Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: Car Tech Archives

June 10, 2008

2009 Cadillac CTS-V Performance certified at 556 horsepower

MILFORD, Mich. - As final testing of the limited-edition 2009 CTS-V nears completion, the results suggest that Cadillac's upcoming sports sedan is entering the stratosphere of the world's highest-performing cars.

Cadillac announces the following performance specifications for all-new 2009 CTS-V:

Continue reading"2009 Cadillac CTS-V Performance certified at 556 horsepower"

June 9, 2008

2009 Dodge Challenger Pricing: Starting in Low $20s

Auburn Hills, Mich. -- Dodge announced pricing today for the all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger. The U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) will start at $21,995, which includes $675 for destination. Dodge dealers across the country are now taking orders for the 2009 Dodge Challenger, which will arrive this fall.

“The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger gives customers a modern-day muscle machine at an incredible value,” said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Brand and SRT Global Marketing, Chrysler LLC. “For less than $22,000, we’ve brought Dodge Challenger back and loaded it with head-snapping styling and cutting-edge technology.”

Continue reading"2009 Dodge Challenger Pricing: Starting in Low $20s"

Porsche's Hartmut Kristen: “A class victory in Le Mans is a huge success”

Stuttgart -- After its successes in the American Le Mans Series and the Le Mans Series, the Porsche RS Spyder is on the verge of its next great challenge: On Saturday at 3pm, the Weissach-developed and built sports prototype tackles the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time.

Hartmut Kristen, Head of Motorsport at Porsche, is relaxed about the debut at the world’s toughest long distance race: “I’m confident that we are very well prepared.”

Continue reading"Porsche's Hartmut Kristen: “A class victory in Le Mans is a huge success”"

June 8, 2008

Video: Bob Lutz on the Volt Test Mule

By Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman

This week we announced that the GM Board has approved the Chevrolet Volt program. Yes, development work has been going on in earnest, but now it’s official. In fact, recently, at GM’s Milford Proving Ground, I drove an official “engineering development vehicle” with the 16-kwh lithium-ion battery pack we’ve been testing for our E-Flex System and I have to say – pun half-intended – it was electrifying.

Continue reading"Video: Bob Lutz on the Volt Test Mule"

Space Shuttle Crew Tests BMW Hydrogen Vehicle

Munich -- The Space Shuttle crew is getting a taste of the future of mobility at BMW. The astronauts, who normally head into space propelled by hydrogen, have adopted the role of earthbound passengers to experience the world's first hydrogen-powered saloon, the BMW Hydrogen 7.

It is an obvious move considering that NASA was already using the American fleet of these vehicles for test purposes at Cape Canaveral in autumn 2007. Commander Stephen Frick takes stock of his impressions: "It's impressive to see hydrogen functioning so smoothly in cars as well. What I find most striking is that a car running on hydrogen performs just as well as a petrol-driven model."

Continue reading"Space Shuttle Crew Tests BMW Hydrogen Vehicle"

Chrysler crows over productivity gains

With years of consistent and steady improvement, Chrysler has climbed all the way into a tie for first place in the 2008 Harbour Report, the benchmark study measuring manufacturing productivity.

In the 2008 study, Chrysler’s hours per vehicle improved by 7.7 percent, the best of any manufacturer, to 30.37 hours per vehicle.

Continue reading"Chrysler crows over productivity gains"

Ford's productivity improve in annual report

The following statement is from Joe Hinrichs, group vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs, Ford Motor Company.

Dearborn, Mich., June 5 – Ford Motor Company is making continued progress in manufacturing productivity, and improved 3.7 percent – our sixth consecutive year of improved efficiency – in The Harbour Report™ North America 2008.

Continue reading"Ford's productivity improve in annual report"

June 7, 2008

Ford Launches Flex Marketing Campaign

DEARBORN, Mich. -- The new 2009 Ford Flex's unique, multi-faceted marketing campaign launches this weekend, with multi-media outreach that reflects the distinctive personality of Ford's newest crossover vehicle.

