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Chrysler is recalling 26,397 vehicles, saying a malfunction with the power steering pressure hose may cause steering fluid to leak over a hot engine and cause a fire. This recall is expected to begin by the end of October.
The Facts:
* Chrysler is recalling 26,397 vehicles to replace power steering pressure hoses that could leak fluid onto hot engine components and cause a fire.
* 2010 Chrysler 300, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Journey, as well as the 2011 Ram, are included.
WASHINGTON — Chrysler is recalling 26,397 vehicles to replace power steering pressure hoses that could leak fluid onto hot engine components and cause a fire. They include the 2010 Chrysler 300, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Journey, as well as the 2011 Dodge Ram, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Some of these vehicles may experience a separation at the crimped end of the power steering pressure hose assembly,” said NHTSA in its recalls summary of the problem. “Leaked power steering fluid onto hot engine components could cause a fire.”
In other documentation filed with the federal government, Chrysler said it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this issue.
Owners can contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403 with any questions; otherwise owners will be notified beginning this month, and dealerships will inspect and replace the power-steering hoses as needed.
Car Advice Says: If you own one of the mentioned Chrysler vehicles above, have it checked out with your dealer ASAP.
The vehicles that BMW and Mercedes-Benz will bring to the US will be based on platforms smaller than those currently being sold there. What BMW will bring is a new front-wheel-drive family of cars in the UKL class. UKL is an abbreviation in German for lower-compact-class cars.
Last week at the Paris Auto Show, Ian Robertson, BMW AG board member for sales and marketing, told Automotive News that it will be a “relatively big segment” because there are several body styles being offered.
He didn’t provide details about the body styles BMW is developing but he confirmed that during the launch in the US, the vehicles will have a four-cylinder engine. Robertson also said that the new family of small cars will be introduced within the next few years, before the launch of BMW’s Megacity electric car that’s expected in 2013.
According to European media reports, BMW is planning at least three variants. Starting in 2012, Mercedes-Benz will send three compact fwd vehicles to the US including one that has an alternative drivetrain. The vehicle that would go on sale first is either a compact SUV or a coupe derived from the B-class platform. Both will not be wearing a B-class badge. Joachim Schmidt, executive vice president for sales, declined to reveal the names of these planned vehicles.
The US market will not be receiving the smaller hatchback that will start selling in Europe at the end of next year as an A-class model. Schmidt added that Mercedes will be adding a compact van featuring its electric drivetrains later.
Details and timing have yet to be determined but what Mercedes is considering is a fuel cell model or an electric with a range-extending gasoline engine. To fit the battery, the van will require a second floor. Schmidt said that with this method, the battery will not be encroaching on interior room. The fuel cell van is also expected to help Mercedes comply with strict US fuel economy standards for the 2016 model year.
For More Information click here: www.autonews.com
 The X1 wants sports car in the compact-SUV segment SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Dow Jones)–BMW AG (BMW.XE) will begin selling the X1 model in the U.S. early next year as it looks to continue building on the success of its sport-utility vehicle portfolio.
North America Vice President Jim O’Donnell confirmed the move Wednesday saying the company had always intended to bring BMW’s “baby” SUV here.
Separately, BMW Board Chairman Norbert Reithofer said the company hasn’t held any partnership discussions with General Motors Co. Reithofer said the company is continuing to pursue development cooperations with PSA Peugeot Citroen, but there are no plans for large partnerships.
O’Donnell said he expects the X1 will be sold as a nice vehicle in the U.S. and there are no plans to move its production to Spartanburg.
“It will appeal to some, but I think it will be outsold five-to-one by the X3,” O’Donnell said. The X3 is being produced at the Spartanburg plant. The smaller X1 joined BMW’s lineup in 2009 as the auto maker worked to stretch its offering and benefit from growing demand for compact luxury SUVs.
The X1 has been driving global sales at BMW so far this year together with the new-generation 5-series. Strong sales increases in recent months indicate a significant rise in third-quarter earnings for BMW and momentum appears to extend into the last three months of the year.
“We…intend to maintain this upward trend throughout the fourth quarter. Here, we expect to see robust growth in the double-digit percentage range,” BMW sales chief Ian Robertson said last week.
