Saturday, November 5, 2011

CARSCOOP

CARSCOOP

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All New 2012 Chevrolet Cobalt Revealed in Production Form, will be Available in 40 Countries

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 06:23 PM PDT


The Chevrolet Cobalt may be dead in the States where it was successfully replaced by the Cruze sedan, but the nameplate lives on in the rest of the world.

After the debut of the concept version at the Buenos Aires motor show this past summer, General Motors today introduced the final production 2012 Cobalt that will eventually go on sale in 40 countries across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South America - but not North America.

In addition to Brazil, which is the first country to receive the new Chevrolet Cobalt, the car will be produced in three more factories around the world, though GM did not disclose any more details on the locations.

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Honda's Newest Hybrid Model is a…Snowblower!

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 05:17 PM PDT


We've heard of hybrid cars, plants and even fish, but how about a hybrid snowblower? Honda's Power Equipment division came up with the idea and introduced its first hybrid snowblower model for the U.S. market.

So how does it work? The all-new Honda HS1336i hybrid combines a gasoline engine that simultaneously drives the machine's fan apparatus for clearing and throwing the snow and charges the battery, with a pair of electric motors that control the treads upon which it moves.

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It Came from eBay Hell: 1990 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible Thingamajig

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 04:05 PM PDT


If there was ever an automotive hell, you would probably be forced to roam the roads driving something like this customized 1990 Chrysler LeBaron that is currently up for sale on eBay.

The custom model mixes all sorts of bits and pieces from numerous eras and styles in a way that only someone with the taste buds of Victor Frankenstein would have been proud of calling his own. But as the old adage goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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Mazda Takeri Sedan Concept Smiles for the Video Camera

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 03:26 PM PDT


This year's edition of the Tokyo Motor Show in December is gearing up to be one of the most exciting automotive events of the year as we're anticipating many important debuts including the Toyota FT-86 and Subaru BRZ twins, the new Honda CR-V and the reason why we're writing this article, the Mazda Takeri concept.

Even though Mazda's initial press release didn't disclose many details, the Takeri is believed to be a thinly disguised concept of the next generation of the Mazda6 sedan in the same way that the Minagi study previewed the CX-5 that was revealed in Frankfurt this September.

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GM Spokesperson Says Company May Object to Change of Saab Ownership

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 06:37 PM PDT


Buddhism preaches that karma passes from one life to another in reincarnation and that the outcome is based on what deeds are done in previous lives.

Now, Saab must have a really bad karma. There's really no other explanation for the constant problem that arise, preventing the ailing Swedish carmaker from finding peace in securing its existence.

This time it's not the Chinese government, the creditors, the suppliers, the workers' unions, the Swedish debt office or the court-appointed administrator. All of the aforementioned parties have given their approval. Instead, in a surprising move, it's the company's former owner and current preference shareholder, General Motors, that's may try to block the sale to Pang Da and Youngman.

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Video: BMW Motorcycle Breaks Free when Rider Attempts Wheelie

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 01:27 PM PDT


Some kids will never learn that motorcycle wheelies can go bad. This –fortunately humorous- video footage comes to us via South Korea with the protagonist on the BMW motorcycle attempting to pull a wheelie as soon as the light turned green.

It seems though that the Bavarian motorcycle had a different opinion as it threw down the rider and continued by itself for several feet before it came to a falling halt. Video follows after the break.

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Oh, You Shouldn’t Have: One Millionth Cruze is Chevy’s Present for its 100th Birthday

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 12:44 PM PDT


What present do you bring to a 100-year old company for its birthday? It depends: in Chevrolet's case, the fact that the Cruze reached 1 million sales this week, less than two years after its global launch, is perfectly adequate.

Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet global marketing and strategy, also believes that this is a happy coincidence for Chevy's Centennial: "I can't think of a better birthday present", he said. "Cruze's combination of style, comfort, fuel efficiency and safety is a hit across the globe. Our customers know a winner when they drive it."

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U Draw: Carscoop Reader Reimagines 2012 BMW 3-Series with a New Schnauze

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 12:06 PM PDT


BMW's turn to more conservative shapes and styles after the departure of design head honcho Chris Bangle in early 2009, hasn't satisfied all bimmer fans. In fact, some BMW aficionados believe the company should further simplify the designs of its cars.

