Automotive News

Mercedes-Benz Turbocharges Its Lineup

2008-07-17T15:22:00Z

Already on the leading edge of luxury and performance, Mercedes-Benz now looks to become a leader in fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.

Starting in 2010, all Mercedes-Benz models will be available with turbocharged engines. With increased emissions standards in the U.S. and Europe, turbocharged engines will allow Mercedes cars to be lighter and more fuel-efficient without losing the horsepower that consumers expect.

While it isn’t clear how this announcement will affect the AMG models or the supercar SLR McLaren or whether the turbochargers will be mounted to four-cylinder engines or V-6s, this move will most certainly help the German manufacturer reduce its carbon footprint considerably.

In addition to turbocharged engines, Mercedes-Benz vehicles will also start to implement full hybrid systems most likely similar to the system currently used in General Motors' hybrid trucks and SUVs (like the GMC Yukon Two-Mode Hybrid we recently tested), hybrid versions of the the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango and upcoming in the BMW 7-Series. The first Mercedes car to benefit from the hybrid system will be the S Class and should arrive in 2009.

More news from Mercedes includes the announcement that sister brand, smart, will begin production of a full-electric version of the popular fortwo model beginning in 2010.

Factory announced for 2010 Fisker Karma

2008-07-15T15:12:00Z

With gas prices continuing to rise, alternative propulsion cars can’t hit showrooms fast enough. For those waiting for a mass-produced electric car, one more hurdle has been cleared to get an increased number of oil-independent cars on the road.

Fisker Automotive recently announced that it chose a factory to build its all-electric, luxury plug-in hybrid sedan: the 2010 Fisker Karma. The Karma will be assembled by Valmet Automotive in Finland, which is also responsible for assembly of the Porsche Cayman and Boxster. With fuel economy becoming a major factor in the new car buying cycle, the Fisker Karma is guaranteed to have a demand - and now Fisker has the supply.

Introduced at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, the Fisker Karma was an instant hit. Despite pending lawsuits surrounding the company, hype continues to build for the sleek, “green” sedan as a growing number of hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell and diesel-powered vehicles are launched.

Fisker plans to have a dealership network of 40 U.S. dealers to sell the Karma by the time the car launches in the fourth quarter of 2009. Starting price is $80,000.

Toyota Prius - Assembled in the USA

2008-07-10T17:11:00Z

Toyota has announced that its iconic hybrid, the Prius, will be assembled at a plant currently under construction in Blue Springs, Mississippi. The announcement follows months of Prius shortages that have kept potential buyers waiting to in line for a new Prius -- and sometimes even paying more than MSRP for the privilege. This lack of production capacity has caused Prius sales to fall during a time when the popular hybrid should be leading the market. The irony of this has not been lost on Toyota, and has resulted in a display of decision making flexibility not often seen amongst major automakers.

The Mississippi plant was original slated to produce the Highlander sport utility vehicle, but the recent downturn in demand has forced Toyota to change priorities. Reflecting this shift, production of Toyota's full-size Tundra pickup truck and full-size Sequoia SUV will be shuttered for three months beginning in August. Even though the factory will not roll out any new Prius cars until 2010, Toyota and its dealers are confident that demand for the high-mileage car will remain high and demand for trucks and SUVs may never recover to former levels.

Ford Delays Launch of the 2009 F-150

2008-06-24T22:52:00Z

With truck sales plummeting and inventories stacking up at dealerships, Ford has announced the redesigned 2009 Ford F-150 will be delayed by two months. This will push back the availability of the truck to the fourth quarter of 2008, and is intended to give dealers more time to sell their existing trucks. To help dealers clean out the 2008 models, Ford has been deeply discounting the F-Series, with cash incentives of up to $3,000, employee pricing offers, and financing incentives that range from 0.0% to 3.9% backed by $1,000 bonus cash.

Here is a snippet from the recent 2009 Ford F-150 preview by Jeffrey Ross:

Ford gave the F-150 a look that isn’t a huge departure from the previous model, while incorporating many design cues similar to other Ford Trucks. From the Expedition-like headlights and grille to the taillights and brushed metal tailgate appliqué similar to the upcoming Ford Flex, the F-150 is unmistakably Ford.
Like its predecessor, the 2009 F-150 features the big-rig styling in the front doors with the stepped down beltline for better visibility through the side mirrors. To further itself from some of the competition, Ford equipped the F-150 with the built-in tailgate step that was an instant success on the 2008 Super Duty. The upscale Platinum model offers automatic folding side steps and retractable cargo box side steps for easier access of items toward the front of the bed.
For commercial purposes, the regular cab and SuperCab F-150s will offer side-mounted storage compartments built into the bed that feature lockable, watertight doors an additional 26.3 cubic feet of safe and secure storage. (Read more...)