Continue reading UPDATE: The 2011 BMW X1 with Comparison chart
RICHMOND, Va. —CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, has begun construction on a new CarMax superstore in Lexington, Kentucky. The new store will be the first CarMax location in Lexington and the second CarMax location in Kentucky.
The Lexington CarMax superstore is expected to open in 2011 and will provide approximately 50 to 75 jobs. The 14,123-square-foot superstore will be built at 105 Sand Lake Drive in Lexington on more than six acres of land.
“As we continue to break ground on new markets, the excitement of resuming growth can be seen throughout the company,” said Tom Folliard, president and chief executive officer of CarMax. “We look forward to bringing our unique consumer offer to new communities such as Lexington.”
CarMax was created more than 16 years ago when the company surveyed thousands of consumers to find out what they liked and disliked about car shopping. The CarMax no-haggle, no-hassle, fun shopping experience was the result of those survey responses. CarMax offers consumers a broad selection of high-quality used cars and guarantees the quality of the cars sold, does not sell flood or frame-damaged vehicles, and guarantees a clean title and accurate odometer readings on its cars. All vehicles are thoroughly inspected and reconditioned, and CarMax offers a five-day, money-back guarantee and a limited 30-day warranty (60-day in Connecticut).
About CarMax
CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2010 “100 Best Companies to Work For,” is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., we currently operate 103 used car superstores in 49 markets. The CarMax consumer offer is structured around four customer benefits: low, no-haggle prices; a broad selection; high quality vehicles; and customer-friendly service. During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, the company retailed 357,129 used vehicles and sold 197,382 wholesale vehicles at our in-store auctions.
For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com
Tacoma, WA October 13, 2010: Courtesy Goodyear Auto Service and Tire of Tacoma, a Tacoma auto repair shop, is leading the Tacoma auto repair industry by example with its commitment and dedication to environmental responsibility. The auto service and repair industry generates waste that, if not properly disposed of, can harm the environment. Courtesy Goodyear’s owner, Scott Welsh, is acutely aware of this fact, and that’s why his Tacoma auto repair business is committed to disposing of this waste in a safe and ecologically conscious manner.
“I care about our local community,” affirms Scott Welsh, “and I would like our children to grow up in a world that is safe and clean. Sure, it’s important to my family that I make a living, but if I am damaging the environment by making that living, I am ultimately not providing the best future for them, and that is really what I am working for.”
The typical waste generated by a Tacoma auto repair center includes old tires, antifreeze, oil, oil filters, and many other automotive products. Many of these substances, such as antifreeze, are hazardous to the environment if not disposed of properly. Courtesy Goodyear practices responsible and safe automotive waste management to counteract these hazards. “We train all of our employees to handle accidental spills with a pre-planned spill response program.” Says Welsh. “We are also certified with the Pierce County Health Department as a member in good standing of the South Tacoma Ground Water Protection District.” As an environmentally conscious business providing auto repair in Tacoma, Courtesy Goodyear heats its facility with some of its waste oil, and separates and recycles the rest of the used oil and oil filters, as well as other recyclable items.
Some Tacoma motorists tend to perform basic automotive maintenance like oil changes on their own. Many of these Tacoma vehicle owners do not have the resources to properly recycle the waste that is generated from this maintenance. To minimize any harmful impact to the environment, ‘green minded’ consumers can bring their vehicles to a Tacoma auto repair shop like Courtesy Goodyear that is committed to ecologically responsible practices.
About Courtesy Goodyear Auto Service and Tire of Tacoma:
Courtesy Goodyear is a full service Tacoma auto repair shop dedicated to providing the best auto service in Tacoma with quality workmanship, high performance materials, and professional, friendly customer service. It is an ASE Certified business and a certified Gemini Automotive Care center, providing national warranties for many of it’s services. Courtesy Goodyear uses state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and equipment, and prides itself on maintaining a clean and environmentally friendly facility.
