Auto Nagar

Xplore turns its attention to the Jeep Wrangler

2011-02-09T00:29:00.000-08:00

Xplore is on a mission to roll out more of its Adventure Series vehicles. We previously saw the Xplore FJ Cruiser, and now the company is showing off its plans for the Jeep lineup. Stage 1 packages are available for the entire Jeep family of vehicles while Stage 2, 3 and 4 upgrades are only available for two- and four-door Wranglers.

Details are light on exactly what's being offered at with each stage, but we can speculate that Stage 1 focuses on appearance upgrades, with the supsequent stages offering actual mechanical upgrades. The Stage 4 Xplore H.E.R.O. Jeep Wrangler gets a full gamut of upgraded equipment including OME suspension, locking differentials, IPF lighting, BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM2 tires and a host of other items. Be sure to click past the jump and read the press release for the full list of Stage 4 upgrades.

Formula One: Force India launches car prior to Jerez debut:

2011-02-09T00:28:00.001-08:00

WITH VIDEO -- The Force India Formula One team on Tuesday revealed its 2011 car, the VJM04, on the Internet prior to its first run at Spain's Jerez circuit on Thursday.

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Formula One: Force India launches car prior to Jerez debut:

2011-02-09T00:25:00.001-08:00

Formula One: Force India launches car prior to Jerez debut:

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

12:23 PM

Subject	Formula One: Force India launches car prior to Jerez debut:
From	AutoWeek - Racing News
Sent	Tuesday, February 08, 2011 8:26 PM

WITH VIDEO -- The Force India Formula One team on Tuesday revealed its 2011 car, the VJM04, on the Internet prior to its first run at Spain's Jerez circuit on Thursday.

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SCCA World Challenge unveils final two venues, completes 2011 schedule:

2011-02-09T00:21:00.001-08:00

Subject: SCCA World Challenge unveils final two venues, completes 2011 schedule:

The 12-race schedule for the 2011 SCCA World Challenge series is now complete after the series on Tuesday announced the addition of events at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and at Road Atlanta.

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2011-02-08T05:43:00.001-08:00

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HONDA Restarted NSX development

2011-02-08T05:27:00.001-08:00

Honda president Takashi Ito has announced that he's jump-starting development on the supercar. As you may recall, the beast was unceremoniously put to bed after the global economy gutted itself back in 2008. At the time, the project sailed under the HSV-010 moniker, and Honda even went so far as to campaign a version of the machine in the Japanese Super GT series.

Since then, the supercar segment has all but exploded with new metal. Mercedes-Benz jumped into the action with its SLS AMG, Lexus came to the party with the high-tech LFA and old-timers like the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and Nissan GT-R have been enjoying their own slice of supercar territory. We're all for the notion of a resurrected Honda fighter, but we're still going to treat this one with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Spy Shots: Land Rover Range Rover [2013 model]

2011-02-06T01:24:00.001-08:00

Next-gen Land Rover Range Rover spy shots

Even though we cannt find this Land Rover model in our roads for another couple of years, the next-generation Land Rover Range Rover is surprisingly out on the prowl in development mule stage. Right now, we can't tell what sort of new design will be found on the next-generation Range Rover, though the larger, bolted-on wheel arches give off the impression that the next SUV will probably be slightly wider than the one currently on sale.

Expect the usual crop of 8-cylinder powerplants to be available in both naturally aspirated and supercharged modals. There's also been rumors of a Range Rover Hybrid - a vehicle that would likely make its launch in the SUV's next generation. For now let us call this as Range Rover a 2013 model, so look for it to debut sometime in 2012.

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport production shifting from Japan to Normal, IL

2011-02-06T01:03:00.001-08:00

Mitsubishi has confirmed gossip that it will change its production location of at least one of its models from Japan to its American manufacturing site in Normal, IL. At this time, the only vehicle the manufacturer has officially confirmed for U.S. production is the Outlander Sport.

Now, the plant in Normal assembles the Galant, Endeavor and Eclipse, but these models are scheduled to be terminated by 2013. around 1,000 of the company’s 1,300 employees in North America are members of the United Auto Workers Union.

It's worth noting that the Outlander Sport shares a platform with the slightly larger Outlander and the Lancer sedan, so it surely wouldn't be surprising if production of these models were moved Stateside as well. Mitsubishi approximates about half of the models it builds in the U.S will be exported.

Press Release

Mitsubishi Motors Announces Outlander Sport Will Be Built in Normal, Illinois Plant

Fri, Feb 04, 2011 - NORMAL, IL -

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today announced that production of the Outlander Sport Crossover Utility vehicle will begin in mid-2012 at the Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) plant in Normal, Illinois.

An announcement ceremony at the plant this morning was attended by dignitaries including MMNA President Shinichi Kurihara, Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn, and UAW International President Bob King. Prior to the media announcement, a separate event for all MMNA employees was held on the factory floor with the same dignitaries in attendance.

