Author: autoevolution

In a move which screams "better safe than sorry", Japanese carmaker Toyota announced yesterday it will install a brake override feature on an expanded range. Officially dubbed a measure to increase consumer confidence, the move comes only days after in an internal Toyota document a company executive was bragging how much money Toyota saved by finding a cheap fix to the accelerator problem.

According to Toyota, the override system will automatically reduce engine power when the brake… (read more)

General Motors has just announced that Stephen J. Girsky has been appointed GM vice chairman, corporate strategy and business development but will continue to be a member of GM’s board of directors. He will be in charge of corporate strategy, business alliance, new business development and other related areas, with the move to come into effect on March 1, 2010.

Steve brings a depth of experience to this position that will serve the company well as we continue with our restructuring efforts, s… (read more)

The British tuners at APS, importers of the Swiss based Sportec range of vehicle performance enhancements, announced the launch of a Stage One ECU upgrade package for the new Volkswagen Golf R, leaving intact the car’s exterior and interior appearance.

In standard form, the turbocharged 2.0-litre four cylinder Golf R produces 267 bhp (200 kW) and 258 lb.ft (354 Nm) of torque.

Sportec’s recalibration of the fuel, ignition timing and boost pressure settings made through an extensively prove… (read more)

Kia’s North American division today announced its 2011 Kia Sorento CUV advertising campaign will also include the company’s first digital magazine advertisement that spans 15 publishing groups through a collaboration with Zinio’s Publisher Advertising Network (ZPAN).

The new partnership will enable consumers to read online or choose to download popular magazines containing the Kia Sorento ad which is optimized for the screen-size through Zinio.

Readers can activate and interact with enhanc… (read more)

Anthony Davidson might have failed to secure himself a Formula One drive this season, but the British racer has been handed a true promotion as far as his Le Mans 24 Hours race programme is concerned, as he has just been confirmed in the Peugeot lineup for the 2010 campaign.

The French manufacturer scored its first ever Le Mans 24 Hours race win last season, while Davidson was at the time driving an Aston Martin LMP1 machine, alongside Darren Turner and Jos Verstappen, finishing on an overall… (read more)

Mopar, Chrysler’s parts and customization division, introduced its 2010 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak program. After its 2009 program saw the entire 100 factory-built batch being sold, the company has developed a (non-street legal) V8 powered, rear-wheel drive bespoke racing version of the Dodge Challenger.

The racer is powered by a 6.1 liter Hemi V8, which can be mated to either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic.The racecar is based on the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and fini… (read more)

After we were left wondering what will lie under RS5’s hood when it will make its debut at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show next month, the German carmaker today came and made things clear by revealing the coupe’s powerplant.

The Audi RS5 will be propelled by a 4.2-liter V8 engine, capable of developing 331 kW (450 hp) at 8,250 rpm and a maximum of 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft) of torque between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm.

The 4.2 FSI unit mated to a standard seven-speed S tronic transmission, propels the c… (read more)

The NHRA Arizona Nationals last weekend ended tragically for a fan in the grandstands. A woman unfortunately lost her life during the first-round run of the Top Fuel category at Firebird International Raceway, when the dragster driven by Antron Brown was disintegrated on the main strip and lost its left wheel in the process.

The wheel traveled at immense speed into the grandstands and hit the woman, whose name and age is yet to be made public. After the impact, it seems the woman was immediat… (read more)

Nissan’s luxury division, Infiniti, today announced it will premiere the M line at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show next month, with European deliveries set to begin in September 2010. Petrol or diesel powered, with a hybrid soon to follow, the first M ever to be made available in Europe will feature a host of Infiniti innovations, such as Active Noise Control and Forest Air climate control.

The M37 on display at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show is an S model, which comes equipped with Infiniti’s four… (read more)

After China’s vehicle market registered a 124 percent year on year increase in January, the country’s car producers have increased their sales targets for 2010, aiming to continue the ascending sales trend set in 2009, as China Times reports.

The 124 percent growth registered by China’s vehicle market in January (a total of 1.66 million vehicles have been sold in the country last month) continued last year’s strong ascending trend. Passenger vehicles sales increased by 110 percent in January,… (read more)

The rumors that a sporty version of the popular Focus will make its way to the United States began surfacing in the media since early 2009, but now the carmaker strengthens the idea by bringing its European RS and American SVT performance divisions together under one man’s leadership.

