Volkswagen Reaffirms Plans to Invest in Chattanooga Plant |
- Volkswagen Reaffirms Plans to Invest in Chattanooga Plant
- Audi RS4 Avant Mule Spied Testing Near the ‘Ring
- Mazda Remains Committed to Diesels for US
- Mazda Makes MX-5 Even Lighter for SEMA with Spyder, Speedster Concepts
- Ford Bringing Custom Focus ST, Fiesta ST Projects to SEMA
- Subaru VIZIV Future Concept Looks Great, Drives Itself
| Volkswagen Reaffirms Plans to Invest in Chattanooga Plant Posted: Volkswagen is still planning on investing $900 million into its plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In light of the recent news that the German automaker lost nearly $2 billion due to its diesel scandal last quarter, the Volkswagen Group has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its Chattanooga facility while moving forward with producing a new midsize SUV for the U.S. market. The total investment will be around $900 million to setup production of the seven-seater SUV and Volkswagen expects to invest $600 million in the state of Tennessee alone as part of the expansion. In addition, the new production will add 2,000 new jobs to the plant when production begins at the end of next year. SEE ALSO: Volkswagen Group Lost Tons of Money Last Quarter Along with the investment to add a new manufacturing line, Volkswagen will also create a new Engineering and Planning Center in Chattanooga. That center will be home to all future projects for the North American market, giving the automaker a central location to quickly and efficiently implement market-specific changes to its vehicles. The Chattanooga expansion will increase the current space of the plant by 50,000 square meters. "The United States continues to be one of the most important markets for Volkswagen, and our commitment to Chattanooga and the state of Tennessee is clear proof of that," said Michael Horn, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "The Chattanooga plant is a core part of our strategy in North America. Here and throughout the region, we will work toward meeting the demands of our U.S. customers and regaining their trust in the Volkswagen brand." Discuss this story on our Volkswagen Forum Loading, please wait...  |
| Audi RS4 Avant Mule Spied Testing Near the ‘Ring Posted: The next-generation Audi RS4 Avant has been spied testing near the Nurburgring. While the North American market can only hope the RS4 comes to the U.S. and Canada in sedan form, Europeans get to celebrate that the RS4 will live on with the new A4 body. At first glance, it appears that this is your run-of-the-mill Audi S4 Avant, but it features fender flares from the Audi allroad that have been bolted on along with wider 20-inch wheels. That certainly hints that Audi is up to something especially since the current RS4 Avant comes standard with similar 20-inch wheels. SEE ALSO: Audi R8 e-tron Looks Stunning in Blue on the Nurburgring It is more than likely that the S4 is serving as a mule for an RS4 Avant, but don't expect the RS4 to come with similar allroad fenders. Expect flared bodywork that is typical on the more aggressive, high-performance RS variants from Audi akin to what BMW does for its full-fledged M models. As for what will power the new RS4? It appears that Audi will use the same 3.0-liter engine found in the S4 but with a twin-turbo setup. What is unclear is whether Audi will incorporate an electric turbo, technology that the German automaker has been exploring in recent concepts. There's still hope that the RS4 could come to the U.S. Fourtitude reports that when it explained to Audi of America how it wished the RS6 would come to the U.S., the company replied that something else like that may come instead. Discuss this story on our Audi A4 Forum Loading, please wait... |
| Mazda Remains Committed to Diesels for US Posted: Mazda's rollout of diesel engines in the U.S. is facing further delays in the wake of the VW emissions scandal, but the company remains committed to the launch. Mazda's managing executive officer in charge of research and development, Kiyoshi Fujiwara, says that reports of Mazda giving up on launching diesel engines in the U.S. are untrue. The initial rollout of Mazda's diesel engines in the U.S. was delayed and re-planned for 2016, but new regulations are going to delay the launch even further. "We're committed to launching diesel-fueled cars in the United States," Fujiwara told Reuters. "There is no doubt about that." SEE ALSO: Mazda Makes MX-5 Even Lighter for SEMA with Spyder, Speedster Concepts He went on to say that new tougher emissions tests being devised for diesels are set to cause further delays, which is why "we cannot say when we are going to be able to launch our diesel cars in the U.S. market at this point."
