Author: autoevolution

Though the Americans’ trust in Japanese cars is being severely shattered by Toyota’s recalls, Nissan seems to be doing quite well in the US. Nissan North America (NNA) posted a sales increase of 29.4 percent compared with February 2009. Nissan Division sales rose 31.9 percent for the month, while sales of Infiniti vehicles were 10.7 percent higher than a year before.

"Both the Nissan and Infiniti divisions experienced strong sales in February, with combined sales up 29.4 percent from las… (read more)

Not all lost for Toyota, it would seem… Even if the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) doesn’t particularly test the accelerator pedal, the brake response or the floormats in a car when it decides to hand over its coveted Top Safety Pick title to a given vehicle, having it in the pedigree of a car can only help.

And it may definitely help Toyota, who is lately battered by safety and quality concerns. So, having the 2010 Corolla get IIHS’ Top Safety Pick, after managing to impres… (read more)

While all the other teams have terminated their on-track testing period prior to the start of the new season, Scuderia Toro Rosso took its STR5 to the circuit one last time before the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

As most of the important outfits have proceeded to promotional runs for their cars in recent weeks (done for filming purposes), the Faenza based team made no exception, giving both its racers the chance to drive the 2010 challenger for some additional laps on the Autodromo Int… (read more)

After a terrible year for most US car dealers, better days are coming as sales have increased throughout America. Good news doesn’t stop here: at a special ceremony exactly one hundred years after the founding of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg presented the Association’s Board of Directors with a proclamation announcing February 24, 2010 as ‘Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association Day’.

The presentation took place in the … (read more)

The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) released today a new set of crash test results, concerning five models: Citroen Nemo, Kia Venga, Nissan Cube, Seat Exeo and Toyota Verso. Following the tests, Euro NCAP found the Verso to be the only one worthy of a five star rating, while the others had to settle for four and even three stars.

The Verso achieved good scores in all areas (89% Adult Occupant Protection, 75% Child Occupant protection, 69 Pedestrian Protection and 86% Safety … (read more)

The opening round of this year’s IndyCar Series will see 4 women on the grid, the most the championship has ever seen in its entire existence. After Ana Beatriz, who secured a one-race deal with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing last week, it has now emerged that Swiss racer Simona de Silvestro will compete for a full season in the 2010 series with HVM Racing.

While Beatriz is yet to secure the sponsorship for a full campaign in 2010, the Thun-born De Silvestro has already convinced the officials from… (read more)

Harley-Davidson dealerships across the United States are currently hosting the Garage Party events, mostly dedicated to women riders. These free events are designed to be both fun and educational, covering topics such as a review of the basic motorcycle controls, how to customize a motorcycle’s style and ergonomics, and how to gear up for a ride.

"Garage Party events have encouraged thousands of women to learn to ride over the past few years," said Leslie Prevish, women’s outreach m… (read more)

Subaru introduced the Impreza XV, a crossover version of the Impreza 5 door model at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show.

The car’s front end features a new family identity grille and an additional front bumper fascia, while on its sides we can find bold wheel arches side claddings and side sills that come in a black matte finish. At the rear end, the Impreza XV uses a rear spoiler and a black finish for the lower part of the bumper. The car is also fitted with black aluminum roof rails. Customers can … (read more)

After the interest it stirred last year with its Light Car – Open Source concept, EDAG is back at the Geneva Auto Show with an improved version of its independent design concept for the electric-powered car of the future.

In the words of Jörg Ohlsen Spokesman of the Executive Board of the EDAG Group, "the electric drive system offers designers and developers huge potential for the realisation of truly novel vehicle concepts, to provide the consumer with an unmistakable type of vehicle, n… (read more)

The second generation NVL Quant made its public debut in front of media yesterday in Geneva, bringing with it what NVL Solar, its creator, calls "a breakthrough the market eagerly has been anticipating for years." While this last statement is a matter of interpretation, the Quant does bring a range of interesting features. The most exciting thing about it, however, is the promise to turn production version rather sooner than later.

