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Daily News Briefs: April 30, 2012

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:53:13 +0000

Here's what we have our eye on today:

After overcoming “unspecified part” issues, the Dodge Dart will begin rolling off the line in Chrysler's Belvidere, Ill., assembly plant May 3, Bloomberg News reports. Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said in a conference call last week that “if I told you the preparation for the launch has been a walk on the park, I'd be lying through my teeth,” Bloomberg notes. An Aero package, which includes aerodynamic enhancements to push the car's EPA highway mileage to 41 mpg, will come only on the base SE trim. The Aero goes on sale this fall.
The auto industry's benchmark Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate, or SAAR, could face some doubt over the next few months, Bloomberg News reports. Why? Last year's earthquake and tsunami in Japan cut inventory for most Japanese automakers, reducing the SAAR to less than 12.5 million through most of the summer. SAARs typically are calculated using recent sales history. Analysts expect April sales to hit 14.3 million SAAR, keeping even with 2012's sales rate but outpacing any figure in 2011. Nissan and Chrysler may post the biggest gains, while GM and Honda may decline, analysts told Bloomberg.
Nissan's Infiniti luxury division expects to sell 200,000 cars globally in its next fiscal year ending March 31, Automotive News reports. That would be up 50,000 cars from the prior year. The brand expects much of the growth to come from China, where Infiniti plans to build more cars beginning in 2014. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn told us earlier this month that the automaker wants to move more Infiniti production to the U.S. and China to reduce exposure to a surging yen, but the next-generation Infiniti G — the brand's biggest U.S. seller, built in Japan — will stay there, Infiniti chief Andy Palmer told Automotive News.
GM and Isuzu could re-enter an alliance, Reuters reports via LeftLane News. GM is interested in buying a 10% stake in the Japanese automaker, which left the U.S. market after the 2008 model year. Toyota and Mitsubishi are among Isuzu's current stakeholders, and VW has an alliance as well.

2013 SL 63 AMG Driven, Veyron L’Or Blanc, F1 Nanotech: Today’s Car News

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:15:00 +0000

We’ve spent some time behind the wheel of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG and brought you our thoughts. Hint: it’s luxurious, and it’s fast. Read the review for the details. Ever wondered what the backstory to a one-off version of an already incredibly rare hypercar might be? Find out with this look at the Bugatti Veyron L’Or Blanc. And nanotech…

BMW Shows Off Its 2012 London Olympic Fleet

admin — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 03:30:00 +0000

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London won’t officially get underway until this July, but BMW is amped up about the 4,000 vehicles it will supply to support the show. To that end, it has unveiled the cars, SUVs, and electric vehicles that will be part of it. The first of the Olympic fleet cars have already arrived in London, but more are coming…

GT-R To The ‘Ring, Galibier Re-Teased, Gas Prices Down: Car News Headlines

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:15:00 +0000

The 2013 Nissan GT-R is headed to the N

Forza Motorsport 4 May Top Gear Car Pack

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0000

If you’re a gamer and into racing titles, you’ll know the rivalry between Forza Motorsport 4 on the Xbox 360 and Gran Turismo 5 on the PS3 is as intense as that between Ford and GM. Gran Turismo has always had the realism and car diversity, Forza the greater fun factor and better online play. With the arrival of the May TopGear Car Pack, Forza 4…

2013 Nissan GT-R Prepares For Nürburgring 24 Hours Race

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Next month Nissan will formally compete in the N

Chris Harris Explores The Intricacies Of the Lotus Exige S: Video

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0000

While we’re still hoping that the latest Lotus Exige S makes it over to these shores, even if only as a dedicated track car, European buyers have been lapping it up since last September when the car made its official world debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show. Since then Lotus has entered the Exige S into rally racing and added a sultry…

Honda Pioneers Technology Aimed At Preventing Traffic Jams

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Anyone who’s driven on a busy highway can attest that vehicles moving erratically and braking needlessly breaks up the smooth flow of traffic and leads to congestion. Honda has also observed this phenomenon and claims to have pioneered a technology based on this principle that, rather than just helping to avoid traffic jams, aims to prevent…

Formula 1 Gearing Up For IPO And Singapore Exchange Listing?

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

We first heard rumblings that the commercial rights to the highest echelon of motorsports, Formula 1, might be for sale early last year, and then just last month reports broke that the sport’s largest equity holder, CVC Capital Partners, was considering launching an initial public offering (IPO) for F1 and listing it on the Singapore Stock…

Lexus and Toyota Go To (The Green) Hell In Nürburgring Race

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Aston Martin and Ferrari may commonly mingle with Lexus next to the greens at your local country club, but in May they’ll compete together and with others at “The Green Hell,” Germany’s N