And even though the design of the new 3-Series saloon is more or less an evolution of the previous model, Carscoop reader Steph S. thinks that BMW's bread-and-butter saloon could do with a bit of a redo up front, which truth to be said, is the only new styling element that stands out in the car.

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NHTSA Announces 2009's Most Stolen Vehicles, Audi S8 Tops the List, Sort Of...

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 11:31 AM PDT


An Audi S8 is a rare sight indeed in the U.S.A. Yet the A8 range-topper is also on top of the list in NHTSA's recently published theft report for 2009.

As they say, there are lies, greater lies, and statistics: the S8's number one position is somewhat misleading, however, since only two of the 227 cars that were sold that year were actually stolen. Statistically, though, this figure represents a theft rate of 8.8106 per 1,000 vehicles sold.

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Volvo Releases Videos Documenting the Development of the C30 Electric

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 10:00 AM PDT


Almost every carmaker already has, or is currently developing, at least one electric vehicle in its range. Volvo is part of that group and it has been testing its C30 Electric since autumn of 2010.

In June, the compact all-electric Volvo entered production –albeit at a limited rate, since it will be available for leasing only to a select number of European buyers.

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2012 Honda Ridgeline Pictured, Priced and Detailed, gets New Sport Trim

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 09:17 AM PDT


Despite seeing its sales drop by close to 50 percent in the first eight months of 2011 (from 11,320 units in Jan-Aug 2010, to 5,776 in the same period this year), the Honda Ridgeline is here to stay – at least for another year, that is.

For the 2012MY, Honda has made some mild changes to its unibody pickup truck that include visual tweaks, the introduction of a new Sport model and improved highway fuel economy.

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New Ferrari FF Proves a Little too Hot for its Driver… [Video]

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 08:42 AM PDT


The Ferrari FF hasn't been on the market for more than a few months yet there's already a case of one example catching fire.

According to reports from Germany, a 44-year old owner was out test-driving the FF on a motorway in Frankfurt in early October when he suddenly heard a "loud bang" and noticed flames coming out of the rear of the Italian supercar

The driver then stopped over on the side of the road and saw what a €370,000 supercar getting roasted looks like.

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Thai Floods Cause Delay in European Launch of 2012 Honda Civic Hatch

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 07:52 AM PDT


The 2012 CR-V isn't the only new Honda model to have its market launch delayed (albeit in the U.S.A.) due to the catastrophic floods in Thailand as the Japanese automaker confirmed that production of the 2012 Civic hatchback has also been affected.

"We are closely watching the supply chain situation," John Kingston, Honda Europe manager for corporate affairs told Autonews Europe during the press launch of the hatchback in Malaga, Spain. "Right now we fear the new Civic introduction will be delayed by three to four weeks."

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Toyota Dealer Awarded $7.5 Million in Damages After Rival Called Him “Taliban Toyota”

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 07:20 AM PDT


In Formula 1, the first driver you have to beat in order to prove your worth is your teammate. Likewise, in the car selling industry the fiercest competitors are dealerships that sell cars from the same brand.

There are, however, certain boundaries that cannot be crossed. Toyota, in particular, does have enough problems of its own and the last thing it needs is the company's dealers slandering each other.

Employees from Bob Tyler Toyota in Pensacola, Florida, scoffed the Iranian-born Shawn Esfahani, owner of Eastern Shore Toyota in Daphne, Alabama, by portraying him as an Islamist militant to customers.

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2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Sports up with New R-Line Packages

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 06:28 AM PDT


Volkswagen is adding some pizazz to its recently facelifted 2012 Tiguan SUV with the release of two R-Line packages, one for the interior and one for the exterior. Both packages are designed for the 'Sport & Style' trim model and come with a slew of visual upgrades.

On the outside, the exterior treatment includes more aggressively designed front and rear bumpers, roof spoiler, a black rear diffuser, R-Line logos, aluminium door sill plates and newly designed 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/40 tires.

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Chevy Volt Sales Close to 50% up in October, Outsells Nissan Leaf for the First Time

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 06:01 AM PDT


So far, Nissan's all-electric Leaf has been the winner in the battle with the Volt extended-range hybrid, clearly outselling Chevy's offering for the first half of 2011.

But not anymore: for the first time since the two models went on sale, GM announced that it sold 1,108 units in October, an increase of almost 50% over September's 723 sales.

This is the first time Chevy's hybrid outsold its main rival in the U.S. market, the Nissan Leaf, which last month sold 849 units compared to September's figure of 1,031 deliveries.

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