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December 2002
December 30, 2002 Mercedes-Benz announced that the new E-Class station wagon will have its world premiere at the Detroit auto show in January. It's scheduled to go on sale in March 2003.
December 30, 2002 Acura Canada announced that Acura 3.2TL Type S A-Spec, which made its debut at Le Salon de l'Auto de Montreal, will carry a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $43,800, $2,000 more than the regular TL Type S. It will arrive at Acura dealerships in Canada
in early Spring, 2003.
December 30, 2002 Michelin tire company is equipping many concept vehicles at the upcoming North American International Auto Show with special Michelin and BFGoodrich brand tires.
December 30, 2002 New lease volume for the period January to November, 2002 for the largest national lessors declined 14.5% from the same period in 2001 according to a survey conducted by The Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors (ACVL).
December 24, 2002 Sport Truck Connection Television has announced the winners of its fourth Annual Light Truck and SUV Awards (ALTAS) and has named the Kia Sedona the best van for 2003, it's second consecutive win.
December 24, 2002 The 22-millionth Volkswagen Golf came off the assembly line in Wolfsburg on December 19th. The jubilee vehicle, a Golf FSI in indigo blue pearl effect finish, is destined for a customer in Brandenburg.
December 24, 2002 The CarConnection, a respected Detroit online automotive publication, reports that Cadillac plans to introduce a flagship luxury car with a 1000 horsepower V-16 engine at the Detroit auto show in January.
December 23, 2002 AutoPacific, a U.S. automotive analyst, released the results of a study of the United States sport utility vehicle market showing that the number of SUV entries has increased from 33 entries in 1996 to 53 in 2002 and that another 12 have or will be introduced in the 4th quarter of 2002 through the 1st half of 2003. December 23, 2002 Pontiac will offer a preview of the new 2004 Pontiac GTO on the "XXX" Special Edition DVD, available December 31st. The action-packed film, produced by Revolution Studios and released by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, features Vin Diesel as Xander Cage, a new breed of secret agent who drives a vintage 1967 Pontiac GTO.
Porsche will bring the latest version of its high performance 911 GT3 model to North America in the spring of 2003. It is the most powerful non-turbocharged Porsche ever offered for street use in the United States and Canada. December 20, 2002 Toyota announced that it will unveil its all-new second-generation Sienna minivan at a press conference at the 2003 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit on January 6, 2003. December 20, 2002 Scion, the new car marque from Toyota, will unveil its first two production models, the xA and xB, at a press conference at the 2003 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show on January 2, 2003. December 20, 2002 Journalists attending the Detroit auto show in January will be provided with free neck and shoulder massages by professional massage therapists at the Lexus exhibit, the company said. December 20, 2002 Women in Automotive Journalism (WAJ) has announced the finalists for its first "Top New Vehicle" and "Top Automotive Feature" awards. WAJ, a group of influential, U.S.-based, women auto writers, columnists, test-drivers and editors who cover the auto industry, focused on performance, safety, interior functionality and comfort as key criteria for selecting the finalists. The Award winners will be announced January 9th, 2003. December 20, 2002 The Ford Motor Company will commemorate its 100th anniversary June 16, 2003, and the plans to celebrate this milestone are well underway. December 20, 2002 Five new limited-edition vehicles, designed to mark Ford Motor Company's 100th year of building automobiles, will be displayed at the 2002 Washington Auto Show, December 26, 2002 - Jan 1, 2003. The three Centennial-edition cars are the 2003 Ford Mustang, Focus and Taurus - and two trucks - the 2003 Ford F-Series Super Duty and Explorer. December 19, 2002 The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating hundreds of complaints of Corvette steering wheels locking up, and reports of related crashes and injuries. December 19, 2002 General Motors has sold its Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) business to General Dynamics Corporation for approximately U.S.$1.1 billion in cash. GM will retain its Military Trucks business, which is located in Troy, Michigan.
