GM Extends EV Development with Demo Fleet of Electric Chevrolet Cruzes

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Sep 202010
 

•Developed by GM and LG for Demonstration Fleet in South Korea
•Early Testing Estimates Up to 160 km (100 Miles) of Range on a Single Charge
•Project to Begin by End of October

General Motors today announced a demonstration project to explore market needs and customer acceptance of battery electric vehicles in Korea. The project involves a fleet of electric vehicles based on the successful Chevrolet Cruze. The result of shared development with GM Daewoo, LG Chem and LG Electronics, the electric Cruzes will be part of a demo fleet that will operate in South Korea’s capital, Seoul.

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FORD LIFTS DISGUISE ON ALL-NEW RANGER FOR ITS WORLDWIDE PREMIERE IN SYDNEY

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Sep 202010
 

Bold, powerful and confident, the all-new Ford Ranger makes its world debut at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. The new face of Built Ford Tough for compact pickup truck customers in 180 markets around the world, Ranger is the result of an all-new global compact truck platform developed in Australia

Ranger delivers an enhanced pickup ownership experience with more power and excellent fuel economy from a new engine family, more capability than ever with exceptional towing and payload capacity, and new levels of driving quality

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State Farm® Survey Shows Fewer Teens Believe They Will Have an Accident or be Killed Texting While Driving Versus Drinking While Driving

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Sep 202010
 

Findings at Odds with Academic Research Showing Consequences of Texting While Driving as Severe as Drunk Driving; Parents can Play Key Role in Closing Awareness Gap

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ — A new State Farm ® survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, shows that despite academic research indicating the consequences of texting while driving can be as severe as drunk driving, some teens still don’t see it that way.

In the survey, fewer teens view texting while driving as leading to fatal consequences as compared to drinking while driving. Of 14-17 years-olds who intend to have or already have a driver’s license, the survey found that 36 percent strongly agree that if they regularly text and drive they could be killed one day. In contrast, the majority of teens (55 percent) strongly agree that drinking while driving could be fatal.

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Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama to begin Elantra production this fall

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Sep 202010
 

  • Hyundai’s three most popular models (Elantra, Sonata, and Sante Fe) will now be built in the U.S.
MONTGOMERY, Ala., 9/20/10- An all-new Hyundai Elantra will join its larger sibling, the Sonata, in production at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) starting in late fall this year. This change, along with the recent move of the Santa Fe to a production facility in Georgia, will further increase Hyundai’s overall U.S. production capacity, which was already producing over half of total U.S. sales volume.

“Hyundai’s philosophy is to build our vehicles where we sell them, and with the addition of the Elantra to our U.S. production mix we now manufacture our three most popular models right here in the U.S.,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America.

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The BMW coupé.

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Sep 202010
 

As a byword for sporty driving enjoyment, coupé models have a special place in the history of the BMW brand. The BMW Concept 6 Series Coupé is the latest chapter in a tradition which stretches back 70 years and is richly packed with memorable racing wins and many legendary icons in automotive design. Milestones in this evolution include the BMW 327 and BMW 327/28 models, the racing coupés based on the BMW 328, the BMW 503, the BMW 3200 CS, the BMW 2000 CS, the large coupés based on the BMW 3.0 CSi and, from 1976 onwards, the BMW 6 Series models.

With its flawless elegance and impressive performance the BMW 327 Coupé, unveiled in 1938, quickly established itself as the brand’s most exclusive pre-war model. With barely a pause, the dynamic performance was then taken a stage further by the BMW 327/28, whose 80 hp sports engine was taken from the BMW 328 Roadster model. In 1940, a one-off coupé version of the BMW 328, driven by Fritz Huschke von Hanstein and Walter Bäumer, was the overall winner of the Mille Miglia endurance race. This triumph came courtesy of rigorous lightweight design, optimized aerodynamics and a powerful and reliable 136 hp in-line six-cylinder engine. In other words, the winning vehicle displayed characteristics which still form the backbone for the design of the more sporty BMW models to this day. The traditional coupé values were given a modern interpretation in the BMW Mille Miglia Concept Coupé, unveiled by BMW in 2006 as a salute to the unsung heroes behind the BMW 328’s triumph – the engineers.

