Shanghai Motor Show Might Ban Female Models

Shanghai Motor Show Might Ban Female Models
Aston Martin Opening Two Dealerships in US
Chevy “Bolt” to Arrive in 2017 With 200 Mile Electric Range
Jeep Bringing Moparized Renegades to Detroit
Jaguar Land Rover Shows Off Smartphone App Integration at CES
Top 10 Craziest Cars of the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon

Posted:

The Shanghai Motor Show could be without booth babes in the near future.

According to a recent report, the organizers are considering banning car show models so that "the show returns to its original spirit of showcasing auto technology and products," the organizing committee of the Shanghai Auto Show said in a statement. The country as a whole has been criticizing the use of sexy models at auto shows as China becomes one of the most important automotive markets in the world. As we all know, car show models have become a staple of automotive events, especially in America where the booth babes are as racy as they come.

Recently, the Capital Ethics Development Office criticized the "vulgar publicity" of the model Gan Lulu wore a "deep V-cut top" to an auto show and Li Yingzhi posed in a "skimpy diamond-studded dress."

[Source: Automotive News]

Aston Martin Opening Two Dealerships in US

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Despite reports that Aston Martin is in financial trouble, the British automaker is opening two new dealerships in the U.S.

With the addition of two new showrooms, Aston Martin will have a total of 46 retail stores across the Americas. The new dealers are part of a plan to grow the brand's dealership presence by 21 percent in North America. The first store will be Aston Martin Minneapolis and will be led by Morries Automotive Group, a new partner for the manufacturer. A temporary facility will open in Hopkins, Minnesota while work is underway for a permanent showroom in Golden Valley, Minnesota that will open this summer

The other dealership will be Aston Martin Nashville with the initial facility opening in Franklin, Tennessee while a new permanent Aston Martin showroom is being developed in Brentwood that will follow before the end of the year. According to Aston Martin, both facilities are now open for business immediately.

"In both Minneapolis and Nashville we have found the right partners who share our passion for Aston Martin and will help develop our brand awareness across the country by filling two key open points for us in the North American market," said Julian Jenkins, President of Aston Martin The Americas. "Both appointments strengthen our network and in a period of hugely significant investment for Aston Martin, further ready us for an exciting future."

Discuss this story at our Aston Martin forum

Chevy “Bolt” to Arrive in 2017 With 200 Mile Electric Range

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Come 2017 General Motors will launch an all-new product that aims to push electric car technology to the next level.

Called the "Bolt," Chevy's new electric car will offer 200 miles of emissions free electric range on a single charge. GM filed a trademark for the Bolt name in August of last year.

Larger than the Volt, the hatchback-styled vehicle is expected to cost between $30,000 and $50,000.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

Currently Tesla is leading the charge in offering an electric car with a significant range. The base Model S offers a 208 mile range but starts at $70,000.

General Motors is expected to show a concept of the Bolt at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, in addition to revealing the second-generation Volt.

[Source: Automotive News]

Discuss this story at our Chevy Bolt forum

Jeep Bringing Moparized Renegades to Detroit

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Chrysler's Mopar customization arm is outfitting three vehicles to show off at the Detroit Auto Show.

The first two are both Jeep Renegades, one of which is built for the trails while the other will look good downtown in any big city.

The off-road Mopar Renegade is fit with satin-black wheels, tow hooks, a roof basket, a concept skid plate, prototype rock rails and roof rails. For looks, it gets a Commando green paint job that features 'X' decals to play off of the look of old jerry cans that were fitted to wartime Jeeps. Finally, to celebrate the Auto Show, a topographical hood decal displays a map of Detroit.

2015 Detroit Auto Show Preview

The seconds custom Renegade is finished in a color known as 'Anvil,' contrasted by Omaha orange touches. Out back, a hitch bike carrier is ready to take two-wheeled transportation to the park or mountain trail. Inside, Katzkin leather seats are fitted while orange accents carry over onto the HVAC controls, speaker grilles and center console.

Finally, Mopar is bringing along the Challenger T/A Concept that made its original debut at the 2014 SEMA Show. That car is all about going fast at the racetrack and comes with forger aluminum wheels, Brembo brakes, side exhaust exits and a beefed up exhaust note. Most important though is a more rigid chassis and weight loss, both of which are meant to help this big muscle car make it around corners.

Discuss this story at our Jeep Renegade Forum

Jaguar Land Rover Shows Off Smartphone App Integration at CES

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Smart-phone app integration is a major part of the Jaguar Land Rover InControl infotainment system and we got a chance to sample and see some of the apps that are launching with the new system.

To use the system, you install the InControl app on your smart-phone (both Android and Apple devices are supported) and when you connect the phone to the car, all you need to do is go to the "InControl apps" menu. From there, you get a list of supported apps that are installed on the device. If you want more, you can use the InControl app on your phone to find and download compatible apps.

2015 Consumer Electronics Show Coverage

Some of the more interesting apps that will be launching with InControl support include AudioBooks.com, Rdio, NPR, Glympse and Magellan's SmartGPS system.

Seeing these applications in motion allowed us to better understand what makes InControl connectivity different than say Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Unlike those two platforms, the third-party apps feature their own look and feel.

Behind InControl is something called mySpin from supplier Bosch. At CES, Bosch gave us a preview of several apps that are launching with full support of mySpin.

Most notable was the Rdio application. It featured a very rich user interface and the ability to search for music and browse the users library. Album art was a main focal point and after comparing the Rdio app to other InControl apps, it's clear that the developers were given free reign in terms of designing their apps.

Another interesting app was from AudioBooks.com which allowed users to see popular books and listen to them. Content is downloaded and played via the smart-phones internet connection. Visually, you can see that there's a difference between the AudioBooks app and the other InControl apps.

We found the Magellan SmartGPS system to be very interesting as well. Magellan has officially been announced as the lead navigation application for 2016 Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. The integration here allows for extra content like Yelp and Foursquare support in addition to real-time traffic routing. Additionally, users of this app will get "Last Mile" navigation, which means you can seamlessly get walking directions after you get out of your vehicle straiht from your phone.

Other demonstrations showcased similar connectivity, leveraging your smart-phone's internet connection while offering a car friendly interface. While Jaguar Land Rover's infotainment system won't use Apple Car Play or Android Auto, it still offers many of the same benefits while keeping app developers happy.

Top 10 Craziest Cars of the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon

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Some say the Tokyo Auto Salon is the mecca for Japanese tuning enthusiasts. Others believe it's the only place in the world you can see some of the wildest, most extreme creations ever imagined.

Each year, AutoGuide.com travels to the Tokyo Auto Salon and every time we walk away impressed with just how clever some of the cars can get. This year's craziest car though, might just take the cake… pun intended.

Car Reviews

Saturday, 10 January 2015

Shanghai Motor Show Might Ban Female Models

Shanghai Motor Show Might Ban Female Models

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