2013 Hyundai Sonata Gains Additional Standard Equipment Features

With a redesign not due until 2014, according to a recent statement from Hyundai's CEO Kim Choon-ho, the Korean company's popular Sonata is entering the 2013 model year in the States with some minor equipment upgrades throughout the range. For 2013, the base GLS with the 'Popular Equipment Package' gains standard fog lights and heated front seats, with pricing set at $21, 720. The SE model now comes with standard heated front seats and the Limited gets a standard traditional sunroof, while a panoramic sunroof is now part of the Limited Premium Package for 2013. Read more " Copyright © Carscoop.blogspot.com - All Rights Reserved

Watch a Train Smash Through a Tractor Trailer in North Carolina Scream Warning

It is one of a driver's worst nightmares. You are trying to pass through a railroad crossing when for whatever reason, your vehicle is lodged on the tracks just as you hear the train coming... This horrific scenario came to be for the driver and passenger of a tractor trailer carrying cotton bales in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, last Friday. The driver, Michael Wilson, and an unnamed passenger were able to jump out of the vehicle in time before it was struck by the train. There were no reported injuries, according to the police. Read more " Copyright © Carscoop.blogspot.com - All Rights Reserved

BMW and Chrysler Issue Separate Recalls on 2012 3-Series, Town Country and Dodge Grand Caravan

In today's recall roundup, BMW and the Chrysler Group have announced two new safety recall campaigns concerning the 2012 3-Series and the Town and Country and Dodge Caravan people carriers on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). We will begin with the Bavarian automaker that issued a recall of approximately 7, 600 3-Series models built from October 19, 2011, through March 18, 2012, over an issue with the front seat head restraints. Read more " Copyright © Carscoop.blogspot.com - All Rights Reserved

R.I.P. Ralphie: Ford Sacrifices a Cane Toad in New Falcon EcoBoost Commercial

As part of the 240hp (179kW) Falcon EcoBoost launch in Australia, Ford's local division in cooperation with JWT Melbourne prepared a new online commercial called the "Cane Toad Road", which for the time being, is not intended for television. The viral video kicks off by showing a pair of cane toads, which are native to Central and South America, but were introduced to the northeastern parts of Australia in the 1930s to control the beetle population. The two cane toads are sitting on the road talking to each other before they notice a car coming their way. Ralphie, the male toad, sees no reason to move quickly as he rightly guesses from the sound that it is a four-cylinder model. Read more " Copyright ©

SPIED: Mini Paceman Concept Takes its Production Form

When the BMW Group revived the Mini brand in 2001, it only offered one model series, the hatchback, but the Bavarian firm had much more in store for us in the future. Today, Mini's lineup consists of six separate models including the three door hatch, the soft-top Convertible, the Clubman estate, the Countryman crossover and the recently launched, two-seater Coupe and Roadster. At last year"s North American International Auto Show, Mini previewed a seventh model with the Paceman Concept, which it confirmed for production. The Paceman is essentially a three-door version of the brand's biggest model, the Countryman crossover, with a roofline that slopes downwards at the rear and redesigned rear quarters for a more sportier, coupe-like profile.

GM Sells Record 227,217 Vehicles in China in April, Toyota's Sales up 68 Percent in the Country

April turned out to be a very positive sales month in China for two of the world's largest automakers, General Motors and Toyota. The Detroit firm and its joint ventures in China set a domestic sales record for April of 227, 217 vehicles, up 11.7 percent from the same month last year. In the first four months of 2012, GM's sales totaled 972, 369 units, an increase of 9.4 percent on an annual basis. Read more " Copyright © Carscoop.blogspot.com - All Rights Reserved

Opel Reportedly Mulling to End Astra Production in Germany in 2015

General Motors' struggling Opel brand may end production of the popular Astra compact model at its R?sselsheim plant in Germany after the presentation of the next generation model in 2015, according to a report from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). Citing unnamed senior labor representatives who are involved in restructuring talks, the German newspaper wrote that GM's top brass in Europe is proposing to transfer production of Opel's second bestselling model after the Corsa to its existing factories in Ellesmere Port, England and Gliwice, Poland. Read more " Copyright © Carscoop.blogspot.com - All Rights Reserved

Toyota Introduces Production Version of RAV4 EV, Prices Start at 49,800

Toyota chose the second day of the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles to present the world premiere of the production RAV4 EV featuring a pure-electric driveline developed by Tesla Motors. While based on the current RAV4, the Japanese automaker is commanding almost twice the price of the popular SUV's top trim-level (Limited: $25, 530) for the electric model that will begin arriving in select showrooms this summer with an MSRP of $49, 800 before any state and federal incentives. Read more " Copyright © Carscoop.blogspot.com - All Rights Reserved

Volkswagen Promotes Jetta's Solid Door Thunk and Passat's Safety Credentials in New Ads

At some point or another, most German automakers have advertised the fact that their vehicles' doors close with a solid "thump" as a sign of quality engineering - which through the years may or may not be accompanied by numerous other sounds such as falling windows, but that is another story. Volkswagen is the latest company to promote this aspect through a humorous commercial for its Jetta compact sedan in the States. The German carmaker also released a separate ad to highlight the U.S.-made 2012 Passat's safety ratings from the IIHS, called 'Crash' featuring a young man who just smashed his father's car. You can watch both ads in the videos after the break. Read more " Copyright ©

Subaru BRZ Versus Renaultsport Megane 265 Trophy on the Track

Whereas in the States, we saw Motor Trend comparing the new rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ with the likes of the similarly priced 2013 Ford Mustang V6, over in Europe and specifically the UK, EVO magazine tried something a little bit different. The British publication brought the BRZ to the Bedford Autodrome circuit to see how it stacks against one of the best hot hatches in Europe, the Renault Megane Coupe RS265. The only common denominators between the two cars are the displacement of their engine and of course, their price as the Subaru BRZ starts at?24, 995 (US$40, 630) and the RenaultSport 265 at?24, 825 (US$40, 350) for the Cup edition. Read more " Copyright © Carscoop.blogspot.