"The Ford Flex is electric. It provokes a reaction, so the approach that we're taking to launching the vehicle will be unconventional and quite unexpected," said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president, Marketing and Communications.

Continue reading"Ford Launches Flex Marketing Campaign"

Cadillac Escalade Adds FlexFuel Capability for 2009

ATLANTA – All models of the 2009 Cadillac Escalade will be able to run on either ordinary gasoline or E85 ethanol, or any combination of the two, General Motors announced Friday.

And customers will have the fueling choice at no additional cost.

The Escalade, Escalade EXT and Escalade ESV as well as the GMC Denali, join the previously announced 2009 Chevrolet HHR, Buick Lucerne and Hummer H2 and H2 SUT as additions to GM’s industry-leading flex-fuel lineup.

Continue reading"Cadillac Escalade Adds FlexFuel Capability for 2009"

Nissan saves 21 million gallons of H2O at Barcelona Paint Plant

BARCELONA -- Nissan Motor Co.’s productive manufacturing plant in Barcelona will save 21.6 million liters of water in its paint shop in 2008, thanks to a new water recycling process now installed.

This improvement - a 20 percent reduction in water consumption over 2007 - is an integral element of the Nissan Green Program 2010, a global program designed to reduce the company’s impact on the environment.

Continue reading"Nissan saves 21 million gallons of H2O at Barcelona Paint Plant"

Chrysler Appoints Jethro Joseph to Lead Supplier Diversity Development

Auburn Hills, Mich. -- Chrysler LLC has appointed Jethro Joseph to the position of Senior Executive, Supplier Diversity Development.

In this role, Joseph will continue to be responsible for providing access, growth and development to Minority Business Enterprises (MBE). He reports to John Campi, Executive Vice President - Procurement.

Continue reading"Chrysler Appoints Jethro Joseph to Lead Supplier Diversity Development"

New Generation Porsche 911 Combines Increased Performance with MPGs

Porsche today disclosed photos and details for the next generation 911 model series.

Four new 911 models go on sale in September in North America – the 911 Carrera Coupe, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S Coupe, and 911 Carrera S Cabriolet. All offer a higher level of performance thanks to their all-new flat-six engines displacing 3.6 and 3.8 liters respectively.

Continue reading"New Generation Porsche 911 Combines Increased Performance with MPGs"

Dodge Journey Equipped with BorgWarner All-Wheel Drive System

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The all-new 2009 Dodge Journey crossover offers BorgWarner's award-winning Interactive Torque Management system as an option for drivers who value performance, fuel economy and stability.

Based on Chrysler's global D-segment platform, the Dodge Journey blends the capability of a sport-utility vehicle with the overall efficiency of a passenger car into a "right-sized" package available with best-in-class fuel economy and best-in-class starting price.

Continue reading"Dodge Journey Equipped with BorgWarner All-Wheel Drive System"

GM Continue Improvement in Harbour Productivity Report

DETROIT- General Motors Corp. improved overall productivity, despite an 8 percent production volume decrease last year, according to "The Harbour Report North America 2008." The Harbour Report measures North American automotive manufacturers' assembly, powertrain and stamping plant productivity.

GM is the only manufacturer to consistently improve year-over-year overall in the history of the annual report.

Continue reading"GM Continue Improvement in Harbour Productivity Report"

Posted by Frank at 9:19 AM | Filed under Auto Marketing | Auto News | Car Tech | GM

June 6, 2008

Mustang first convertible to win top safety rating

DEARBORN, Mich. -- When Ford Chief Engineer for Safety Systems Steve Kozak decided to give a new car to his teenage daughter as a graduation gift only one model would do: the 2008 Ford Mustang GT convertible, the No. 1-selling and top safety-rated drop-top in the U.S.

The 2008 Mustang GT is the only convertible to earn a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for frontal crash, side impact and rollover tests.

Continue reading"Mustang first convertible to win top safety rating"

Car Buyer's Notebook