But, until that time is here, let’s take a look at… (read more)

Following their return from Vancouver, the German Olympic athletes were welcomed yesterday with a car parade in downtown Munich. From the Siegestor (Victory Gate) via Ludwigstrasse to the Marienplatz square directly in front of City Hall: in a total of 30 Audi A5 and A3 cabriolets, the team was greeted by the crowd lining the route.

The German Olympic team brought home a total of 10 gold, 13 silver and 7 bronze medals, clinching second place for Germany in the medal table.

Audi has been pa… (read more)

Everybody is going electric, and South Africa is no exception from that rule. Car manufacturer Optimal Energy, whose electric vehicle is on display at the Geneva Auto Show, has just announced that it will rely on Dassault Systèmes CATIA and ENOVIA V6 for product design and data management.

There are not many electric cars on the market at the moment, but most of the concepts that have been seen are quite small cars, said Anton Greeff, Chief Mechanical Engineer, Optimal Energy. Ours is built t… (read more)

The new S60 will not wait alone for the visitors of this year’s Geneva Auto Show to come at Volvo’s booth, but it will be accompanied by an exclusive collection of selected accessories, such as a pack of three nail polishes in Ember Black, Vibrant Copper and Cosmic White.

The three shades of nail polish echo three of the color options offered on the new Volvo S60. Visitors to the auto show can get their nails painted in one of these special colors by a nail artiste contracted by the Swedish … (read more)

Bridgestone Corporation’s Geneva Auto Show press conference brought to our attention the top three finalists for the World Car of the Year, World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year.

The best three contenders for the overall 2010 World Car of the Year have gone through a rigorous selection process, as they have been chosen from a list of thirty worldwide new vehicles and then from a list of ten candidates. The cars that made it to the final are the Mercedes-Ben… (read more)

If you’re about to sell your classic car, we’ve got good news for you. Listing your car is now even more efficient as AutoTrader Classics will begin providing exclusive online classifieds listings to Source Interlink, the top publisher of magazines dedicated to automotive enthusiasts.

"This partnership brings together two of the most well-respected names in the classic car sector," said Rob Huting, General Manager, AutoTrader Classics. "It serves to drive highly-qualified traff… (read more)

It would seem there’s no stopping the growth of South Korean manufacturer Kia in the US, after the sales figures posted by the carmaker for February in the US show the in managed to have its best second month of the year ever.

Specifically, Kia sold 24,052 vehicles, meaning a 9 percent increase over the same month of 2009 and a 2.3 percent increase compared to the previous 23,512 sales record set in 2007. The good sales performances was spearheaded by the new Sorento CUV, launched this Janua… (read more)

Ford wants more plug-in hybrid cars in its line-up, so the American automaker decided to expand the range of its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) research program with the help of its regional utility partner Progress Energy.

The announcement that Progress Energy will add a Ford Escape PHEV to its Florida operations was made today at the University of Central Florida’s Solar Smart Grid in Orlando.

Progress Energy, one of the twelve North American energy companies working with Ford … (read more)

Marking the launch of the fourth model in the brand’s lineup, the Countryman, MINI debuted an unconventional marketing campaign at this year’s Geneva Auto Show. The city built on Lake Geneva is being renamed MINIWOOD thanks to a huge projected image, which is 30 metres high and 192 metres wide.

Guerrilla marketing plays an especially important part in MINI communications. That is why the launch of the new MINI Countryman will also be accompanied by characteristically unconventional and eye… (read more)

Smart move for Toyota, some might say… The Japanese carmaker announced it has managed to convince former US Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater to lead the soon-to-be North American Quality Advisory Panel, an organization set up to address safety issues and concerns regarding Toyota vehicles.

"I am pleased that Secretary Slater has accepted our invitation to lead the distinguished group of safety and quality experts who will help Toyota to improve its quality controls in North … (read more)

We have recently revealed to you the fact that Campos Grand Prix’s name will change into Hispania Racing F1 Team in a couple of days, following the shift in management that occurred in late February. We now have some additional information on the new structure of the Spanish organization, as it appears that former team owner Adrian Campos will not leave the outfit after all.

If we are to believe the latest reports coming from Spain – via El Mundo newspaper – 49-year old Campos will remain at … (read more)