Archive for June, 2011
Cars Reach Highest Share of Chevy Sales in 20 years
Thursday, June 30th, 2011 | Car News, General | Comments Off
General Motors Co. said today that cars will account for nearly half of its Chevrolet brand sales in the first half of the year — its highest tally since 1991.
GM said it expects cars to account for 47 percent of Chevrolet total sales through June 30.
Chevrolet sales accounted for about 71 percent of GM’s U.S. total sales through May 30. The Chevy brand accounted for 747,000 of the 1.05 million vehicles GM sold in the United States through May 30.
U.S. Chevy sales are up 16.6 percent this year, while GM as a whole is up 18.2 percent here.
Chevrolet car sales are expected to be up 23 percent for the first six months of the year, when June sales are reported Friday. Trucks, utilities and crossovers are expected to be up 9 percent over the first half of 2010, GM said.
Chevrolet cars have outsold combined sales of trucks, crossovers and utilities in April, May and June of this year.
The last time cars led Chevrolet’s sales for three consecutive months was in May, June and July of 1991. That year, cars represented 52 percent of Chevrolet sales.
In 2010, 44 percent of Chevrolet sales were cars.
The big upswing is the sales of the Chevrolet Cruze — and 90 percent of sales are retail. The Cruze was the top selling vehicle in the compact segment in May.
Higher gas prices have shifted more buyers into smaller more fuel efficient vehicles.
“Chevrolet has always been known for building great trucks,” said Alan Batey, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet Sales and Service. “Today, we are in the middle of transforming the brand with a strong lineup of cars that match the appeal of our trucks and crossovers.
Last week, GM North American chief Mark Reuss said June would be a “good” month.
“We’re seeing stability in the car markets,” Reuss told reporters.
2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist to start at $34,415 in Canada
Thursday, June 30th, 2011 | Car News, General | Comments Off
With a reported 21-percent fuel economy gain over the current 4-cylinder LaCrosse, the 2012 version with eAssist will start at $34,415 before taxes, freight and delivery charges when it hits dealerships later this summer.
The 24 Hours of Nürburgring in pictures
Thursday, June 30th, 2011 | Car News, General | Comments Off
I just got back from an amazing trip to Germany. In 6 days and a few hours, I took in some of the best auto sites and sounds the country has to offer.
Rolls-Royce Phantom 102EX Experimental Electric prepares for world tour
Thursday, June 30th, 2011 | Car News, General | Comments Off
This week, Rolls-Royce is putting their 102EX electric car to the test in the MIRA research facility. It will be subjected to lab-controlled heat and humidity tests to figure out how these extreme conditions will affect battery performance.
2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK gets a redesign at no extra charge
Thursday, June 30th, 2011 | Car News, General | Comments Off
Mercedes-Benz announced today that the latest iteration of the 2012 SLK will start at $66,500 CAD, exactly the same price as the 2011 model.
GM Canada releases pricing on Buick LaCrosse with eAssist
Thursday, June 30th, 2011 | Car News, General | Comments Off
The 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist, a mild hybrid system that includes a lithium-ion battery and electric motor-generator that enables regenerative braking capability, has been priced at $34,415. The 2011 model without eAssist starts at $31,760.
The LaCrosse with eAssist gets 5.4L/100km on the highway, a 21% improvement over the conventional 4-cylinder model.
More after the jump.
Ford predicts increase in truck sales for June
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 | Car News, General | Comments Off
Sales of small cars will back off slightly and pickups will show an uptick when the auto industry reports its June U.S. sales on Friday, said Ford Motor Co. sales analyst George Pipas.
Compact and subcompact cars started the year representing 18.7 percent of total U.S. sales but by March grew to 24 percent and then inched to 24.2 percent in April when gasoline prices created a scare at the pump.
In May small cars accounted for 23 percent of total sales but June figures will show them dropping further to about 22.7 percent, Pipas told reporters today.
The number of customers buying smaller more fuel-efficient vehicles should still be a couple percentage points above June 2010, he said.
Small cars sales tend to be seasonal but the analyst said he thinks they may not drop as much in the fourth quarter this year as they have historically because gas prices remain top-of-mind for consumers even though they have eased somewhat.