"Tests are going to be tougher," he said. "Regulators are not telling us or anybody what additional testing steps they have added to the processes." [Source: Reuters] Discuss this story at our Mazda Forum Loading, please wait... |
| Mazda Makes MX-5 Even Lighter for SEMA with Spyder, Speedster Concepts Posted: Mazda is teasing possible new variants of its small sports car, both of which will be on display at the upcoming SEMA show. For the MX-5 Spyder, the brand tried to include the character of the vintage roadster mixed with modern day design. Inside, the Spyder includes a leather interior while the car is finished with a new Mercury Silver paint color. The Speedster takes the lightweight MX-5 and strips off even more pounds, forgoing every part that is unnecessary, including ditching a windshield in favor of a small deflector. Mazda didn't divulge specific weights, though the brand did say that both of these concepts will be "significantly lighter" than the the 2,332-lb curb weight of the MX-5. Discuss this story at our Mazda MX-5 Forum Loading, please wait... |
| Ford Bringing Custom Focus ST, Fiesta ST Projects to SEMA Posted: Ford has released another set of preview images showcasing the custom Focus ST and Fiesta ST projects heading to the 2015 SEMA Show. The American automaker will have a wide range of custom cars in Las Vegas this year including four Focus ST hatchbacks and a pair of Fiesta ST hatches. Taking on the Focus ST this year will be CJ Pony Parts, Rally Innovations, Cobb Tuning and FSWERKS. Modifying the pair of Fiesta STs will be Cinemotive Media and DSPORT Magazine. Like all the previous projects Ford has previewed so far, each build varies in design and style, ranging from a street cruiser to rally racer. The Rally Innovations Focus ST might be the most aggressive of them all, sporting wider overfenders and a set of 19-inch Rays 57 Xtreme wheels to showcase the future of rally. SEE ALSO: Eight Custom Ford Mustangs Invading 2015 SEMA Show As for the two Fiesta STs, Cinemotive Media went the route of creating a capable support vehicle lowered on BC Racing BR Type coilovers while a staggered set of 17-inch ADV.1 ADV5 Track Spec wheels have been paired to Falken RT-615K rubber. Exterior modifications come from Fifteen52 while Cobb Tuning contributed with performance upgrades. Lastly, the DSPORT Ford Fiesta ST looks to create some major horsepower with a Full-Race Motorsports turbo upgrade. The car has been prepped to compete in the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car class however, so it's restricted to 300 hp but is capable of much more. Volk Racing TE37V wheels outfit each corner while KW two-way adjustable coilovers give it the stance it needs. AutoGuide.com will be sure to check out everything Ford has to offer at the 2015 SEMA Show, so check back next week as we will be reporting live from the Las Vegas Convention Center. Discuss this story on our Ford Fiesta Forum Loading, please wait... |
| Subaru VIZIV Future Concept Looks Great, Drives Itself Posted: Subaru unveiled a pair of design studies at the Tokyo Motor Show. This one happens to be called the VIZIV Future Concept. As for mechanical bits, it features an electrified powertrain, one with a downsized, turbocharged engine at its heart. This next-generation powerplant was supposedly borrowed from the company's XV Hybrid model and features best-in-segment thermal efficiency for enhanced fuel economy. But this isn't where the VIZIV Future Concept really shines. Instead, cutting-edge technology is what counts here. Subaru engineers have been hard at work developing autonomous driving technology, like just about everyone else in the industry, but whatever. To deliver this groundbreaking feature they tapped into the power of their existing EyeSight system. SEE ALSO: Complete 2015 Tokyo Motor Show Coverage With stereo cameras, this suite already provides a host of advanced assistance features like adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and pre-collision braking. But in the VIZIV Future Concept, EyeSight is augmented by around-vehicle radar and highly accurate GPS. These extras allow this crossover to drive straight ahead all on its own while avoiding obstacles and other vehicles. However, in urban situations it's also capable of avoiding pedestrians and bicyclists while turning corners or backing up. Adding another feather to its cap, this vehicle can park itself, either at your home or in a commercial space. Now, beyond all of this, what Subaru would be complete without all-wheel drive, other than the BRZ coupe of course? To achieve four-wheel grip, this concept features a single electric motor at the rear, which powers both aft wheels, an unexpected benefit of hybrid technology. According to Subaru the VIZIV Future Concept is designed to convey a sense of "high density" and "sturdiness." That seems reasonable, with those extended fenders and signature hexagonal grille. All in all this vehicle looks pretty much ready for production so don't be surprised to see it on the road sooner rather than later. Discuss this story on our Subaru XV Forum. Loading, please wait... |
According to Mazda, U.S. regulators have not notified them of changes to the testing procedures yet, but the company believes that revisions are coming which will delay the launch of its diesels.| You are subscribed to email updates from AutoGuide.com News. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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