Automotive news and car reviews

2010 Geneva Motor Show Preview: Toyota RAV4 Facelift

The Car Connection — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:42:00 +0000

Toyota is no doubt stuck in the midst of one of the worst recall/public relations media storms in recent memory, but that's not deterring the company from its product plans. The 2010 Geneva Motor Show, coming up at the beginning of March, will host the reveal of the freshened RAV4, seen here in the first official photo. The preview comes with...

Toyota-Hired Firm Finds No Problem With Electronic Throttle

The Car Connection — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:05:00 +0000

A Toyota-funded test of vehicles has failed to find issue with the automaker's electronic throttle system, which some safety advocates have accused of being linked to widespread reports of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Back in September, Toyota recalled 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles for issues with mismatched floor...

Trio Of Volkswagen Special Editions Hit U.S. Dealerships

The Car Connection — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:12:00 +0000

As Volkswagen continues its warpath toward the top of the industry's sales charts, it has announced several special-edition models to help drive customers into dealerships and offer something outside the ordinary. Today, the company announced three of those special editions are now available for sale in dealerships across the U.S.. The cars are...

New Dodge Compact Previewed, To Use Fiat-Sourced Platform

The Car Connection — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:22:00 +0000

Last week's Chicago Auto Show didn't hold a lot of surprise concepts or glamorous supercars, but there were a few key developments for car shoppers, including a hint at a new Dodge Compact car. The preview, given at the Economic Club of Chicago toward the end of the media days, reveals a new small car that is expected to use a modified Fiat Group...

Ford Encourages Dealers To Go Green, Offers To Tell Them How (For A Fee)

The Car Connection — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:13:00 +0000

Like a lot of corporations, Ford Motor Company understands the value of going green, and the automaker is now encouraging its dealers to get onboard with energy conservation, too. The push comes via Ford's 'Go Green' Dealership Sustainability Program, which was unveiled over the weekend at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention in...

Video: BMW’s ‘Story of Joy’ Campaign Hits High Gear

The Car Connection — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:07:00 +0000

For over three decades, BMW has relied on its "Ultimate Driving Machine" tagline, but now the automaker's new ad agency, GSD&M Idea City from Austin, Texas, are shifting to a new campaign that could have significantly broader appeal. The "Ultimate Driving Machine" tag and most of the campaigns that spun off of it appealed first and foremost to...

Ford Confirms Mercury Small Car For 2011

The Car Connection — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:27:00 +0000

Last month we reported Ford CEO Alan Mulally was in full support of keeping Mercury alive and that the future of the mid-level premium brand would be in smaller cars and crossovers. Today we get confirmation that the first of Mercury’s future models is coming in 2011 and will be based on Ford’s new C-car architecture--the same platform...

2010 Geneva Motor Show Debut For U.S.-Bound Nissan Micra

The Car Connection — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:26:00 +0000

The Nissan Micra (known as the March in some markets) is an affordable sub-compact whose first generation dates back to the early 1980s and is currently sold in Europe and parts of Asia. The car’s funky styling and convertible option has seen it win many fans at the café strip and soon the U.S. will get its chance to experience the popular...

GM Offering Saturn Owners $2,000 To Stay With Company

The Car Connection — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:14:00 +0000

Saturn owners and loyalists were left in the lurch last September when General Motors decided to kill off the brand following a breakdown in talks with the Penske Automotive Group, but in an attempt to heal some wounds the automaker is offering thousands of dollars in incentives to its former Saturn customers. GM is offering up to $2,000 in...

2010 Toyota Tacoma 4WD Trucks Recalled For Driveshaft Issue

The Car Connection — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:17:00 +0000

As the media din surrounding Toyota's recall of millions of vehicles for accelerator-related issues is just fading slightly, but the recall of the iconic Prius remains in the headlines, another Toyota recall looms. According to PickupTrucks.com, Toyota is initiating a voluntary recall of some 2010 Toyota Tacoma pickup models for an issue with...