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The Lotus Elite

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Sep 202010
 

Ten days ahead of the official unveil at the Paris Motor Show the sun starts to rise for the dawn of Lotus’ new era – the Elite will redefine “modern classic”.

So here it is, the Lotus Elite, the first taste of what’s to come from Lotus in the future. Look up elegant in the dictionary and you’ll find variations on the following 1. dignified grace in appearance, movement, or behaviour, 2. superb taste in design, style and 3. something elegant; the ultimate refinement.

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THE NEW MASERATI GRANTURISMO MC STRADALE TO DEBUT AT PARIS AUTO SHOW

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Sep 202010
 

Modena, September 20, 2010. The new Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale will be the fastest, lightest and most powerful car in the Maserati range when it goes on sale in the first quarter of 2011.

Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport models, the two-seater Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale that will debut at the Paris Auto Show will feature razor-sharp handling and will break the 300km/h barrier.

The GranTurismo MC Stradale responds to demands for a GranTurismo which can balance on-road driving needs with race-driving desires, incorporating the handling and aerodynamic lessons from Maserati’s three racing programs.

The GranTurismo MC Stradale produces more aerodynamic down force without producing more aerodynamic drag, it produces more power – 336kw, 450 hp – without using more fuel and it is more agile without sacrificing the GranTurismo S’s highly praised ride quality.

The Audi A1 1.4 TFSI (136 kW)

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Sep 202010
 

- Audi presents new top engine version for the Audi A1 at the Paris Motor Show
- 1.4 TFSI engine with 136 kW (185 hp) and 250 Nm (184.39 lb-ft)
- Fuel consumption of 5.9 l/100 km (39.87 US mpg), CO2 emissions of 139 g/km (223.7 g/mile)

INGOLSTADT, Germany, Sep 20, 2010 – The Audi A1, the premium car among the small compacts, has been a major success following its market debut. And now Audi is presenting the new top version – the A1 1.4 TFSI (136 kW). Its taut chassis provides sporty handling, while the dual-charged 1.4 TFSI delivers 136 kW (185 hp) of power and the S tronic dual-clutch transmission comes standard. The A1 1.4 TFSI (136 kW) also impresses with groundbreaking efficiency, consuming on average just 5.9 liters of fuel per 100 km (39.87 US mpg), which corresponds to CO2 emissions of just 139 g/km (223.70 g/mile) (provisional figures).

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THE CITROËN LACOSTE CONCEPT: NATURALLY SPONTANEOUS, LAID-BACK & REFINED

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Sep 202010
 

Two names, Citroën and Lacoste, have come together with a shared vision – to cultivate boldness, creativity and optimism. The result of these common values: the new Citroën Lacoste concept.

To be unveiled at the forthcoming Paris Motor Show, this new model is an emblem for a state-of-mind and a lifestyle. Clearly alluding to leisure and pleasure, it takes a simplified, no-nonsense approach to motoring – without forgetting refinement – and transports passengers to a lighter, fresher world.

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces 2009 Distracted Driving

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Sep 202010
 

Fatality and Injury Numbers Prior to National Distracted Driving Summit

WASHINGTON – On the eve of the 2010 Distracted Driving Summit, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that distracted driving-related crashes claimed 5,474 lives and led to 448,000 traffic injuries across the U.S. in 2009. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research, distraction-related fatalities represented 16 percent of overall traffic fatalities in 2009 – the same percentage as in 2008.

In a Sunday op-ed for the Orlando Sentinel, Secretary LaHood revealed the latest statistics, but cautioned that researchers believe the epidemic of distracted driving is likely far greater than currently known. Police reports in many states still do not routinely document whether distraction was a factor in vehicle crashes, making it more difficult to know the full extent of the problem. You can read the op-ed at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-distracted-drivers-ray-lahood-020100917,0,2486899.story

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