I’m going to assume that this is part of Chrysler’s 5-year plan, but they intend to be the number one leader in quality sometime in the next three years. As of one year ago, Chrysler had 200 people on its quality team, and it plans on hiring 200 additional members to get its quality team to 1,700 heads.

Whoa! An automotive company that is hiring? Why that’s a quality step if I’ve ever heard one.

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If any of you has read Chrysler’s lengthy five-year plan, you might have noticed a note that said “Ram large and small commercial van”. This was slated for 2012, and supplied by Fiat. This is probably a reference to the Fiat Doblo, and it may be coming to America very very soon. We will see.

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Just picture this as a preview for some eighties action film:

The man: Carlos Ghosn, leader of Nissan-Renault.
The mission: Create an ultra-cheap micro-car.
The competition: The Tata Nano, which may or may not be coming to the United States in 2012.

Let the battle commence!

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Here’s an interesting looking concept car that may or may not be a concept. The Renault Zoe Z.E. is an electric car that will not only run on electricity, but it has an electric diffuser that is built right into the climate control system. In short, it has a an interior that “mirrors a spa-like experience”. Believe it or not, Renault has hinted that this car could see production as early as 2012.

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The Tokyo Motor Show is underway and information about new vehicles continues to flow out — The latest bit focuses on the Nissan Fuga hybrid which is expected to hit North American dealerships sometime in 2011 as the Infiniti M.

This vehicle features an electric motor capable of 50 kW and 200 pounds-per-feet of torque that will have the Fuga reaching speeds of up to 62mph on electricity alone. Couple that with a 3.5-liter 6 cylinder engine and you have yourself a luxury model that any fuel sipping driver would love.

Nissan is expected to release complete engine output numbers sometime next year.

via autoblog

Tags: hybrid, nissan fuga, north america

Nissan has recently confirmed its plans to offer the Micra in the United States. Three variants will be available which include a four-door sedan, five-door hatchback and “an MPV-like vehicle”. It might not be available until 2011 or 2012.

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If we’re talking rally car inspired consumer vehicles two models almost always come to mind; the Subaru Impreza WRX and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The WRX is a nice car but for now we’re going to focus on the Evo as recent reports have surfaced that suggest the vehicle’s next iteration will feature plug-in technology.

Mitsubishi recently showed off the above Concept PX-MiEV at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show which is nothing more than an all electric SUV. However, the real treat comes from rumors that Mitsubishi is planning on using this vehicle’s drivetrain in the Lancer Evolution XI.

There isn’t much more information regarding this new Evo but our sources say it is expected to hit the market by 2013.

via autopia

Tags: concept px-miev, mitsubishi evo, tokyo motor show, xi

Lexus has today released the pricing scheme for their brand new 2010 LS and GS models. Now, none of these vehicles go on sale until the end of this month but they are by no means cheap so you better start saving.

Below is the full pricing breakdown courtesy of Kicking Tires:

• GS 350 RWD: $45,000
• GS 350 AWD: $46,950
• GS 460: $53,470
• GS 450h: $56,550

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• LS 460 RWD: $64,680
• LS 460 AWD: $68,205
• LS 460 L RWD: $70,225
• LS 460 L AWD: $73,750

Tags: gs, Lexus, ls, pricing

Recent reports have surfaced that BMW has a brand new 0 Series in the works based on the Mini platform. Seeing as the entire Mini lineup is, well, mini we’re going to guess that this new 0 Series will be a quite small one.

The need for such a series apparently came about by the demands of consumers looking for increasingly smaller vehicles. You know, the smaller the car, the better gas mileage? Yeah, that kind of thing. Further reports suggest that there will be several vehicles in the 0 Series lineup including a 3-door and 5-sdoor hatback along with some sort of convertible model.

As always, we’ll keep you posted.

via motoringfile

Tags: 0 series, BMW, Mini, platform, rumor

Infiniti has come forth today to let us know that they will in fact be selling hybrid version of their M35. The proper title is the 2012 Infiniti M35 Hybrid and will hit dealerships sometime in 2011.

Under the hood you can expect a 6 cylinder engine, twin-clutch transmission along with a lithium ion powered electric motor all powering the cars rear wheels.

Unfortunately that is currently all the information we have regarding the 2012 M35 Hybrid but we’ll keep you updated as more is made known.

via kickingtires

Tags: 6 cylinder, hybrid, Infiniti, lithium ion, m35, twin clutch

GM’s Chevy Volt has yet to hit dealerships and already tremendous amounts of buzz has begun circulating partially due to advertising efforts.

This is only the beginning says GM’s Bob Lutz as when the car is closer to hitting dealerships GM will be “pulling out the heaving artilery and get Volt buzz going”. In other words, GM is going to pour unheard of amounts of money into the Volt’s advertising campaign in hopes that it will catch out.

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Tags: chevy volt, GM

The first we saw of Audi’s e-Tron concept car was at the Frankfurt Motor Show where it remained nothing more than a concept. Now, Audi has come forth to tell Autoweek that the 4,500nm torque of beast is on the drawing board to become a production vehicle. There’s not telling on when we will be seeing it at dealerships but Audi of America Johan de Nysschen reportedly expects pre-production models within the next 2 years.

For those who don’t know, the e-tron is a fully electric vehicle capable of a outputting 313hp (230kW), 4,500nM of torque (over 3,300 pounds-per-foot) and will hit 62 miles from a stand still in just 4.8 seconds and reach top speeds of 124 mph. Best of all, on a full charge the e-tron will be able to travel a full 154 miles.

Tags: Audi, audi of america, e-tron, frankfurt motor show, Production

Recent reports suggest that BMW is gearing up to send the V10 engine featured in their current generation M5 to the great beyond and instead replace it with a turbocharged V8.

Sure, the V10 is fast, that’s not secret, but the fact that it’s just about everything besides environmentally friendly has left BMW with no choice but to turn towards greener alternatives such as the above mentioned turbocharged V8.

If these reports are true, we should be seeing the a turbocharged V8 engine appear in the next generation M5 with right around 555 HP and 500 lb-per-feet of torque.

via autoblog

Tags: BMW, m5, report, turbocharger, v10, V8

If recent reports are to be believed we may in fact be seeing a drop top convertible version of the Ferrari 458 Italia entitled the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider appear at some point in the near future.

WCF says that reports come to us out of Italy where buzz is circulating that Ferrari will in fact begin producing the 458 Italia that surfaced after Ferrari’s Luca Cordero di Montezemolo was quoted to have said the Spider is coming withing the next couple of years.

Those who plan on purchasing the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider better start saving up now as it’s not going to be cheap. I mean, it is a Ferrari, after all.

Tags: 458 italia, convertible, Ferrari, Italy, rumor, spider

Ford Motors has entered a joint venture with Changan Ford Mazda Automobile (CFMA) which resulted in a new plant that will be put up in Chongqing China. The plant is scheduled to be completed by 2012 and is Ford’s ticket towards expanding in the Asian Pacific and African regions.

The new plant is said to be capable of producing 150,000 units a year which jacks up the total annual production capacity of the CFMA to 600,000 to cover the growing demands for Ford brands in China. The investment was said to be valued at $490 million.

The new, highly flexible facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art automation and utilize Ford’s global manufacturing processes and systems. Capable of producing a diversified range of products in the future, the plant will begin manufacturing Ford’s next-generation Ford Focus in 2012.

(Source) Press

Tags: african regions, art automation, asian pacific, cfma, changan ford, chongqing china, diversified range, flexible facility, ford focus, ford motors, joint venture, manufacturing processes, Mazda, mazda automobile, next generation, state of the art