Just One Man’s Opinion
30
Jan
We hardly knew you Isuzu and we wish you the best of luck! If you missed the news in the past, Isuzu is pulling out of the U.S. market and on January 31, 2009, it will be the last day of Isuzu. Isuzu is currently selling rebadged vehicles from GM, the Ascender (TrailBlazer) and i-Series [...]
26
Jan
If this isn’t proof we can go back to our old ways, I don’t what would! Hybrid sales in U.S. slip 9.9% in 2008. With gas back down to a reasonable $1.50-$1.80 a gallon, people are going back to their typical driving habits and back to buying non-hybrid cars. It’s almost like $4.00 a gallon [...]
21
Jan
This always happens when I’m away, but just in case you missed it: Fiat is going to acquire 35% stake in Chrysler. This would give Fiat manufacturing capacity and a U.S. sales network along with other manufactures in Europe. Chrysler will gain Fiat’s small, less-polluting cars and gain more distribution in Europe and Latin America.
It’s [...]
19
Jan
The UK paper Telegraph is reporting today that Ben Collins is “The Stig”! For those wondering what I’m talking about, I’m talking about the most popular TV show around the world from the UK call Top Gear. On Top Gear there is a character that is a closely guarded secret called “The Stig”. He dresses [...]
13
Jan
As most of you know, Detroit had a few auto makers not make it to the Show this year because of the economy. Well, that’s better than canceling the whole show! The 2009 Tokyo Motor Show me be canceled this year! The organizers (Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, JAMA) are currently debating to keep it or [...]
12
Jan
The North America International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit for 2009 opened this weekend. I’ll bring you news and concept that are interesting. Like the Volkswagen Concept BlueSport. To me it looks a Porsche Boxster with the new corporate VW frontend. And it could be a cheap alterative to the Boxster. Like in the Audi [...]
9
Jan
Look, in the sky, a silver lining! With all the news about how all the auto manufacturer’s sales are down, it seems that Audi didn’t get the message. Audi is reporting that is sold over one million cars in a 12 month period for the first time. The total cars sold by Audi in 2008 [...]
8
Jan
In an unrelated Volvo story, Volvo trucks announces the world’s most powerful series-manufactured truck (semi-truck) that produces 700 HP and makes an incredible 2,323 lb-ft of torque. The Volvo FH16 is 16-liters, six cylinder of turbocharged and intercooled diesel power. The engine has been testing for three years in the Australian deserts, super cold northern [...]
7
Jan
The Euro’s get the fun again! Volvo has announced a new twin-turbo diesel for Euro S80. Volvo S80, the top-of-line car, will be getting a 2.4-liter twin-turbo diesel with 205 HP and whopping 310 lb-ft of torque. The US-spec S60 4.4-liter V8 AWD gets 311 HP and 325 lb-ft of torque. The thirsty V8 [...]
6
Jan
The envelope please…The Top Best-Selling Vehicle of 2008 is… Fiat 500. Just kiddn’, it’s the Ford F-Series (again), followed by Chevy Silverado. So much for high gas prices and economy going down the drain. Even looking at the top selling vehicle in December is full of trucks and mid-size cars. The only sub-compact on the [...]