Car Consumer Info

08.20.2008 -- The 2009 Nissan Rogue has earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. The Rogue, as well as nine other small SUVs, was evaluated for front, side and rear crash protection. The Top Safety Pick award recognizes vehicles that provide superior overall crash protection among vehicles in their class and only includes vehicles with available electronic stability control, the Rogue comes standard with Nissan’s electronic stability control system, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC).

About the safety features of the Nissan Rogue:

Zero-Emissions Technology Visits Nissan’s Smyrna Plant

SMYRNA, Tenn., Aug. 18, 2008 – Nissan’s hydrogen-fuel-cell research vehicle, along with several fuel-cell vehicles from other manufacturers, made a stop today at Nissan’s Smyrna Test Track as part of an historic two-week cross-country trip. The 13-day, 31-city Hydrogen Tour is traveling from Portland, Maine, to Los Angeles and is designed to showcase the commercial viability of environmentally friendly fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs).

Nissan’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Showcases Innovation for Future Mobility: Zero-Emissions Technology Visits Nissan’s Smyrna Plant

Lincoln MKT Production Confirmed As All-New Three-Row Luxury Crossover To Launch In 2009

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif., Aug. 15, 2008 - Kicking off the weekend marking the celebrated Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Lincoln today confirms it will produce the Lincoln MKT, a premium, three-row luxury crossover based on a the well-received concept vehicle.

Lincoln MKT Concept

Highlights:
* Lincoln continues to expand its portfolio of luxury vehicles with the all-new, three-row Lincoln MKT set to be introduced during calendar year 2009 and redesigned Lincoln MKZ sedan to be shown at 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show

All-New, Next-Generation Cadillac SRX Coming in 2009

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif., 2008-08-15 – Today Cadillac provided a special sneak preview of the next-generation SRX Crossover, a 2010 model that will launch worldwide in mid-2009.The all-new Cadillac SRX is intended to bring a more dynamic alternative to the heart of the luxury crossover segment, featuring a fresh iteration of Cadillac’s signature design language.

2010 Cadillac SRX

“The next-generation SRX is the result of the continued exploration and refining of Cadillac design language, with the goal of creating dramatic presence in the luxury crossover space,” says Clay Dean, Cadillac design director.

Series of Activities Will Focus on Future of Transportation

DETROIT, August 16, 2008 - On September 16, 2008, General Motors (GM) will mark the beginning of its second century with GMnext Day, a series of forward-looking activities that will focus on the future of automotive transportation. The event also caps a year-long global initiative called GMnext, through which GM engaged audiences in a dialogue about its next-generation vehicles and technologies and offered commentary from GM executives and automotive thought-leaders from around the world.

"Ford is a leader in safety and fuel economy - not even Toyota or Honda can match the new Escape's safety and fuel efficiency ratings."

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 18, 2008 - The 2009 Ford Escape and 2009 Mercury Mariner compact sport utility vehicles added to Ford's leading number of top-safety-rated vehicles by earning five stars in each of the government's crash-worthiness tests. The results top the Toyota RAV-4 and, with the 2009 Escape's improved fuel efficiency, offer better combined safety and fuel efficiency ratings than the Honda CR-V.

2009 Ford Escape

Highlights:

Brentwood, Essex, August 15, 2008 – The highly-anticipated new James Bond adventure, ‘Quantum of Solace’, will feature a cameo appearance from Ford’s fresh-faced new model, the all-new Ford Ka.

Ford’s cheeky new small car will make its screen debut alongside the film's beautiful but feisty leading lady, Olga Kurylenko. Kurylenko plays Camille, a woman with her own personal mission and who quickly becomes an unlikely ally for Bond.

The 'Quantum of Solace' Ka is unique with metallic gold paint and an exclusive exterior graphics and interior trim combination.

SHAH ALAM, 15 August 2008 – PROTON will launch a special edition of its award winning car “best model of the year 2008 by Frost & Sullivan” this month offering further improvements on the variant’s features with added comfort and luxury factors.

The new special edition model has been enhanced with a distinctive design for a sleeker and sportier look, yet modest enough to suit the young at heart. Enhancements have been made to both the model’s interior and exterior while still maintaining its value for money positioning.

Interior enhancements include leather seats and trimmings, GPS, Auto Cruise system, dual airbags and ABS while exterior modifications comprise full bodykits, new alloy rim design, silver matte door handle, black bezel head lamp and exclusive body colors.

SANTA ROSA, CA, Monday, August 18, 2008 -- Randall S. Waldman and Larry Cottingham of Integrity Manufacturing LLC are in Santa Rosa, California today for meetings with the management of electric vehicle pioneer ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB - News).

Integrity Manufacturing has been working with the State of Kentucky to help provide incentives to attract more manufacturing and assembly to the state. On Friday The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority gave preliminary approval for $68 million in state incentives for a large-scale manufacturing initiative with Integrity. The project is expected to bring economic development, new factory production and up to 2,500 jobs to Kentucky.

DETROIT, 2008-08-13 – General Motors is building on the segment-leading fuel economy of its full-size pickups and SUVs with new XFE models of the 2009 Chevy Silverado, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Sierra and GMC Yukon. The vehicles use a combination of mechanical, aerodynamic and mass-reducing enhancements to deliver a 5-percent increase in EPA-estimated highway fuel economy and more than 7-percent improved mileage in city driving.