BMW will unveil its new 'xActivity' four-wheel drive concept vehicle at the Detroit auto show. The xActivity's design, with "alternating concave and convex surfaces" is an indication of what to expect from future X models, says the company. December 19, 2002 Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover North America announced that it will unveil a new roadster at the L.A. auto show on January 2nd. Describing it as "tailor-made exclusively for the North American market", and "a new definition of the American roadster", the new convertible is expected to be a roadster version of the DB7 Zagato coupe, a limited edition DB7 modified by the Italian coachbuilder. December 19, 2002 Kia will unveil a sporty, car-based SUV called the KCD-1 'Slice' at the Detroit auto show in January. Describing it as "an alternative to clumsy, fuel-thirsty sport utility vehicles," the KCD-1 Slice has flexible seating for six adults, a V6 powertrain, sport-tuned suspension, and a "fun-to-drive personality". December 19, 2002 John Johnston, a scenic carpenter from Maple Ridge, B.C., won a 2003 Mazda MPV valued at $32,425 in a national contest sponsored by Maxwell House coffee and Mazda Canada. December 18, 2002 General Motors and Federal Express Corporation have announced a joint program to conduct the first commercial test of a fuel cell vehicle in Japan. December 18, 2002 DaimlerChrysler Canada is sponsoring a nationwide drawing contest called "Start Your Engine! Design That Cool Car," for children aged 13 and under. The contest is running on www.canadianparents.com between now and December 31, 2002.
Due in showrooms late spring, the new Jaguar XJ8 and XJR sedans will make their North American debuts at the Los Angeles auto show January 2nd, 2003. December 18, 2002 Kelley Blue Book, rated the No. 1 automotive site in the U.S. by Nielsen/NetRatings, has released a list of the top 50 most popular cars requested by visitors to its pricing and information web-site. December 18, 2002 Land Rover has announced the names of the Canadian finalists chosen to compete in the Land Rover G4 Challenge. Christian (Kitt) Stringer, a wilderness guide and team-building facilitator from Victoria, British Columbia and Jim Kuhn, a senior software engineer, from Waterloo, Ontario, will go on to compete in the International Selections to be held at the Eastnor Castle in England, January 19-25, 2003. December 18, 2002 Automotive Industries Association (AIA) Vice President Beverlie Cook recently received the Akzo Nobel Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry Award in Dallas, Texas at the NACE Trade Show. Beverlie was one of seven recipients of this year's award; she was the only Canadian.
Acura announced that it will debut an all-new sports sedan positioned between the RSX sports coupe and the 3.2 TL luxury performance sedan.
Honda will display a "Studio E concept", a "panel-side" version of the 2003 Honda Element. The company says the Studio E's interior operates much like a band's backstage room with adaptable seating that can be configured into a lounge. December 17, 2002 Suzuki will display its Concept-S coupe which was already shown at the Paris auto show earlier this year. Its most unique feature is a video-game-like joystick steering wheel. There are no plans to produce the Concept-S coupe.
As part of the Michelin Challenge Design display in Michigan Hall, French automaker Matra will unveil its latest concept, the Matra P75, a compact, electric city car.
Mitsubishi Motors America released sketches of two new vehicles that will make their world premieres at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, January 6, 2003. December 17, 2002 The new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup has been named Motor Trend magazine's 2003 'Truck of the Year'. The Dodge duo of the Heavy Duty Ram 2500 4x2 Quad Cab with 345 horsepower Hemi V8, and the Ram 3500 4x4 with the High Output Cummins Turbo Diesel upstaged all others in the competition. December 17, 2002 The finalists for the 2003 North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards were announced on December 13th. The finalists in the Car category include the Mini Cooper, the Infiniti G35 and the Nissan 350Z; finalists for the Truck category include the Honda Element, Hummer H2, Nissan Murano and Volvo XC90. December 17, 2002 In the first proposed change to fuel economy standards in many years, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will seek to increase fuel economy standards for light trucks covering model years 2005 through 2007, saving approximately 2.5 billion gallons of gasoline and improving the environment. December 16, 2002 Over the holiday season, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, North America's largest rental car company, is offering low weekend rates and holiday specials at neighbourhood locations (not including airport locations) throughout Canada.
