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Mazda MX-5 20th Anniversary Special Edition Roadster Debuts — But Only for Japan
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Mazda will celebrate two decades of the MX-5 Miata with a special-edition version of the popular roadster (pictured). It's not for the U.S., though. (Photo courtesy of Mazda North American Operation)
HIROSHIMA, Japan — Mazda has introduced the 20th Anniversary Special Edition MX-5 Roadster, with such touches as Recaro bucket sport seats and unusual exterior paint. The Japanese automaker said the special model will go on sale only in Japan at this point, starting at the equivalent of $29,861.
All 20th Anniversary models come in Crystal White Pearl Mica, which Mazda said it used for the first time on the Mazda roadster.
Other special equipment includes 20th-anniversary badges, a clear front foglight, and heated seats with five temperature settings.
Mazda said the Roadster 20th Anniversary model is based on the… Read the rest of this entry
Toyota Announces Slight Price Increase on 2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser and Yaris
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The 2010 Avalon is up $100. (Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.)
TORRANCE, California — Toyota announced modest price increases on several of its key models on Thursday, including the 2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser and Yaris. It said the 2010 Toyota Tacoma, RAV4 and most Highlander models will not get price increases for the new model year.
The 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser gets a price increase of $360. The base FJ Cruiser with 2WD automatic will start at $24,480, including an $800 destination charge. Upgrades to the FJ Cruiser include minor suspension changes to reduce the turning radius by more than a foot and the addition of a new Army Green exterior color.
The flagship 2010 Toyota Avalon sedan gets an increase of $100. The base Avalon starts at $28,695, including a $750 destination charge. The Avalon gets rear-passenger auto up/down windows and one… Read the rest of this entry
White House Says Cash for Clunkers Is Up and Running
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CARS.gov (Photo courtesy of CARS.gov)
WASHINGTON — The White House insists the too-successful Cash for Clunkers program, despite running out of money, remains up and running Friday and will continue to operate through the weekend as the administration seeks additional funding for it.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program remained “up and continuing to run,” according to Politico.com. For those intending to buy a car over the weekend, “the program will be in place,” Gibbs said.
But Gibbs did say the administration is trying to find additional funding the program even as Congress recesses for the August break. Congress reportedly is voting Friday on an additional $2 billion for CARS. An update is expected later in… Read the rest of this entry
BYD Plans New Stock Offering in China
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BYD's e6 pure electric crossover was shown in January at the Detroit auto show. (Photo courtesy of BYD Auto)
SHENZHEN, China — BYD Company, the parent of hybrid-vehicle specialist BYD Auto, said it expects to raise more than $400 million through a new stock offering here to help fund an expansion of vehicle and battery production.
BYD Company, in which U.S. investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway holds a stake of around 10 percent, is headquartered in Shenzhen. Analysts said a listing on the local stock exchange could make it easier to win government support for future projects. BYD stock is also listed on the Hong Kong exchange.
BYD said it plans to issue up to 100 million yuan-denominated shares on the Shenzhen exchange early next year. The proceeds will be used to increase production of lithium-ion batteries, expand its vehicle portfolio and help fund… Read the rest of this entry
Revealed: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
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2010 Suzuki Kizashi (Photo courtesy of American Suzuki Motor Corporation)
BREA, California — Suzuki Motor, one of Japan's smallest carmakers, hopes to keep its American dream alive just a little longer, but the decision on whether to stay in or pull out of the U.S. market could well hinge on the public's acceptance of the all-new 2010 Suzuki Kizashi midsize sedan.
The Kizashi, which has been shown in several concept incarnations at U.S. auto shows over the past two years, will do battle in perhaps the most highly competitive segment in the States, one that is dominated by the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. Although it is aiming at those two long-time successes, the Kizashi is quite a bit smaller — about the size of the Acura TSX and Volkswagen Jetta.