“Small cars will continue to trend lower (in the second half of the year),” Pipas said, “but not as fast as they usually do.”
Part of the reason is consumers who could not buy a small Japanese car because of earthquake-related shortages have put off that purchase until later in the year.
And companies like Honda Motor Co. are encouraging this with incentives that will remain in effect until the fourth quarter.
Pipas said 40 percent of Ford Focus and Fiesta cars are sold by the time they arrive at the dealership.
Ford is benefiting from Japanese shortages largely because they just have a bigger piece of the pie, not because they are winning over a huge numbers of sales, he said.
Ford expects its June sales to be higher than a year ago and potentially higher than May. Market share should remain about 17 percent for the Dearborn automaker. Lincoln sales also should hold their own, Pipas said.
At the other end of the spectrum, fullsize pickup sales rebounded in June to about 11.3 percent of total industry sales from a low of 9.3 percent in April, Pipas said.
Ford is not changing its forecast of 13 million to 13.5 million sales for the year.
And Pipas said the industry will continue to be marked by low incentives with inventories tight of many vehicles.
Shell Canada shelling out thousands for best road trip essays
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 | Car News, General | Comments Off
Shell Canada is looking for people to enter a 250 word submission about their best road trip for a chance to win $1,000 in fuel. The contest, which runs from June 22nd to August 29th, is open to anyone over the age of 18 who is a legal resident of Canada.
More information after the jump.
Obama requests that cars get 56 MPG by 2025
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 | Car News, General | Comments Off
While Detroit’s automakers themselves are staying publicly mum so far on what they think of a 56-miles-per-gallon fuel economy target by 2025 floated by the White House last week, other interest groups are already weighing in.
Bailey Wood, a spokesman for the National Automobile Dealers Association, said that requiring an average of 56 m.p.g. for cars and light trucks would “mean a tremendous shift in the types of vehicles consumers would be able to buy,” and could price some consumers out of the market for smaller cars.
“To meet that goal, 55% of market share would be hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles, according to the Center for Automotive Research,” Wood said in a statement, noting that such vehicles made up less than 3% of what U.S. consumers bought last year.
“Overly ambitious standards set 14 years in the future risk severe economic harm if consumer wants and needs are not met,” Wood said.
However, some environmental groups – who had been pushing for an even higher target of more than 60 m.p.g. by 2025, welcomed the news of a 56 m.p.g. requirement, and said a higher target would help, not hurt, consumers’ wallets.
“Fifty-six m.p.g., while not as ambitious as the level we have been advocating, is a doubling in fuel efficiency from today’s average passenger vehicle and would cut drivers’ fuel bills in half,” said Roland Hwang, transportation program director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, in a statement. “By 2030, we estimate the 56.2 mpg standard would save drivers $700 billion in cumulative fuel costs, if the program is implemented without big loopholes. In contrast, a weak 47 m.p.g. standard would forgo $300 billion in cumulative fuel cost savings.”
As the Free Press reported on Sunday, the White House is ramping up its discussions with automakers and elected officials regarding fuel economy standards for 2017-25, and according to three sources familiar with the matter floated a 56 m.p.g. target last week in separate meetings with each of the Detroit Three automakers.
Last week also saw a group of Republican former Environmental Protection Agency administrators, governors and members of Congress publicly throw their support behind an “aggressive” fuel economy target of more than 60 m.p.g., citing the need to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and ensure a clean environment.
Federal regulators are set to announce the proposed 2017-25 rules for cars and light trucks in September, and are also coordinating their negotiations with California regulators, who have indicated they may go their own way if the federal target is not high enough.
Such a situation is one automakers desperately want avoid – they are pushing hard for one national standard that would allow them to make vehicles that would comply with fuel economy requirements nationwide.
So far, the Detroit Three have declined to publicly weigh on the White House’s initial suggestion, but say they seek a requirement that will keep them competitive.
Ford said its “discussions with the administration are ongoing and productive,” and that the company supported a “national program that is data driven and factors in the impact of this rule-making on jobs, the economy, consumers and safety” – but declined to comment specifically on 56 m.p.g.