Chrysler prices hybrid SUVs under $46,000

2008-06-17T20:42:00Z

With gas prices rising daily and becoming a main factor in the buying cycle, manufacturers are scrambling to make their fleets more fuel efficient and hybrids and diesel systems seem to be the route most are taking.

Chrysler recently announced that its largest SUV twins, the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen, will both come with a starting price just under $46,000. The 2009 Durango Hybrid will start at $45,340, while its Aspen counterpart will start at $45,570. Both go on sale this August.

Currently, the base Durango starts at $27,675 with the Aspen coming in a little bit higher with a $33,225 MSRP. This pair’s main competition, the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon Two-Mode Hybrids, also carry hefty premiums over the base price starting at $50,490 and $50,945, respectively.

The Durango and Aspen will use the same hybrid system the Yukon and Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrids, which get EPA estimated mileage of 21 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. Being a little smaller and lighter, the Durango and Aspen should be able to manage somewhat better results.

While sharing the basic technology behind the two-mode hybrid system, one thing the Chryslers don’t share with the powertrain in GM’s SUVs is the renowned HEMI® engine. The new 5.7-liter HEMI® will deliver 385 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. To help improve efficiency, the new HEMI® uses a Multi-displacement System (MDS), which shuts down four cylinders at cruising speeds to conserve gasoline even further. The goal for Chrysler is to give the Durango and Aspen hybrids an overall fuel economy increase of 25 percent and an increase of city fuel economy around 40 percent.

It isn’t clear whether these full-size, hybrid SUVs will help stop the bleeding that all of the Big 3 are currently experiencing, but any increase in fuel economy will help slow it down. With EPA estimates in the 20s, Chrysler’s duo should certainly strike a cord with those who still have a need for a vehicle that seats eight, offers over 100 cubic feet of total cargo capacity and a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.

Chrysler's Let's Refuel America Incentive Explained

2008-06-11T18:17:00Z

When Chrysler announced its "Let's Refuel America!" gas price guarantee, it was met with a mixture of praise and doubt. Those in favor of the program called it the right incentive at the right time. Detractors called it a game of smoke and mirrors to distract car buyers from Chrysler's lower than average fuel economy ratings. What neither talked about were the actual details of the program. There are some terms as conditions the program sets forth, but overall it is quite simple.

To determine the most favorable deal on a new Chrysler, all the car buyer has to do is compare the money saved by the Let's Refuel America program with the money that would be saved by taking the alternative rebates or special financing offers. You can find out what the current rebates and incentives are right here on Autotropolis.

Here is how the Let's Refuel America incentive works:

Purchase or lease a qualifying 2008 or 2009 Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep vehicle through July 7, 2008. To qualify, you must have a valid MasterCard or Visa credit card.
Select the MasterCard or Visa credit card to use with the program.
Receive a Let's Refuel America card that you will use to purchase fuel. Each year for the next three years, you will receive an allocation of gallons that qualify for the $2.99 per gallon offer.
Fill up. In each of the next three years, when buying fuel with the credit card you specified, you will never be charged more than $2.99 per gallon for qualifying purchases -- regardless of the price at the pump.

Sounds simple, but here are some additional details:

The plan is an alternative to traditional incentives offered by Chrysler, and can be taken in lieu of consumer cash, lease cash, or special interest rates. If you chose the gas price guarantee, you give up the rebates or special financing. However, there is a bonus cash incentive attached to some vehicles covered under this incentive. The bonus cash ranges from $0 to $3,000, depending on model. For instance, the Dodge Caliber has $0 bonus cash, whereas the Dodge Ram has $3,000 bonus cash.
The plan covers only regular 87 octane gasoline, E85, and diesel fuel. If the car you purchase from Chrysler runs on regular 87 octane gas, your discount is not valid toward diesel purchases, and vice versa. Participants can opt to upgrade to a higher grade of gasoline, but will pay an increased per-gallon cost for doing so.
If you use the Let's Refuel America card to purchase fuel that is priced less than $2.99 per gallon, you will not be charged $2.99, however that purchase will count toward your annual allotment.
All SRT models, Sprinter, Viper, Crossfire, Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited, Ram Chassis Cab, and Challenger models are ineligible to participate in this program.
The total fuel allotment is determined by the model of vehicle purchased. The fuel allotment is calculated by multiplying the average MPG totals by 12,000 miles per year over three years. For instance, a Chrysler Pacifica gets an average of 17 miles per gallon, the total fuel allotment is 36,000 miles divided by 17, which equal 2,118 gallons. The least amount of fuel allotted is 1,500 gallons with the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass. The most fuel allotted is 2,400 gallons with the Dodge Ram, Dodge Durango, Jeep Commander, and Chrysler Aspen.