Suzuki is touting the new Kizashi, which is due to reach dealerships this… Read the rest of this entry
“Cash for Clunkers” Program Reportedly Just About Out of $1 Billion Set Aside for It
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The Cash for Clunkers rebate program from the U.S. government has reached a watershed moment, with all the $1 billion earmarked for it apparently spoken for already. (Photo courtesy of CARS.gov)
WASHINGTON —The federal government, too successful with its Cash for Clunkers rebate program, has reportedly suspended the offer as of Thursday night. The program had been slated to run until November 1 with an appropriation of $1 billion to give out in rebates, and now the government says that money has all been spoken for. Whether the Car Allowance Rebate System, or CARS, is all done or just awaiting a fresh infusion of cash is unclear as of Friday morning. The White House issued a statement saying all pending new-car purchases under CARS will be honored and that it is not canceled, only under review.
The program had set aside the $1 billion… Read the rest of this entry
Dongfeng Nissan To Build $730 Million Plant in Guangzhou
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Dongfeng Nissan will spend big to build a new plant to expand production in China. Its products include the recently redesigned New Sylphy (Xuanyi). Pictured: Nissan Bluebird Sylphy. (Photo courtesy of Nissan Motors Corporation Inc.)
GUANGZHOU, China — Dongfeng Nissan, the joint venture between Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor and Japan's Nissan Motor, will meet rising demand from Chinese consumers by investing $730 million in a new assembly plant here that will boost the venture's total annual production capacity to 700,000 units.
The Guangzhou plant, which is scheduled to open in 2012, will have a capacity of 240,000 units.
In the first half, Dongfeng Nissan sold 225,000 vehicles, up more than 40 percent from the previous year. The partners have forecast sales this year of 388,000, compared with full-year sales of 350,000 in 2008.
The partners build and sell a variety of Nissan models in China, including… Read the rest of this entry
India: Maruti Suzuki Readies Future Small Cars
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Long-serving Maruti 800 (pictured) will be replaced by an all-new model designed specifically for India. (Photo courtesy of Maruti Suzuki)
MUMBAI, India — Maruti Suzuki, which still commands the lion's share of India's small-car market, is developing more models to further strengthen its position.
An all-new, India-specific model (code name: YE3) is expected to slot in below the Alto and fill the space vacated by the long-lived Maruti 800, with its dwindling numbers.
The next-generation Wagon R (code name: YR9) is also being developed for a 2010 launch.
These models will use the new KB-series engine, which has proved to be exceptionally fuel-efficient.
General Motors Tidies Up Executive Ranks
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Chet Huber is retiring on October 1 as head of OnStar. (Photo courtesy of General Motors Corporation)
DETROIT — General Motors has made more changes to its management lineup, naming new vice presidents in human resources, global engineering, global powertrain manufacturing and global product planning. OnStar gets a new chief as well. GM called this “the final round” of executive changes to “create the simplified leadership team” CEO Fritz Henderson had promised in a statement on July 10.
Mark Reuss, 45, will become vice president of global engineering. He replaces two executives, Jim Queen and Ed Koerner, who are retiring effective October 1. Reuss is the son of former GM President Lloyd Reuss. He was just replaced in his current post as managing director of GM Holden in Australia by Alan Batey, effective September 1.
Mary Barra becomes VP of global human resources, replacing the retiring… Read the rest of this entry
Tuner Special: ABT Golf GTI
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Golf GTI looks a lot sportier thanks to Abt's front apron with integrated running lamps, side sills and a rear spoiler and apron. (Photo courtesy of Abt Sportsline)
KEMPTEN, Germany — Christian Abt and his merry band of tuners have set their wrenches to improving the sixth-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI, offering two stages of performance upgrades.
ABT Sportsline's basic package takes the GTI's standard 207-horsepower 2.0-liter TSI engine to 256 hp, primarily through optimization of the engine management system. The next step is to swap in an ABT turbocharger, which boosts output to 296 hp and trims 0-60-mph acceleration to less than 6.0 seconds.
For good measure, ABT upgrades the GTI's brakes and chassis, with a new set of springs that drops ride height by 1.2 inches.
No ABT conversion would be complete without the usual aero accoutrements — in this case, a new front apron… Read the rest of this entry
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