General Motors spokesman Greg Martin said GM was “committed to sticking with a successful formula” and would “continue to work with all stakeholders toward a strong national standard that moves the needle but doesn’t wreck a customer’s bank account or the industry’s resurgence in the process.”
Chrysler has so far declined to comment on the matter.
Shell Canada offers fuel saving tips and chance to win $1,000 in gas
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 | Car News, General | Comments Off
Shell kicks off summer driving season offering Canadians fuel stretching tips, chance to win $1,000 in fuel.
While Canadians love to hit the open road during the summer, many may be contemplating whether or not to sideline their vacation plans due to the cost of filling up at the pump. Shell understands that consumers are facing difficult decisions and is providing ways to help keep the fuel budget in check while celebrating the favourite pastime of summer road trips.
“At Shell, we know Canadians are passionate about summer road trips and gasoline is essential to get them on the road,” says Diana Hamadeh, Shell Canada Communications Manager. “And with a little planning, drivers can still save money while spending time this summer making memories on the open road.”
Here are five top tips to help drivers stretch their fuel further and help keep their summer road trip on track:
1. Regular maintenance will help keep your vehicle running longer and can help save money at the pump: Regular servicing and following the service recommendations for your vehicle — such as changing the air filter, spark plugs, engine oil and other fluids — ensure optimum performance and fuel efficiency. A poorly maintained vehicle can consume 15%* more fuel than a well-maintained vehicle.
2. Tire pressure can affect the fuel-efficiency of your vehicle: Operating a vehicle with just one tire under-inflated by 8 psi (56 kPa) can reduce the life of the tire by 15,000 kilometres and increase the vehicle”s fuel consumption by 4%*.
3. The faster you drive, the faster you burn fuel: The faster you drive, the more wind resistance you”ll encounter and the more fuel your vehicle will consume to maintain speed. Reducing your speed to 90 km/h from 110 km/h saves up to 20%* of your fuel. Follow the speed limit and use cruise control on flat highway terrain to prevent inadvertent speeding and help save fuel by keeping your speed constant.
4. Stay cool without the air conditioning: Whenever possible, stick with using the fan instead of the AC, which uses more fuel and puts added strain on the engine.
5. Use a high quality gasoline that improves engine performance while driving: Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines use the most advanced Shell technology to help clean and protect critical engine parts from performance-robbing gunk.
And this summer, Shell Canada wants to give Canadians the chance to have their next road trip fuelled by Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines through the Shell Favourite Road Trip Contest, which invites Canadians to relive their favourite Canadian road trip memories for a chance to win one of three prizes of $1,000 in Shell fuel.
“At Shell, we”re passionate about helping drivers get the most out of every road trip,” says Diana Hamadeh. “Through our Shell Favourite Road Trip Contest, we”re celebrating treasured road trip memories, and giving Canadians the chance to be fuelled up for their next epic drive.”
Participating in the Shell Favourite Road Trip Contest is simple — now through August 29, 2011 Canadians who love to hit the road can visit www.shell.ca/favouriteroadtrip to submit an essay, in 250 words or less, describing their favourite Canadian road trip (one entry per person). Eligible entrants will have a chance to win one of three prizes of $1,000 in Shell fuel.
For more information on, and the official rules for, the Shell Favourite Road Trip Contest, visit www.shell.ca/favouriteroadtrip. No purchase necessary to participate. Submission period ends 11:59:59 PM PDT on August 29, 2011. Must be a legal Canadian resident, and have reached the age of majority in the contestant’s province of residence.
Canadians are also invited to join the “Shell On The Road Canada” page on Facebook, a community for drivers who are passionate about their rides and what fuels them. Shell On The Road Canada will feature the latest news on Shell fuel technologies and programs, money-saving fuel tips, promotions for a chance to win great prizes, favourite vehicle stories, photos and videos and the hottest news in Shell Motorsports. Like our Shell On The Road Canada Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shellontheroadcanada.
For more information about Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines and other Shell products, visit www.shell.ca.
* Source: Natural Resources Canada Office of Energy Efficiency Auto$mart Thinking program.
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