BMW will unveil a new Performance Package for the 2003 330i Sedan and a unique version of the Z8 roadster called the Alpina Roadster V8 at the Los Angeles International Auto Show on January 2, 2003. December 13, 2002 Consumers show considerably more interest in new safety- related features than in entertainment, comfort or convenience features, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 U.S. Automotive Emerging Technologies Study released on Wednesday. December 13, 2002 Subaru Canada is introducing a Special Edition of its Impreza 2.5 TS Sport Wagon. The Special Edition borrows styling cues from the high-performance WRX, and will be available in limited numbers in a hatchback bodystyle. December 13, 2002 One year after unveiling ambitious plans for the first Targa Newfoundland international rally for historic, classic and modern sporting cars, event organizers have announced bold plans for the event through 2006. December 13, 2002 Construction began on the new home of Subaru of Mississauga yesterday at a groundbreaking ceremony hosted by Subaru Canada, Inc. Present at the ceremony were Norio Osakabe, chairman, president and CEO of Subaru Canada, Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, and Gary Filippini, recently-appointed general manager of Subaru of Mississauga. The dealership, presently located in the Erin Mills Auto Mall on Motorway Boulevard, expects its new facility to be complete in July, 2003.
Land Rover has added a fourth model to its existing line of premium sport-utility vehicles - the Freelander SE3. The sporty 2-door shares its 4-door stablemate's mechanicals and 2,557 mm wheelbase, but it has twin removable sunroof panels and a detachable rear hardback for open-air motoring. The SE3 will be available in December for an MSRP of $37,400. December 12, 2002 Overall site usefulness continues to increase for visitors to U.S. automotive manufacturer web sites, and these visits are increasing consumer likelihood to test drive a vehicle, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 Manufacturer Web Site Evaluation Study-Wave 2 released on December 10th. December 12, 2002 Volkswagen will introduce a new direct-shifting 6-speed automatic gearbox "DSG" with an integrated dual clutch in the Golf R32 in the first quarter of next year. Its use will be extended to other production cars in the course of the year 2003.
Chrysler's Windsor Assembly Plant will employ new flexible manufacturing techniques when the all-new 2004 Chrysler Pacifica is built on the same production line as the 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans in early 2003. December 12, 2002 Transport Minister David Collenette today announced that 15 municipalities from across Canada will receive funding under the Urban Transportation Showcase Program. Each municipality will receive up to $30,000 to develop and submit more detailed proposals on projects designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in their cities. December 12, 2002 John Deere is working with Hydrogenics Corporation, a Canadian fuel cell manufacturer, to develop a technology demonstrator fuel cell-powered Commercial Work Vehicle (CWV). December 12, 2002 J.D. Power and Associates has lowered its 2003 North American light-vehicle production forecast to 16.1 million units. December 12, 2002 A Chrysler design time machine that uses state-of-the-art technology to bring the history of the Chrysler brand to life; a three-dimensional topographic map, based on terrain that only a Jeep would dare negotiate; and a 25-foot high ram's head are among the exhibits Chrysler is planning for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. December 12, 2002 Toyota improved fuel efficiency by 4 to 8 percent in nine vehicle configurations and reduced energy consumption per unit of production at its North American plants by 7 percent between 2001 and 2002, according to the Toyota North America Environmental Report 2002 released on Wednesday. December 12, 2002 The British Columbia Automobile Dealers Association (BCADA) announced that the 83rd Annual Pacific International Auto and Light Truck Show will run Friday, March 28 to Saturday, April 5 at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, B.C.
Nissan released a rear-view close-up photo of the new 2003 Infiniti FX45 premium crossover SUV yesterday.