For more information and a complete chart of bonus cash and fuel allotments, visit Chrysler's official Let's Refuel America site.

Audi on Track for 1 Million Sales in 2008

2008-06-06T17:54:00Z

Audi executives are crediting a fresh product line along with high growth in the Asian, Pacific, and Eastern European markets for boosting Audi's sales thus far in 2008. Through May, Audi sold more than 426,200 vehicles and is expecting similarly strong sales throughout the rest of the year. Selling 1 million vehicles in 2008 would bring Audi its 13th consecutive record year -- an enviable track record to say the least. Audi secured its 12th consecutive year of record sales in 2007, during which it sold a total of 964,151 vehicles.

The star of Audi's line-up is the A4 sedan (pictured below), which accounts for 60 percent of Audi's sales in the European market. The all-new A4 sedan and A4 Avant wagon have already landed on dealer showrooms in Europe, but Audi's North American customers will have to wait until September to get their hands on the new cars. Other upcoming releases for North America include the Audi TTS coupe and Roadster by the end of 2008, the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI early in 2009, and the Audi Q5 in the first quarter of 2009.

Ford Announces Employee Pricing on F-Series

2008-06-05T20:50:00Z

Ford has announced a special employee pricing incentive for the month of June on all 2008 F-150, F-250, and F-350 pickup trucks (excluding the Harley-Davidson edition and chassis cab models). Employee pricing is being offered as a supplemental incentive to bolster the cash incentives already being offered on the F-Series. Beginning June 3, dealers will begin displaying supplemental window stickers that outline the MSRP, the employee discount, and any qualified cash incentives.

This announcement comes on the heels of dismal sales figures that were reported for the month of May. The Ford F-Series lost its best-seller status to not one, but four Japanese cars. The Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord, and Honda Civic all out-sold the F-Series last month. The last time the Ford F-Series lost the #1 spot was October of 1991. Ford is banking on the popularity of employee pricing programs to prop up lagging sales, but we will have to wait until next month to see if $4 per gallon fuel wins out instead.

Ford F-150 Loses Best-Seller Crown

2008-06-04T23:33:00Z

For the first time since October 1991, the long-reigning Ford F-150 has surrendered its best-seller crown to the Honda Civic, and was edged out by three other Japanese cars, as well. Ford moved 42,973 F-Seres trucks in May, but was trounced by the Toyota Corolla with 52,826 units sold, the Toyota Camry with 51,291 units sold, and the Honda Civic with 53,299 units sold. The Honda Accord also managed to edge out the F-150 by 755 units.

The May sales results certainly do not come unheralded. For some time now the truck and SUV markets have been diminishing while small and economical cars have been gaining ground. Ford's sales news isn't all bad, however. The Ford Focus and Ford Fusion have been enjoying large gains. The Focus is up a massive 53 percent over a year ago and the Fusion is up 27 percent.

There is still a lot of 2008 left to see how the market fares for the F-150, but automakers are declaring the shift from pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles to smaller cars as permanent. General Motors announced yesterday that it would shutter four truck plants and perform a strategic review of the Hummer brand. Even Ford executive Jim Farley, VP of Marketing and Communications, grudgingly accepted the May results, citing rising fuel prices and the move toward smaller cars as "a sign of the times."

GM To Close Plants, Could Kill Hummer

2008-06-04T16:11:00Z

Due to the slowing market for trucks and sport utility vehicles, General Motors has announced the shuttering of four assembly plants that build Chevy and GMC trucks. GM's leadership believes the trend toward smaller cars is not temporary, and is planning accordingly -- some would argue this planning is rather belated. Permanently closing these plants would lead to a significant production capacity reduction for GM, but it would also force more than 10,000 employees to find a new way to make a living. Most of those workers would be allowed to fill the gap made at other plants where 19,000 hourly workers took GM up on the recent round of buyouts. Also affected will be suppliers and other companies that support operations at the GM plants, making the actual toll of the cuts much higher. The four GM plants slated for closure are located in Wisconsin, Ohio, Canada, and Mexico.

In addition to reducing manufacturing capacity, GM said it will begin examining the possibility of revamping, killing, or selling the Hummer brand. Not so many years ago, the Hummer was king of the road and riding high on the wave of interest created by Operation: Desert Storm. Unfortunately for GM and Hummer, the crown tarnished quickly. The over-sized Hummer became the "poster truck" for nearly everything that is wrong with the domestic automobile industry and an easy target for environmentalist demanding change from Detroit. It all comes down to sales -- or the lack of them. At the end of May, Hummer sales were down 30 percent in comparison to the same period last year. This is a dramatic decline, but not completely out of line with the lagging sales being experienced across the board in the truck and large-SUV segments.