Auto Industry News
And Car Reviews

If you'd like a little more luxury in your hybrid than the Toyota Prius is willing to provide, you'll have to be prepared to pay in both money and miles per gallon. Lexus released fuel economy figures for the 2011 CT 200h, Toyota's luxury answer to the Prius, and its 42 mpg combined lags behind the Prius' 50 mpg. The rating has not yet been verified by the EPA.

Last week, we saw the first of six teaser photos of a new Lamborghini, rumored to be the Murcielago-succeeding Jota. With under three weeks before the Paris Motor Show begins, we're expecting to see a teaser or two per week up until September 30.

Today, Lamborghini issued a second teaser photograph that indicates its latest car may include a trade-off of less cylinders for more carbon fiber/less overall weight. The teaser photo shows that the powerplant behind the new Lambo will have but 10 cylinders, a drop from the V12 standard in the Murcileago. And the information from the company demonstrates a shift in thinking from all-out grunt and speed toward thoughtful, lightened design.

If you love woodies (and who doesn't really), now is the time to plan a trip to the Saratoga Automobile Museum in Saratoga Springs, NY. Running between now and October 21, the museum's Woodies! exhibit features classic wood-bodied models from the 1940s and 50s, a must-see for admirers of woodie station wagons.

Since Ford announced the discontinuation of Mercury by year end of 2010, Ford says it will focus completely on “Lincoln design and customer services, in order to win younger customers,” according to a recent automotive news article.

Jim Farley, group VP of global marketing for Ford, stated, “It's not about scale right now, it's about getting it right.” Farley added, “The next set of products is about getting it right for the customer.”

According to J.D. Power and Associates, yearly sales of electric vehicles (EVs) is forecasted to rise to 2 million by the year 2020. Other sources, such as HSBC, say that number may be as high as 9 million. The growth in projected EV sales is impressive, considering that in 2009 there were only around 5,000 electric vehicles sold.

Mark Hogan, former General Motors executive, has been retained by North American Toyota Motor Corporation as an advisor to the Japanese automaker.
At age 56 Mark Hogan, the former General Motors executive and Magna International president, aspired to be the head of a startup automotive venture.  After raising the capital required (from raising funds after his departure from Magna in 2007) Hogan was successful in his venture (which was an impressive undertaking as even in a good economy, procuring investors for an automotive start-up is a difficult endeavor).

In the automotive industry, newer high-tech safety features have historically been reserved for high-end luxury cars, due to the increased cost of research and development of new technology. But all of that is about to change, according to Continental AG, the world’s biggest powertrain, chassis, and interior systems supplier. Continental is predicting a significant influx of high-tech safety features, even in mid-range priced vehicles, in the next 3–5 years.

In Tokyo Japan, a taxicab company has been experimenting with an all-electric, zero-emissions cab powered by  changeable batteries. One river, Yoshihiko Takahashi, says that customers ask him the same questions daily, such as “How often do you have to recharge? How far can you go? Does this car really have no emissions?”

According to a Financial Times report quoted in a blog on the New York Times website, Kelly Blue Book is up for sale. Two bankers who did not want to be identified say they have the “inside scoop on the potential sale.”

So the question that is on everyone’s mind: “what is the blue book value of Kelly Blue Book?”

The Toyota Avensis NGTC will meet the track for the first time in a race in the final round of this year’s BTCC season.

A sneak peek at the Toyota Avensis Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) has recently been released, unveiling for the first time photos of the racing concept vehicle that will make its entrance in the this year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

According to anonymous sources, Ford Motor Company has decided against its initial decision to build a small Ford Escape-like SUV, called the “Kuga,” in Louisville, Kentucky for export.