Auto News archives

World debut for All-New Mazda3 5-door Hatchback at the 2008 Bologna Motor Show

Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premiere of the all-new Mazda3 (known as Mazda Axela in Japan) 5-door hatchback at the Bologna Motor Show* on December 3, 2008. The second generation Mazda3 5-door hatchback follows on the heels of the 4-door sedan version, currently on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The all-new Mazda3 5-door hatchback adopts the same characteristics as its sedan counterpart, offering sporty driving and a dyn

Skoda Announces New Octavia Pricing

Škoda will be launching a new Octavia in January 2009 with an extensive exterior and interior facelift, bringing the hugely successful model up to date with the brand’s current range. Prices of the new, improved Octavia represent an average increase of £473 for the Octavia Hatch and £478 for the Octavia Estate over the outgoing model. The new Octavia has undergone a series of significant design changes which include dynamic, sweeping headlights and complimentary front fog lights, new folda

Toyota iQ: Six Degrees Of Innovation - No6

Innovation No6: the Ultra-slim Seat Design Toyota’s guide to the interlinked engineering and design innovations in the remarkable new iQ city car concludes with details of its space-efficient slim seat design. In its mission to build the world’s first car to measure less than three metres long but with four seats inside, Toyota maximised every last millimetre of space. Using a new differential design and a centre take-off gear allowed for a smaller engine bay and reduced the distance between the front of the bum

porsche presents first photos of four-door panamera gran turismo

Porsche Presents First Photos of Four-Door Panamera Gran Turismo

Roughly nine months before the actual market launch, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has released the first official photos of the Panamera in its final look. In its design, profile and silhouette, Porsche’s unique four-seater stands out clearly as a new member of the Porsche family. Conceived and designed as a four-door grand touring sports car, the Panamera combines numerous talents in typical Porsche style: sporting driving dynamics, a

EuroCarBody AWARD 2008 presented

The Volkswagen Passat CC took first place in the voting category of innovative process, production and plant concepts at the 10th international car body benchmark conference in Bad Nauheim, and came a close second in the overall ranking just behind the winner, the Audi Q5. The Volkswagen Group has thus taken the top two places for the first time in the history of this award. Emden Plant Manager Pavel Vacek, who accepted the award for the Passat CC car body at a ceremony in the Emden plant tod

First Image Of The Volvo S60 Concept Revealed

Here is the first glimpse of the Volvo S60 Concept car which will be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in early January 2009, giving an indication of what the all-new Volvo S60 will look like when it's launched in 2010. "We both can, and dare, to deliver more exciting and more dynamic designs while maintaining our lead position in safety. The concept car shows part of our future, it's a hint that the all-new S60 will be one of the strongest contenders in the CD premium segment," says Stephen Odell, President an

KIA Motors Unveils Next Generation Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

Kia Motors Corporation’s (KMC) Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) program takes a major technological step forward today with the global unveiling of the all-new Kia Borrego FCEV at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. Numerous innovations including a higher output 154 horsepower fuel cell and a new 450-volts Supercapacitor give the Borrego FCEV higher performance, a greatly extended driving range and cold-weather starting capability to ope

All-new 2009 Dodge Challenger Earns Top Five-Star Safety Ratings in U.S. Government's Crash Tests

The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger earned 5-star ratings for driver- and front-passenger protection in a frontal crash along with 5-star driver and rear-passenger ratings for side-impact protection, the highest ratings in the U.S. government’s safety crash test program. The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger is available now at local Dodge dealers. “Safety is a top priority in all Chrysler vehicles, and the all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger features the

Acura Tops All Competitors in Value

The Acura brand ranked first in overall luxury brand residual value in the recently announced Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) 2009 Residual Value Awards. According to ALG, Acura's line of luxury performance vehicles is expected to retain the highest percentage of its purchase price after a traditional three year lease. "Residual value is an important measure of overall vehicle quality and desirability," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of sales. "ALG's prestigious award is yet anothe

2009 Suzuki Range To Debut At International Motorcycle & Scooter Show

Suzuki's 2009 model range will make its UK debut next week, as the International Motorcycle & Scooter Show starts at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, on Friday 28th November. With the all-new GSX-R1000 headlining on the Suzuki stand (Hall one, stand D50), alongside the new Gladius 650 and revamped Bandit 650 models, Suzuki's range boasts fresh injections of performance, style and value, as the brand celebrates 100 years of in

50 Per Cent Price Cuts On Toyota Genuine Steel Wheels

Toyota 4x4 owners can enhance the strength and versatility of their vehicles by taking advantage of 50 per cent price cuts on a selection of Toyota Genuine steel wheels. Steel wheels for new and older Prado and LandCruiser models are available at $120 to $130 per wheel - half the normal price. Toyota Genuine steel w

Volkswagen’s 2009 Jetta TDI Clean Diesel Awarded Green Car Of The Year

The 2009 Jetta TDI clean diesel has been awarded the 2009 Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal. The editors at Green Car Journal nominated five vehicles that represented the year’s best-of-the-best 2009 green vehicles, and today announced that they have chosen Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI clean diesel as the best-of-the-best and awarded it their 2009 Green Car of the Year. “It is a tremendous honor to have our Jetta TDI awarded Green Car of th