Mazda2 will prepare company for looming gas price hikes
Filed under: MPG, Mazda, Green Daily
2011 Mazda2 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Mazda chief executive officer Jim O’Sullivan believes that the company’s timing for the launch of the Mazda2 couldn’t be better. Despite low gas prices and platform-mate Ford Fiesta rolling onto the scene at the same time, Mazda remains confident that its new B-segment car will be a hit. As Mazda CEO Jim O’Sullivan told Ward’s Auto:
I’m glad we’re launching now vs. year-ago. A year-ago, we would have launched in the abyss of the market and the economy caving in and all the distractions. When the economy recovers, commodities start to be in greater demand globally. Fuel prices are going to be up over $4, closer to $5 a gallon, so we want to get in before the market gets to that level.
Even though O’Sullivan believes that the Mazda2′s timing is perfect, we’re led to believe otherwise. As the economy rebounds, buyers have slowly turned towards more upscale models. And with low gas prices, sales of SUVs and truck have risen once again. Even though the Mazda2 is the most fuel-efficient vehicle the company has ever offered in the U.S., gas prices well below the $3 mark (well, maybe not) may hamper its initial success. Not to worry though, Mazda’s smallest zoom-zoom offering readies the company for the inevitable day when gas prices skyrocket once again. Plus, we hear it’s pretty darn fun to drive.
June Sales: Mustang Beats Camaro, Pickups Gain Steam
Ford’s Mustang outsold the Chevrolet Camaro in June, giving the Mustang its highest market share in the segment since May 2009, now at 33 percent. Camaro had consistently beat Mustang in the musclecar wars since its production levels caught up with demand late last year. Ford’s victory was dramatic. Mustang outsold Camaro last month by 1,434 units, proof that the kind of constant updates and refreshes (plus Mustang’s new engines) that Ford Motor Company’s Alan Mulally promised can pay off, especially in the mercurial sports coupe segment.
The Dodge Challenger also bit into Camaro’s market share.
Both GM and Ford claimed major victories in the full-size pickup market. GM said its large pickup truck sales rose 27 percent in June, compared with June 2009, with Chevy Silverado up 25 percent, GMC Sierra up 27 percent and Chevy Avalanche up 48 percent. Ford F-Series (including heavy duties) rose 29.5 percent. These are impressive numbers, especially since analysts for both automakers say June 2010 sales are proof that we’re in an economic recovery, but it’s a particularly slow one. Trucks shouldn’t be selling well considering how slow job growth and home sales remain. If you stretch monthly sales into an annual trend, the Seasonally Adjustable Annual Rate (SAAR), 2010 is an 11.3-million unit year, up from 2009′s 10.6 million.
How important is SAAR as an indicator? Not very important. It’s a one-month snapshot, and could go up or down next month. Based on the trends, however, GM expects production overtime for such hot models as the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain will end in October or November.
The year-over-year monthly increases don’t look as impressive as they were last spring, though. Percentage increases for the next couple of months will slow even more, as they’re compared with the same months last year that included the Cash for Clunkers program.
2011 Hyundai Elantra/Avante interior rendering & photo gallery
At this year’s Busan Motor Show in April, Hyundai gave us our first viewing of the stylish new Elantra sedan (Avante in South Korea). However, Hyundai only showed the exterior as the display model’s windows were heavily tinted.
Now, Hyundai is teasing us with a theoretical image of the Elantra’s/Avante interior that, like the exterior, promises a striking overhaul compared to the current model. Judging from the drawing, the 2011 Elantra’s/Avante cabin design will continue the same “sculpted” theme.
The Elantra/Avante is expected to go on sale in South Korea with a new 140bhp 1.6 litre direct-injection gasoline engine during Autumn. While Hyundai has yet to confirm a launch date, recent reports from South Korea claim that the new Elantra will be built at Hyundai’s Montgomery, Alabama plant starting from April 2011.
U.S bound models are moving into final testing stages, which has been spied by our boys in Death Valley, CA. Notice that the U.S market Elantra has an extended front bumper, likely to help it in meeting U.S crash regulations.