Among its responsibilities, Jost Capito (legendary sports car driver), the man in charge with the newly formed branch, will be also establishing performance vehicles that can be sold on multiple continents.

… (read more)

While strongly linked with a return to Formula One with Stefan GP, Canadian driver Jacques Villeneuve admitted that the Serbian team could easily outscore all the other newly-entered teams in the 2010 championship this season.

The 1997 Formula One champion argued that Stefan GP currently benefits from a stable financial status – being backed by the very government of Serbia, among others – as well as the technology previously used by Toyota. Judging by the Japanese manufacturer’s strong few r… (read more)

The 2010 Cleveland Auto Show, opening its doors of February 27, will witness the "unique driving experience" called Camp Jeep, in fact an almost one of a kind indoor off-road driving experience.

According to Chrysler, the course set up for the 25,000-square foot exhibit will comprise several obstacles that simulate some of the rigorous testing that Jeep vehicles endure before being sold. The course, is meant to test Jeep vehicles for Ground Clearance, Traction, Stability, Articulat… (read more)

Renault’s performance division Renaultsport has decided to emphasize its presence on the UK market, announcing that it will develop a dedicated dealership network, comprising of 11 Renaultsport Specialist locations throughout the country.

The Reanultsport range will continue to be present in normal Renault Showrooms, but starting from March, Renaultsport Specialists will also be present for a better recognition of the elite division. Each location will feature a sales expert and an after-sale… (read more)

After this weekend German carmaker Mercedes Benz lets us feast our eyes on the Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style research vehicle, or, if you like, the future shape on the CLS-Klasse. The carmaker today released the first video showcasing the advancements achieved on this "show-and-tell" concept.

The F 800 Style combines the functionality of a groundbreaking upper-class sedan with the highly emotional formal idiom of the new Mercedes-Benz design, Mercedes-Benz Head of Design Gorden Wagener… (read more)

Current MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi made thinks pretty clear in a recent interview, stating that he will retire when he can no longer battle for victory. The Italian, who is a 125cc, 250cc and multiple MotoGP champion holds the all-time record for premier-class race wins (77) and podiums (128).

Rossi, however still needs one more MotoGP title to tie Giacomo Agostini’s record. The latter holds 15 titles across all grand prix classes, while his overall record of 122 grand prix wins is still… (read more)

After it subjected nine advertising agencies to a rigorous testing procedure, green car manufacturer Fisker announced late last week it has picked Lambesis as global advertising agency of record.

According to Marti Eulberg, vice president of global sales and marketing for Fisker, the agency has been chosen for it’s "ability to create iconic, global communications is second to none and connect emotional and cultural relevance with true design aesthetic.

The future of driving proves we… (read more)

Maserati has prepared a special version for the Quattroporte Sport GT S, called the Awards Edition, which will be presented at the Geneva Auto Show.

This has been created to celebrate the luxury sport saloon’s sixth year on the market. The Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition will come dressed in a melted Quartz paint, that has an iridescent effect. The car’s chromed parts (side air intake and radiator grille) now come in a brown finish. To complete the color scheme, the fresh incarnation … (read more)

After earlier today a report which surfaced in german media hinted to the possibility of BMW’s Megacity vehicle to be built at the Leipzig plant, the German carmaker confirmed the news, as well as a substantial investment in a number of facilities in Bavaria to support the production of the future line of efficient (including electric) BMW vehicles.

As a result of the cooperation with SGL Carbon and SGL Automotive Fibers, the carbon fibre clutches intended for the vehicle will be produced in… (read more)

Mercedes Benz has decided to expand the number of services perfected by its dealers via the company’s established network of hand-held dynamic PDA (personal data assistant), as Mercedes-Benz Financial will include the leased vehicles turn-in process among these.

Mercedes-Benz USA provided the dynamic PDAs to all its dealers in 2009, as part of the First Class Finish customer and dealer-friendly program. The device has been used to accelerate processes such as pre-delivery inspection of the ve… (read more)