For more information, visit: www.goodyeartacoma.com
 For 2011: The Dodge Challenger! The 2011 Dodge Challenger trimlines are official
Since the Chrysler Group hosted their 2010 Dealer Announcement Show in Orlando, Florida last week, the automotive world has been given a steady flow of new product information. On Saturday, the first information on the 2011 Dodge Challenger was revealed but not by a press release but rather by a leaked brochure given to attendees at the 2010 Dealer Announcement Show.
Ontario Street Car published images of the fairly straight-forward brochure that includes a few renderings of the seats and badges of the 2011 Dodge Challenger’s new SRT 392 trimline, along with trimline information on each of the four main packages offered at the release of the new Mopar muscle car.
The base model for the 2011 Dodge Challenger comes with no trimline and is referred to only as the Challenger. It is powered by one of the two new engines for 2011, with the 3.6L Pentastar V6 coming over from the Jeep brand to offer 305 horsepower and 268lb-ft of torque – an improvement of 55hp and 18lb-ft of torque over the outgoing 2010 Challenger SE. Sadly, it seems that the 2011 Dodge Challenger’s equipped with the V6 engine will only come with an automatic transmission – giving an advantage to Ford and Chevy as their entry level muscle cars offer a manual transmission option.
The next step up for the new 2011 Challenger is the Rallye package. This comes with all of the standard features of the base model Challenger but adds fog lights and an automatic headlight system on the outside with leather seats and an upgraded infotainment system on the inside. The Rallye package is new for 2011, although the 2010 Challenger featured the Rallye Group package – which offered items that are now standard such as the 18” wheels and bright chrome vintage fuel door.
Continue reading The 2011 Dodge Challenger
At first glance, you might think it’s obvious what Honda’s trying to do here. The shape of this stubby car, the fact that it arrived just as the S2000 roadster bowed out, and even the new CR-Z’s name all suggest that it’s the legendary CR-X sports hatch returned from the grave and updated for the new millennium.
It’s not, though. Don’t forget that Honda is “not about chasing market share,” as they put it. This company has a strong corporate vision of sustainable performance, in marketing speak. In plain English that means Honda has a good idea of the sort of cars it wants to build, and it’s not driven solely by focus groups or public opinion.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the new CR-Z. The sports car folks are underwhelmed, which could be the kiss of death to any other vehicle with sporting pretensions. Not Honda. The idea behind this car is that it’s a combination of café racer and hybrid. And, indeed, it’s the smallest and least expensive hybrid currently for sale in the U.S.
The design is substantial, masking the car’s small size at first glance. Many have cried blasphemy at the CR-Z’s obvious styling and nomenclature links to the Honda CR-X. The hood and front end are similar to that of the Civic, but a low, narrow grille opening and strong hood lines are more similar to that of the S2000.Extravagant “speed” lines mark the body sides and flow back to an abrupt, almost vertical tail. It’s an extremely aerodynamic design, but it’s intensely sporty as well.
Keep Reading At: www.theepochtimes.com
Officially it’s only a concept, but there’s no doubt that project XG10 — or the 918 Spyder concept — will pave the way for the next Porsche supercar. And what a supercar it is going to be: in addition to the normally aspirated, high-revving, 3.4-liter V-8 good for more than 495 hp, the striking 918 Spyder has three electric motors onboard that add another 215 hp to the tally.
Says Wolfgang Dürheimer, board member in charge of R&D: “This car can lap the Nürburgring faster than the Carrera GT. At the same time, it averages 78 mpg [on the EU driving cycle] when driven gently.
Are we going to build it? We will definitely bring some blank sales contracts to the Geneva show, but it’s too early to talk pricing, production volumes, and timing.
“The strategic aim is to demonstrate that even a supercar can be environmentally friendly. XG10 promises total driving pleasure—and a clear conscience.
This is a trendsetting and sustainable premium product that uses the issue of social acceptability to its advantage. And it reflects the legacy of Ferry Porsche, who was convinced that sports cars would never go out of fashion.”
XG10 stands for X1, Geneva 2010. X1 is the code name of the 918 Spyder, which is only one version of many. Potential variations include a 918 coupe, an electric 918, and a 918 RS/RSR. This car can be either two- or four-wheel drive, have plug-in electric or gasoline power, come with an open top or a fixed roof, and be either a racer or a street machine.