The Outlander Sport went on sale in North America in November of 2010. Outlander Sport is a very well-equipped entry-level crossover that offers desirable features such as standard Bluetooth, available 40 gigabyte hard drive navigation, and available all-wheel drive. Outside of the United States, Outlander Sport is also badged as RVR and ASX, and represents Mitsubishi Motors' latest offering to the globe's fastest growing automotive segment, entry-level crossover. The vehicle is built upon the same highly flexible vehicle platform that underpins the Lancer compact car and Outlander SUV which are sold globally. Mitsubishi Motors North America anticipates adding production of Outlander Sport by mid-2012. Kurihara added "With the new model, the plant will have better utilization, and, of course we will see improved efficiency when we eventually consolidate to one model with higher production volume. I fully expect this plant will strongly improve its performance further down the road".

President Kurihara noted that bringing production of the Outlander Sport, currently built in Japan, to the Normal plant reinforces MMC's commitment to the U.S. market. "Mitsubishi Motors remains fully committed to producing vehicles in Normal. We will build vehicles here not just for the United States, but for many nations around the world." Kurihara estimated that about half of the Outlanders produced will be exported.

Kurihara also expressed appreciation to the State of Illinois for approximately $29 million in EDGE Grant support over the next ten years. Governor Quinn expressed his pleasure at the ceremony. "Mitsubishi's decision to produce a new generation of automobile here in Illinois is a strong testament to the strength of our workforce and the state's appealing business climate," said Governor Quinn. "By working to stabilize our economy and investing in companies that are investing in Illinois, we're helping to keep thousands of jobs in Illinois, helping reinvigorate our automobile industry and continuing our economic recovery."
MMNA is the only Asian or European auto manufacturer currently partnering with the UAW. About 1,000 of MMNA's 1,300 employees are members of the UAW.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, convertibles, sedans, and sport utility vehicles through a network of approximately 400 dealers. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

Toyota bring Yaris HSD concept gas-electric for Geneva Motor Show

2011-02-05T04:29:00.001-08:00

Toyota has big plans to walk into the hybridized B-segment in European market, and it seems like we may get a peek at the automaker's first effort in that department at the Geneva Motor Show. The Japanese manufacturer has confirmed that it will launch Yaris HSD Concept in March. The company. Toyota said that the Yaris HSD Concept will wear some very hybrid-specific design cues, so expect more than a little Prius influence outside.

B-segment auto market is one of the hottest auto markets in Europe, therefore Toyota may be facing a bit of an uphill battle with the notion of a hybrid Yaris. Customers in the Old Country have been notoriously far from gasoline hybrids due to the popularity of high-efficiency diesel engines. Not only that, when considering the difficulty of making a affordable hybrid drivetrain, Toyota will have to bring some pretty impressive tricks to make this car capable to be a competitor in Europe.

Press Release

04/02/2011

Reinforcing its conviction that full hybrid technology is the key to sustainable mobility in the future, Toyota's 2011 Geneva Motor Show stand will be dedicated to the company's range of sophisticated Hybrid Synergy Drive® technologies. These include full Hybrid Vehicles (HV), Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHV), Electric Vehicles (EV), and

Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicles (FCHV) on display.

Making its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Yaris HSD concept anticipates Toyota's intention to bring full hybrid technology to the B segment, the biggest volume segment in Europe. This represents the next step in Toyota's full hybrid roll-out strategy in Europe. Incorporating several hybrid-specific styling cues, the Yaris HSD concept introduces a new, forward-looking design execution.

The Prius+, also debuting at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, is a further expansion of the Prius family. The Prius+ is the first car to offer European customers the versatility of 7 seats combined with a full hybrid powertrain. As its name suggests, the Prius+ provides a significant increase in space and passenger accommodation, while sacrificing none of the traditional attributes found in the Prius DNA, such as the lowest fuel consumption of any 7-seat MPV on the market.

Mitsubishi is reportedly considering selling a rebadged version of the Infiniti M sedan

2011-02-05T03:14:00.001-08:00

According to reports Mitsubishi considering selling a rebadged (Assign a new name, label, logo or function to a product or employee) version of the Infiniti M sedan to fill its void of premium offerings in its Japanese auto Market . However, Automotive News notes that Mitsubishi's President, Osamu Masuko, has stated that the automaker will not leverage manufacturing deals with other companies in order to extend its lineup In USA, so don’t expect to see a Mitsubishi -branded Infiniti on our roads anytime In the near future.

Automotive News reports that the Mitsubishi-badged Infiniti could go on sale in Japan as early as this year. Expect the standard gas version to be the first to wear a triple-diamond badge, though Mitsubishi may sell a version of the M Hybrid, as well.

Mitsubishi's last endeavor into the luxury sedan market was with the Diamante (Fabric covered with glittering ornaments such as sequins or rhinestones) - a car that suffered from lackluster (Lacking brilliance or vitality) sales numbers during its run throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Due to Mitsubishi's financial woes during the mid-2000s, luxury car development was put on hold. Now, though, selling a rebadged version of the Infiniti M (or Nissan Fuga, as it's known in Japan) would insulate Mitsubishi from research and development costs, making it easier for the them to launch back into the luxury segment.