The auto industry has been facing the perfect storm since the beginning of the new millennium; 2009 especially proved to be a low point as General Motors and Chrysler declared bankruptcy. Subsequent events like Toyota's "sudden acceleration" recalls and the Japanese earthquake in early 2011 literally shook auto companies into ... Read more
Moody’s Raises Ford’s Credit Level From Junk to Investment Grade
After a tumultuous six years in Dearborn Michigan, Ford received news from Moody's Investors Services this afternoon that its credit level has been bumped up from junk to investment grade. This effectively closes one of the roughest chapters in the Blue Oval's history but there are still a few more ... Read more
Setting the Bar High: Kia Vows to Be Premium Automaker by 2017
Less than a decade ago, if you told someone you just bought a KIA vehicle, you may have gotten a funny look and even heard some snickering when you walked away. Now, KIA is one of the fastest growing automakers in the world and hasn't shown any signs of slowing ... Read more
Nuance Dragon Drive Brings Apple Siri Voice Commands to Cars
Apple's Siri voice command took consumer electronics to new heights with its natural voice recognition system. Automakers were suddenly sent scrambling to update their infotainment systems, which looked hopelessly antiquated with their so-called "gateway commands" (e.g., "Radio on") and stilted command tree (e.g. "Play disc two, track three."). Nuance Mobile has ... Read more
Supercharged and GT Limited Editions Joining 2013 Range Rover Sport Lineup
One of Land Rover's most popular models is going to be joined by two new limited editions for the 2013 lineup. Upon its introduction stateside back in 2006, the Range Rover Sport became an instant hit with stay-at-home-moms and professional athletes alike. The Range Rover Sport was so appealing at ... Read more
Return Of The Barchetta: Alfa Romeo And Mazda To Build Roadsters
Italians have a reputation for building alluring, hopelessly pretty, fragile roadsters—witness the Alfa Romeo Duetto from The Graduate , for starters. Now, however, Alfa Romeo's overlords at Fiat are aiming to partner up with Mazda to take "fragile" out of the equation with a new generation of barchettas. The next ... Read more
Bid for a Chance to Win Transformers Movie “Barricade” Police Car
You must live under a rock if you didn't see Michael Bay's 2007 "Transformers" movie, a box-office mega-smash that generated over $709 million world-wide while in theaters. The non-nerd version recap goes as the Autobots (the good guys) come to earth looking for the AllSpark (an energy source) in an ... Read more
How Volvo V40 Pedestrian Airbags Work
Volvo is currently rolling out three car safety technologies--City Safety, Pedestrian Airbag, and Pedestrian Detection--as part of its goal that "By 2020, nobody shall be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo". We've covered City Safety, which can be found in the Volvo XC60, and ... Read more
Mercedes-Benz, AMG Turns Golden at Cannes Film Festival
Leave it to Mercedes-Benz to do both charity work and ferry service in style. The Palme d'Or, or Golden Palm, is the highest honor bestowed at the Cannes International Film Festival at Cannes, France. To celebrate the 65th anniversary of the award, Mercedes-Benz will be shuttling the various dignitaries, movie stars, ... Read more
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