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Special two-tone California to lead Ferrari fleet at Goodwood
Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Misc. Auto Shows, Ferrari, UK, Racing
Ferrari California with two-tone paintjob for Goodwood 2010 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Ferrari always shows up big for the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and this year will be no exception as a roster of factory and private entries fill out the Prancing Horse stables on the run up the Earl of March’s front yard.
Both the 458 Italia and the 599 GTO will be making their British debuts at the event, but arguably more intriguing is the specially-prepared California that will be joining them. The two-tone roadster is decked out in a Argento Nurburgring hue, offset by a black roof and pillars similar to the treatment which Ferrari gave to various versions of the 599, including the XX, GTO, HY-KERS and China editions. Other optional extras like 20-inch matte-black rims and special interior stitching set this example apart from the standard model, but the question is – with some saying the body-toned roof helps the California’s unwieldy shape – does the blacktop treatment do it any favors?
Along with the 458, 599 GTO and California, the Scuderia will also be fielding last year’s F1 car piloted by factory test driver Marc Gené, while a range of vintage road and race Ferraris will also be on hand, all of which you can read about in the press release after the jump.
BREAKING: 10,000 Chevrolet Volts in 2011, 30,000 in 2012
Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Electric
2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery
During a live video webchat this afternoon, Tony DiSalle, marketing director for the Chevrolet Volt, announced the production volumes for the first two years. General Motors plans to build 10,000 Volts by the end of the 2011 calendar year, with another 30,000 units coming in 2012. There will be a relatively slow production ramp up during the first year as the automaker learns to build the Volt as well as well as picking up lessons from cars in the field.
Chevrolet dealers will have to meet some minimum qualifications in order to sell the Volt. For instance, every dealer authorized to sell the Volt will have to maintain at least one demonstrator vehicle in stock so that potential customers can test drive it. Those same dealers will also have to install a 240 volt home charging station so that the cars have a full battery and customers can try it out. Beyond the dealers that sell Volts in the initial retail markets, GM will also assign dealers in other parts of the country to service the Volt if needed.
Unlike the Nissan Leaf, customers will not have to get pre-qualified to buy a Volt by having access to 240 volt home charging. Anyone can walk into a Volt authorized dealer and buy one (assuming they have the money!) even if they live in an apartment. Of course, getting the most out of a Volt will require access to a plug, but that is the customers’ choice.
Subaru Forester gets new engine for 2011, improved fuel economy
Filed under: Crossover, Subaru
2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium – Click above for high-res image gallery
The current Subaru Forester started life with a Motor Trend SUV of the Year award, followed by strong sales that helped Subaru succeed in a down auto market. The story gets a bit better for the 2011 model year with a new 2.5-liter boxer engine and a host of added features.
The new engine retains the same displacement as the outgoing mill and achieves the same 170-horsepower, but it’s now packing a chain driven double overhead cam versus the belt driven single overhead cam before. The result is maximum horsepower available at a lower RPM and an additional four pound-feet of torque (to 174 lb-ft). The new 2.5-liter helps the Forester post 21 miles-per-gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway whether you’re sporting the manual or automatic transmission. That’s up one mpg versus the outgoing model.
Other changes include a new model; the Subaru 2.5XT Touring, which slots above the Limited model. Among the standard features on the Touring model are HID headlamps, backup camera and dual-zone climate control. Subaru is also adding a 2.5XT Premium model (old model was 2.5X Premium), which includes a 10-way power driver’s seat, an upgraded stereo with six speakers, Bluetooth and a USB port for your iPod. Also available is a removable 4.3-inch TomTom Navigation System for directions on the cheap. Hit the jump to read over the Subaru presser if you’re interested in all the details.
Mahindra to re-launch Kinetic Boss 115cc
Mahindra is keen to make its foot hold strong in the 2 wheeler segment. After its take over from Kinetic Mahindra has re launched products which was earlier in the name of Kinetic namely Flyte and Duro with slight modifications. However Rodeo is an exception which has a distinct stlying.
Now Mahindra wants to re-launch the Kinetic Boss 115cc entry level motorcycle. The bike has been codenamed as A01 and is likely to be priced between Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000. Expect few cosmetic changes in this entry level motorcycle. A 200cc performance motorcycle is also on the cards which will be built in collaboration with SYM motors.
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