Renault will bring two concept vehicles to the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. December 11, 2002 Five new or redesigned compact and mid-size cars earned a "Best Pick" designation in frontal offset crash tests conducted by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently. December 11, 2002 Maxima Technologies, the company that produces Stewart Warner, Datcon and AST brand instruments, has introduced an all-new line of Stewart Warner Performance brand competition tachometers, gauges and accessories called the "Maximum Performance Series". December 11, 2002 Students from Humber College will compete in the third annual World Automotive Design Competition on Thursday, February 13, 2003, hosted by the Canadian International AutoShow (CIAS). December 11, 2002 A family-owned auto parts recycling company has repurchased the business they sold to Ford three years ago. Philippe and Roger Fugere Jr have acquired GreenLeaf Canada, a division of Ford Motor Company. With sales of about $42 million annually and more than 170 employees operating from four sites, GreenLeaf Canada is the largest automotive parts recycler in Canada. The company will operate under the name Lecavalier Auto Parts. December 11, 2002 Car and Driver magazine announced the winners in its 21st annual roundup of the ten best cars sold in the United States. December 11, 2002 Four all-new engines, including one that evokes a storied name from the 1960s muscle-car heyday, join several longstanding benchmarks on Ward's 10 Best Engines list for 2003. December 11, 2002 A Nissan X-TRAIL FCV fuel cell vehicle powered by a UTC Fuel Cells (UTCFC) hydrogen power plant was unveiled in Tokyo yesterday. December 11, 2002 The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), a not-for-profit insurance organization committed to combating vehicle theft and insurance fraud, issued a list of the top ten most commonly stolen vehicles in the U.S.A. in 2001. December 10, 2002 Selected participants from all over Canada converged on the outskirts of Las Vegas, Nevada yesterday to compete to represent Canada in the Land Rover G4 Challenge. Only two candidates will go forward from the competition held today at the Hyatt Lake Las Vegas.
The V12-powered Mercedes-Benz SL 600 will have its world premiere at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit early in January 2003.
The new VW Phaeton luxury sedan is the first car to receive the AGR seal of quality for its complete seat system, including the rear seats. The award, which is very seldom granted to a motor vehicle, acknowledges the exceptionally good support for the occupant's back provided by all the Phaeton's seats. December 10, 2002 Mercedes-Benz is now offering four downsized versions of its new SL sports cars, available as 1:87, 1:43, 1:18 and 1:12 scale models. Approved by Mercedes-Benz, the designs are characterised by the highest levels of quality and accuracy. December 10, 2002 Almost 1,000 delegates to the CAW Council, a national body of elected leaders of the Canadian Auto Workers union, voted unanimously last weekend to adopt a position paper supporting the ratification and implementation of the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas pollution. December 9, 2002 General Motors of Canada president Michael Grimaldi announced a combined $1.1 million donation to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) from GM Canada and its Calgary Area Dealers. The donation is for the Clayton Carroll Automotive Centre. December 9, 2002 Nissan North America announced plans to distribute its first short film, "The Run," available to consumers on DVD beginning late January 2003 at Nissan dealers and online at www.Z.com. A two-minute trailer featuring some of the most exhilarating scenes from the film is currently playing on more than 5,500 screens at 450 theaters across the U.S. and is also available for viewing at Z.com. December 9, 2002 Since its inception in the 1960's, GM Performance Parts has provided enthusiasts with power-packed engines. In 2003, all-new assembled and sealed circle track crate engines will help continue that tradition. During the 2002 Performance Racing Industry trade show enthusiasts will see the newest line of factory sealed circle track engines showcased throughout the GM Performance Parts exhibit.
Nissan Canada has released the first official photo of the 2004 Nissan Maxima which is scheduled to be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 5th, 2003. The new Maxima goes on sale next Spring. December 6, 2002 Ed Brust, Chairman, President and C.E.O., DaimlerChrysler Canada today announced a donation of $1.6 million to the University of Windsor. December 6, 2002 At a press conference in Beijing yesterday, Dr Robert Buchelhofer, member of the Volkswagen AG board of management and chairman of the Asia-Pacific region, announced that the VW Group will sell about 500,000 vehicles in China in 2002, up from 359,000 in 2001. December 6, 2002 Mercedes-Benz Canada officially put the first shovel into the ground today to commemorate the inauguration of its two new facilities which will be built at the company's existing location at 849 Eglinton Avenue East. December 6, 2002 The Automobile Journalists' Association of Canada (AJAC) announced today that the deadline for receiving entries in its annual Art of the Automobile Competition has been extended to Friday, January 3, 2003. December 6, 2002 A dramatic turnaround is being reported this year in the overall attitude of car dealers toward automobile manufacturers - the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 Dealer Attitude Study shows dealers are more satisfied now with manufacturers than at any time in the past 16 years. December 6, 2002 Among the approximately two dozen vehicles making their World or North American debut at the 2003 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show are the 2004 Pontiac GTO, 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Toyota's new SCION brand (not offered in Canada) and an unnamed concept from Dodge.
