Steam Motorcycle is expected to establish a new world record for a motorcycle sold at auction when more than 400 motorcycles are offered Jan. 12-14 at Auctions America in RM’s debut at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The second of only two steam-powered motorcycles built by Sylvester Roper of Roxbury, Massachusetts, arguably one of America’s first auto manufacturers, the 117-year-old motorcycle is regarded as one of the world’s oldest, predating early examples produced by Orient, Indian and Harley-Davidson. The current world record for a motorcycle sold at auction is held by a 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer OHC, which sold for $520,000 USD in 2008. Based on the frame of a Columbia

Toxic cars sold in Japan seven months after nuclear meltdown

Seven months after the nuclear meltdown in Japan that occurred in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, vehicles contaminated by the radiation in the area have received new registrations and license plates and sold as used cars. Vehicles from the area around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which suffered a series of meltdowns March 11, were scheduled to be destroyed. But dealers have been selling them, according to the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. Dealers have traditionally bought used vehicles in Japan and exported them to Russia and Southeast Asia, according to the Telegraph. In June, Russian police turned back a half-dozen used cars from Japan after finding they were contaminated with radioactove isotopes. Authorities in South America, Australia and

Cars 2 driving across global boundaries, now online in China

Cars 2, the popular animated movie with myriad American movie stars, including Owne Wilson and Michael Caine, providing voiceover roles, now has a mainland China counterparts in the debut of the film online via the website, Tuduo.com. The availability of Cars 2 online, which began Oct. 24 and is between Tudou Holdings Limited and The Walt Disney Company, marks the first time that a full-length film from Disney's Pixar Animation Studios has been made available through an online video website in Mainland China. Cars 2 is available for on-demand viewing on Tudou's website for a fee. Viewers can choose among Mandarin, Cantonese or English language versions. Chinese actors and actresses provided the voiceovers. The release of Cars 2 through Tudou's

Manny Pacquiao adds to car fleet, buys new Ferrari 458

Like many famous athletes, Manny Pacquiao is fond of cars. The Filipino boxing star recently purchased a new $225,000 Ferrari 458 Italia. The Italian-made Ferrari has a 570-horsepower 4.5-liter V8 engine and can achieve 0-60 mph speed in 3.4 seconds Pacquiao, 32, who will fight Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, owns or is often escorted in numerous cars, including a Cadillac Escalade and several other sport utility vehicles. Pacquiao also has a Porsche Cayenne, Mitsubishi Pajero, Lincoln Navigator, Honda CR-and a Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Expedition and a Toyota Landcruiser given to the boxer by a dealership last year. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years,

World Series, 2011: Patriotism, Chevys and Ray Charles

Chevrolet will celebrate its 100th birthday November 3, and what better time to promote the occasion than two weeks early during the World Series. During the opening game between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals and throughout the World Series, viewers on FOX will see "Then and Now.' The one-minute spot features Ray Charles' singing a live version of America the Beautiful. The voiceover at the end of the commercial is handled by long-time actor-spokesman Tim Allen. Footage shows vintages photos from Chevy's archives, fans, employees and Flickr. The "Chevy Runs Deep" tagline is included, and following a shortened rendition of Ray Charles singing America The Beautiful, Allen concludes the commercial with the words: "For the first 100 years

Asbestos health risks abound for car owners, mechanics

Automobiles are beneficial, but car exhaust releases harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide, which accelerates global climate change. In addition to harming the environment, car exhaust has many toxins harmful to health, again including carbon monoxide that can lead to asphyxiation in an enclosed area. Car exhaust also contains high levels of benzene, which has been proven to be carcinogenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a known carcinogenic that also lead to birth defects. Although it’s common knowledge car exhaust contains hazardous toxins, car parts also contain hazardous toxins. Car interiors, for example, are toxic. Bromine, a flame retardant used to make many of the interior plastic parts, also contributes thyroid trouble, memory and learning disabilities, reproductive issues and behavioral problems.

World Series, 2011: Audi, BMW, GM, Nissan will have TV ads

Audi, Nissan, BMW and Chevrolet will help comprise a large presence for the car industry during the World Series on Fox when the 107th edition of the Fall Classic between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers begins Oct. 18 in St. Louis. According to a report on the website www.broadcastingcable.com, World Series commercial spots sold out for about $500,000 per per spot, up from last year about $50,000 per spot. "Led by several categories, especially cars, MLB postseason has been solid for us. We're pacing well ahead of last year," Neil Mulcahy, executive VP for sports sales at Fox, told the website. Fox Sports said its top categories during the World Series will include cars, financials/insurance, movies, pharmaceutics, packaged

Honor Dan Wheldon, watch SENNA, film homage to racing

The death of Dan Wheldon during final IndyCar series finale Oct. 16 occurred ironically during the current release of the documentary SENNA, the biography of Ayrton Senna, the Brazilian Formula 1 driver who like Wheldon was revered and a racing hero to their respective countryman and global fans. Wheldon, 33, the Great Britain native and two-time Indy 500 winner, died in a 15-car accident early in the race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Senna, 34, of Brazil, a three-time F1 world titlist, died May, 1994 in an accident during the San Marino Grand Prix. Wheldon called Senna his racing hero, and 17 years after his death Senna is still often regarded as the greatest F1 driver in history. The

White supremacy returns for car buyers, silver now second

After a decade of silver leading the pack as the world's most popular car color, white is now No. 1 with 20 percent of all cars painted white, according to PPG Industries in Detroit. The color trends data company recently announced that white now has one percent lead over silver globally. But while white is also the leading color in North America, geographically color preferences are drastically different. In Europe, black is the favorite color among car buyers. Among North American car buyers, here are the percentages: white (20 percent), silver (19), black (18), gray (15), red (9), blue (9). And what a difference 17 years make. Green, once the most popular color, is now the least popular. In Europe,

Kia Rio, 2012: New features, new style, lower starting price

The redesigned 2012 Kia Rio ($13,600) and Kia Rio5 ($14,700), priced lower than 2011 models, are available in three trim levels — the base LX trim, the midlevel EX, and the top of the line SX. The SX starts at just under $18,000, which includes additional features such as 17 inch alloy wheels, twin chrome exhausts, a sport tuned suspension, and LED accents for the head and taillamps. Regardless of which model is selected, all three Rio trim levels will have electric power steering, air conditioning, and satellite radio as standard equipment along with standard safety features such as four wheel ABS brakes, Hill Start Assist Control, and Electronic Stability and Vehicle Stability Control systems. The 2012 Kia Rio features