Continue reading 2011 Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Concept
 Electric Vehicle The E-Cell is all electric and has 526 horsepower!
When the big push towards alternative power for vehicles first started, many enthusiasts feared that electric and green vehicles would mean the end of the performance car era. Thankfully, there are several carmakers who are intent on proving that green and performance can live on hand in hand.
The first company to offer an all-electric sports car was Tesla with its Roadster. Tesla is set to take the company public with an IPO, which can only mean more from the company in the future.
The Tesla roadster proved to be a potent competitor performance wise with some of the highest performing gasoline powered vehicles on the road. Porsche has also recently been working with a hybrid 911.
Mercedes has a new all-electric sports car it is showing off that promises some very impressive performance. The car is called the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell Prototype. All an enthusiast needs to read is that the car has 526 horsepower and 649 lb/feet of torque. The beast can rip to 60 mph in four seconds according to AMG and that mountain of torque is available from the second you step on the pedal.
AMG reports that the move from gas power to electric power required no major modifications to the aluminum frame of the vehicle. The car also maintains it’s near ideal weight distribution. The E-Cell uses lithium-ion polymer batteries that sit inside the center tunnel of the car and behind the seats. The battery placement helps to lower the center of gravity for the vehicle.
Continue reading Here is The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell EV
TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW) posted net income for the third-consecutive quarter driven by improved global vehicle production.
The Livonia-based supplier of automotive safety systems posted net income of $227 million, or $1.78 per share, on revenue of $3.7 billion in the second quarter.
TRW rebounded from a net loss of $11 million on revenue of $2.7 billion in the same period last year.
“TRW’s impressive results for the second quarter and the first six months of 2010 have been driven by our reduced cost structure and higher levels of vehicle production,” John Plant, president and CEO, said in a statement. “TRW’s success at winning new business due to our leading technology portfolio combined with the overall industry recovery and dynamic growth in emerging markets provides a solid foundation for future growth.”
TRW implemented tough cost-cutting measures in 2008 and 2009 to deal with significant declines in global car and truck production volumes, including cutting about 4,400 global employees in the first half of 2009 and the closure of four plants.
The company also suspended its 401(k) matching contributions, eliminated merit-based raises and shortened work weeks at locations in Europe.
TRW expects 2010 production levels to reach 11.6 million in North America, up from its prior outlook at 11.5 million.
In Europe, TRW projects production of 17.2 million vehicles in Europe, up from 16.7 million last quarter.
The projected rise in demand is fueling TRW’s full-year forecast to between $13.2 billion and $13.6 billion, with third-quarter revenue projected to reach $3.1 billion.
“Vehicle production schedules were robust during the first half of 2010; however, we anticipate normal seasonality and soft consumer demand will lead to a decline in production levels, primarily in Europe, during the second half of this year,” Plant said.
 The Chrysler 300C First, the company is breathing new life into its existing lineup. Highlights include the redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which the automaker started shipping to dealerships in early July, and the re-engineered and restyled Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger rear-drive sedans, both coming in the first quarter of 2011.
Altogether, Chrysler says it is revising 16 vehicles starting this year. Most were in the pipeline before the automaker emerged from bankruptcy under Fiat management in June 2009.
The critical second phase starts at the end of this year when the Fiat 500 minicar arrives, followed by a wave of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles based on Fiat platforms.
Chrysler’s strength lies in large cars, pickups, minivans and Jeeps. CEO Sergio Marchionne has said those vehicles will remain the core of Chrysler’s business. But the company’s complete revival depends largely on smaller, more fuel-efficient Fiat-based vehicles.
The Grand Cherokee was the first vehicle to get Chrysler’s Pentastar V-6 engine, developed before Fiat assumed management control. Eventually, the Pentastar engine family will replace seven V-6 engines in Chrysler vehicles, dramatically simplifying the powertrain picture.
The Fiat 500 will be the first North American car in the Chrysler-Fiat stable to get the 1.4-liter FIRE engine. The engine comes with MultiAir, a system that boosts fuel economy and performance.
Continue reading Chrysler Group’s product: Getting Tweaked up a bit
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