The first 25 saleable Chevy SSRs produced will be used in high-profile launch activities around the U.S.A.during the 2003 calendar year, and many will be part of themed events created specifically around the SSR. December 6, 2002 GM Performance Division has now combined its various workshops under one roof at the GM Technical Center. The 18,000-square-foot facility - known as the Performance Engineering Development Center - will house all of GM Performance Division's projects. December 5, 2002 In Canada, the Big Three automakers reported lower sales in November but most import automakers continued their upward sales climb. December 5, 2002 In 5 mph crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to assess and compare how well car bumpers resist damage in low-speed impacts, the midsize 2002 Audi A4 performed well. Another midsize car, the 2003 Honda Accord, performed reasonably well but not as well as the Audi. Three small cars also were tested, and among these only the 2003 Toyota Corolla earned a good rating for bumper performance. December 5, 2002 The navigation systems supplied by Alpine for the Acura RL and by Denso for the Lexus GS Sedan both rank highest in overall customer satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 Navigation Usage and Satisfaction Study released on Wednesday. December 5, 2002 DENSO Corporation has developed with Toyota Motor Corporation the world's first non-fluorocarbon car air conditioner using natural refrigerant, carbon dioxide (CO2). Toyota's fuel cell hybrid vehicle FCHV, launched on December 2nd, includes this new CO2 car air conditioner. December 5, 2002 Ford Motor Company and Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village are working together on a new visitor experience at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour that begins in 2004. December 5, 2002 The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA) has set the dates for the 2003 New York International Automobile Show. The Auto Show public dates are Friday, April 18 to Sunday, April 27 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. December 4, 2002 General Motors will debut five new concept vehicles and four production vehicles at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. December 4, 2002 Nissan and Infiniti announced they will unveil four new production vehicles and a concept vehicle at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in January. December 4, 2002 Traffic to dealership Web sites by used-vehicle buyers is up 19 percent over 2001 as the Internet continues to play an increasingly important role in the used-vehicle shopping process, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 Used Autoshopper.com Study released on Tuesday. December 4, 2002 Saab announced that the EuroNCAP, a leading European crash test study group that evaluates European model variants, has awarded the new 2003 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan five stars in its latest collision tests. The crash test results are provided in a range of one to five stars, with a five- star rating given for the top level of safety performance in the test. December 4, 2002 The General Motors Board of Directors announced it has elected Rick Wagoner chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), effective May 1, 2003, following the retirement of current GM Chairman Jack Smith, after 42 years of distinguished service. Smith will also leave the GM board at that time.
In a nearly simultaneous introduction, Honda and Toyota became the first automakers to put production-ready fuel cell cars on the road on Monday when Honda's FCX and Toyota's FCHV fuel cell cars were handed over to university and government departments in California and Japan in an experimental lease program.
More than 200 journalists from all over the world gathered in Monaco yesterday to test-drive General Motors' HydroGen3 and Hy-wire fuel-cell prototype vehicles. December 3, 2002 During National Safe Driving Week (December 1-7), the Canadian Automobile Association reminds motorists to keep safety in mind while celebrating during the festive season ahead.
From 156 candidates, readers of Germany's "Sport Auto" magazine have chosen the VW Lupo Gti as the "most sporty car of 2002". The Lupo GTI won the "Small cars" class with a considerable lead over the Mini Cooper and the Peugeot 206 S16. December 3, 2002 Mercedes-Benz has improved on its leading position in the AutoMarxX image study carried out by Germany's largest auto association, ADAC. December 3, 2002 A new web-site developed by Mercedes-Benz for children from 6 to 12 explains automotive technology in a fun and entertaining way. December 2, 2002 Each year, Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency presents the EnerGuide Awards to the manufacturers of the most fuel-efficient new vehicles sold in Canada in each of nine classes. December 2, 2002 Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has instructed all ministers, secretaries of state and departments to use more energy-efficient vehicles and alternative fuels, effective immediately. December 2, 2002 Volkswagen ranks highest in satisfying automotive customers with the sales and delivery process in Japan, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2002 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study released today. |  | |
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