Highlights:
* EPA-rated fuel economy increases to 15 city and 21 highway
* Silverado and Sierra have the best aerodynamics in the class
* Towing capacity on Silverado and Sierra increases to 7,000 lbs (3,175 kg)
* 2009 GMC XFE Photography
* 2009 Chevrolet XFE Photography

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 13, 2008 – The Ford Mustang, America’s best-selling sports car for 22 years, has been honored with the 2008 Motorist Choice Award in the Sporty Car segment by car buying information Web site IntelliChoice.com and automotive consulting firm AutoPacific.

2008 Ford Mustang

Highlights:
* The Ford Mustang is the winner of the 2008 Motorist Choice Award, Sporty Car segment. The awards are based on cost of ownership data from IntelliChoice.com and vehicle owner satisfaction information from AutoPacific.

Segment Defining Vehicle on Target for Late 2009 Launch

Detroit, MI 2008-08-14 -- After sifting through more than 18,000 possibilities, Pontiac has chosen to keep it simple, naming the recently revealed G8 sport truck the “ G8 ST.” Thousands of fans submitted suggestions during a “Tame the Name” promotion, which delayed a final announcement until each possibility was considered and cleared for possible trademark use.

2010 Pontiac G8 ST

2010 Pontiac G8 ST at a Glance:
* Sports car with truck-like cargo and towing capabilities
* V8 engine with Active Fuel Management linked to six-speed automatic
* 74-inch cargo bed and 3,500 lb towing capacity

Production of all-new Ford Fiesta small car begins in Cologne, Germany

COLOGNE, Aug. 14, 2008 – Ford Motor Company today began production of the all-new Ford Fiesta, the first in a portfolio of global small cars, at the Cologne Stamping and Assembly plant in Germany.

Highlights:
* Developed from Ford’s global B-car platform, European-designed Fiesta signals heralds
new global small-car era for Ford
* Production of Fiesta for North America will begin in early 2010 at Ford’s Cuautitlan Assembly Plant in Mexico
* More than 5.3 million Fiestas have been produced in Cologne since 1979

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 13, 2008 – The warranty repair rate for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in the United States is now almost 60 percent lower than it was in 2004. The falling repair rate contributed to a $1.2 billion reduction in Ford’s worldwide warranty costs over the past 18 months.

The reason is simple: Ford vehicle quality is improving quickly.

As Ford strives to be best in class in every phase of vehicle development – from design to pre-delivery – internal measures continue to show the company is making significant quality strides. For example, transmission warranty work for 2005 model Ford vehicles with three years in service dropped by more than 50 percent compared with the 2004 model year.

08/13/2008 -- Today, BMW announced a voluntary recall regarding the front passenger air bag seat sensor mat involving approximately 200,000 Model Year 2004-06 vehicles. Affected are certain Model Year 2006 3-Series, Model Year 2004-06 5-Series, and Model Year 2004-06 X3 vehicles, depending upon seat type.

BMW has found that the sensor mat may become damaged during vehicle usage depending upon the manner and frequency of the front passenger's entry and exit.

Hyundai Brand Jumps Eight Rank Positions In Yearly Dependability Study / Problems- Per- 100 Vehicles Drop Overall By 14 Percent / High-Mileage Accent At The Top Of Its Class / All Models Improved Over Last Year

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 08/07/2008 -- The fuel-efficient Hyundai Accent, which gets up to 35 miles per gallon on the highway, today was named the most dependable sub-compact car by J.D. Power and Associates in its 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).

2008 Hyundai Accent

First-Ever Hybrid on a Large Luxury SUV Begins U.S. Sales this Month

DETROIT, Mich., 2008-08-08 – The launch of the world’s first hybrid applied to a large luxury SUV, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, begins this month. Achieving a 50-percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving, Escalade Hybrid arrives at Cadillac dealerships in the United States with an MSRP of $71,685. That represents a premium of only $3,600 over a comparably-equipped Escalade.

2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

“In a changing marketplace emphasizing fuel economy technology, Cadillac is proud to be the only luxury brand offering a hybrid in this segment,” said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager.

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 6, 2008 -- It shines, it glitters, it energizes and allures. In fact, the importance and psychology of color is unmistakable, even in the automotive realm. "It's critical," says Susan Sage, Color and Materials design manager, at Ford Motor Company. "Color creates an aesthetic emotion. If it's a color that the customer loves, if it gives them that sense of balance and comfort, they'll want it. It can make or break a sale."

2009 Lincoln MKS

Highlights:
* Lincoln MKS palette choices enhance the vehicle's architectural elements, offer holistic design combinations.
* Psychology of color given strong consideration in choice of tones, depth and exterior-interior package.

Munich/Beijing, 08/11/2008 -- Just in time for the biggest sporting event of the year, the Olympic Games in the Chinese capital of Beijing, MINI is on top sporting form too - and is making a great start in Beijing! A very special MINI vehicle is providing passengers with a fantastic, unforgettable driving experience of a most unusual type. Locals and visitors to the games alike can move smoothly through the busy traffic in the Asian capital in a MINI Rickshaw made specially for Beijing - a typical MINI experience.

MINI Rickshaw in Beijing, Olympics 2008

Advanced Parallel Park Assist system monitors the suitability of parking spaces and then ‘self-steers’ into them

August 8, 2008 -- The new Audi A3 Cabriolet is already adept at getting its driver out of a tight spot thanks to a powered roof which can shrug off sharp showers in as little as 11 seconds, but it can now also find its way into one with the help of a new Parallel Park Assist feature. This sophisticated urban stress reliever is available right across the A3 Cabriolet range, which is priced from £19,995 OTR for the new 1.6 petrol model to £27,060 OTR for the 2.0T FSI S line.

2009 Audi A3

Highlights: