Thursday, 20 August 2015

Future US Buick Models to be Built in Europe, China

Future US Buick Models to be Built in Europe, China

Future US Buick Models to be Built in Europe, China

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Only two of Buick's future models sold in the U.S. will be manufactured in America.

According to a recent Reuters report, Buick will phase out production in the U.S. by 2016 and most vehicles sold under the brand will be exported from Europe or China. Replacements for the LaCrosse and Enclave will continue to be produced in the U.S. while production of the Verano will shift over to China in late 2016. As for the Regal that is currently produced in Canada, that will move over to China or Europe in 2017.

SEE ALSO: Buick Envision Arriving in US Next Year

The American automaker will begin importing the Cascada convertible to the U.S. from Europe early next year and the new Envision crossover, built in China, will arrive in late 2016. The current Encore crossover that is imported from Korea is expected to have its production moved to China as well.

China has become the largest market for Buick in recent years, selling 919,582 vehicles in 2014, which is over four times the 228,963 figure Buick sold in the U.S. last year.

[Source: Reuters]

Discuss this story at our Buick Encore Forum

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Volkswagen Hid a Possible Car Hack for Two Years

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Volkswagen used the legal system to keep a car security vulnerability quiet for over two years.

With all the recent news surrounding possible hacking vulnerabilities with GM's OnStar and Fiat Chrysler's Uconnect, a new report has surfaced revealing that Volkswagen hid a flaw in its system for over two years.

A trio of European computer scientists first discovered the flaws in 2012 and warned automakers about the issue with high-tech keys used in today's cars. Instead of informing the public, Volkswagen used its lawyers to keep the research quiet. Now, a legal settlement has allowed the documents to go public.

According to the researchers, the chip used in today's keys use outdated encryption and if a computer can listen or talk to the key just twice, it can figure out a pattern to the codes it sends to the vehicle. From there, thieves can just make a copy of the key and the chip and gain access to the vehicle.

SEE ALSO: GM's OnStar Also had a Hacking Vulnerability

The researchers were surprised to find that even luxury vehicles used outdated encryption and affected vehicles include a long list of models from Audi, Fiat, Honda, Kia, Volkswagen, Volvo and even Ferrari. All of the possibly affected vehicles rely on chips manufactured by EM Microelectronic in Switzerland.

When the researchers first discovered the issue, they gave the Swiss-based chip maker nine months to fix the problem in late 2012 before they intended to go public with the research. The following year, Volkswagen sued the universities and the researchers, blocking them from publishing their work to fellow academics, essentially quieting them.

Ultimately, both sides settled on the issue when the researchers agreed to omit a single line from their report, which featured an important detail that could allow even a non-technical person to figure out the hack.

The German automaker acknowledged that there is a technological flaw with the keys but said that it takes "considerable, complex effort" to do it.

[Source: CNNMoney]

Discuss this story at our Volkswagen Forum

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2018 Ford Mustang Getting Facelift, 10-Speed Automatic

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The 2018 Ford Mustang is expected to get a new front end and a 10-speed automatic transmission as part of its mid-cycle refresh.

Redesigned for the 2015 model year, the Ford Mustang has become a hot seller, as the new Chevrolet Camaro lags behind the competition with its later arrival. Demand for the sports car has grown overseas and Ford will add the Shelby GT350 and GT350R models to the lineup this summer.

Although it seems too early to talk about a mid-cycle refresh, it is being reported that the American automaker will give the Mustang a facelift for the 2018 model year, along with a new 10-speed automatic transmission. Rumor has it that Ford will also introduce a Mach 1 edition around the same time as the facelift. Expect the next-generation Mustang to be introduced in 2019 or 2020.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Ford Mustang GT Convertible Review

Other Ford models expected to be refreshed in the near future include the Ford Escape for 2017. Recent spy photos have revealed that the 2017 Ford Escape will have styling changes mimicking what's found on the redesigned 2015 Edge. A full redesign on the Escape is not expected to come until 2019.

The Fiesta will also be redesigned in 2018, at which point production is expected to move from Mexico to Thailand. The Focus will also be redesigned in 2018 and production of that model will leave the U.S. for Mexico.

The company's best-selling model after the F series is the Fusion, which will receive a minor facelift in 2016, giving it a more upscale appearance.

[Source: Automotive News]

Discuss this story at our Ford Mustang Forum

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Volkswagen Under Investigation for Takata Air Bag Rupture

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Volkswagen is the latest automaker to be under investigation for faulty Takata air bags.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that it is opening up an investigation following a Takata air bag rupture from June in a 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan in Missouri. Earlier this year, the German automaker said that it was not part of the Takata air bag recall that impacts 33.8-million vehicles across 11 automakers.

According to a report, a Takata air bag inflator known as a SSI-20 ruptured in a 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan on June 7. The German automaker has confirmed that it is working to investigate the issue with Takata and noted that the incident occurred after the driver hit a deer and no police report was filed and the driver did not seek medical attention.

SEE ALSO: 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan Spotted in the Wilds of Europe

The company currently has "no comment" as to why Volkswagen vehicles are not part of the wider Takata recall and spokesman Mark Gillies said that he is not aware of how many Volkswagen vehicles are equipped with Takata air bags.

The investigation raises the question on whether or not Volkswagen vehicles are equipped with faulty Takata air bags and if the automaker should be included in the massive recall.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Discuss this story at our Volkswagen Tiguan Forum

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2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe Dominates Horsepower War

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The Mercedes-AMG C63 coupe has officially been unveiled as the sportiest C-Class ever.

After numerous leaks and official teasers from Mercedes-AMG, the German automaker has revealed the details on the C63 coupe ahead of its auto show debut in Frankfurt next month. As expected, the stylish luxury coupe is powered by a 4.0-liter Biturbo V8 with 469 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque in standard trim or 503 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque in the C63 S. The powerplant is mated to an AMG Speedshift MCT seven-speed sport transmission.

One of the main goals Mercedes-AMG had for the new C63 coupe was to not only differentiate it further from the C63 sedan but also the standard C-Class coupe. As a result, the C63 shares only the same doors, roof and trunk with the standard C-Class, resulting in a redesigned front and rear end, along with wider front and rear fenders that has the AMG model being 2.51 inches wider in the front and 2.59 inches wider in the rear. The wider body also allows the C63 to accommodate wider tires, up to 10 inches (255 mm) in the front and 11.2 (285 mm) inches in the rear.

The hood is also 2.36 inches longer, giving the C63 a sportier profile, especially with its two distinctive powerdomes. The completely redesigned rear end draws inspiration from the S-Class coupe with two chrome-plated twin tailpipes in the rear perfectly integrated into the diffuser.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 Officially Revealed

Performance and aesthetics isn't all AMG is about. The C63 coupe has a completely redesigned suspension compared to its predecessor with a four-link front suspension with radial, racing-style brake connections. There's also an AMG-specific rear-axle carrier, moving the contact surfaces of the wheel bearings about an inch further towards the outside compared to the sedan. AMG Ride Control suspension features adjustable damping, allowing the driver to adjust from maximum sportiness to comfort with a touch of a button.

The standard C63 coupe will come equipped with a mechanical rear-axle limited-slip differential while the C63 S coupe will have an electronic unit.

The 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 coupe will arrive dealerships in the U.S. next summer. Expect pricing information to be announced closer to the vehicle's launch.

"The new AMG C63 Coupe embodies our conception of progress: It offers impressive longitudinal and lateral dynamics at an extremely high level along with improved fuel economy," said Tobias Moers, chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. "In addition, we are making a bold visual statement with the muscular design. Our customers can therefore experience the progress with each of their senses: seeing, hearing, feeling and, above all, driving!"

Discuss this story at our Mercedes-Benz Forum

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Volvo Increasing XC90 Production to Meet Demand

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Demand for the Volvo XC90 has exceeded the Swedish automaker's expectations, so the company is ramping up production.

The automaker announced that it has received nearly 57,000 orders for the new SUV, outpacing the originally forecasted 50,000 figure. As a result, Volvo is now running three production shifts at its plant in Torslanda, Sweden, to meet demand.

The new XC90 is also catering to luxury buyers as, 76 percent of the customers are choosing the range-topping Inscription model. Built on Volvo's new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), the XC90 marks the beginning of a new chapter for the brand that was once expected to exit the U.S. market due to its financial woes.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Volvo XC90 Review

Sales as a whole are up for the brand, having sold 232,284 cars through the first six months of 2015. Last year, Volvo sold 229,013 units over the same period. According to the company, strong demand in Europe attributed to the boost while sales in China remained flat and sales in the U.S. have stabilized.

"It has been a good first half of the year, with an improved financial performance," said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive. "We have been implementing a transformation plan since 2010 and this financial result demonstrates that we continue to be on the right track."

Discuss this story at our Volvo Forum

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