Brands like Buick have been around for a long time, and as such have years of history behind them. A long-lasting nameplate has a lot of benefits. Today’s market is increasingly segmented and it takes millions of dollar sot launch an all-new product onto the market. Old names have positive feelings, as well as baggage, associated with them. Buick isn’t short on names from the past. Today’s lineup consists of the Enclave, LaCrosse, Regal and Verano. Out of those, only the Regal is a historic name. GMInsideNews reports that Buick has registered a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for Riviera. The Riviera name has a lot of equity even today, as it is regarded as a classic. It’s amazing that General Motors let the trademark lapse. The more interesting question to ponder though is what it means in terms of product. Sometimes manufacturers file for many different trademarks that end up unused . GM has toyed with the idea of bringing back the Riviera before though, debuting the 2007 Buick Riviera Concept in China. It was a stunning two-door coupe that while thoroughly modern, displayed some classic design cues from the Riviera. Most everyone begged for it to be produced, but nothing has come out of it yet. We think Buick could use a coupe like that, even if it was front-wheel drive on Epsilon II. Even better though would be a rear-wheel drive model on the next-generation Zeta platform. With Buick moving forward in the luxury market and these models having resonance in China, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a new Riviera pop up in the near future. In China, the Park Avenue full-size luxury sedan is a big seller. That is a car that may come here as well. The likeliest scenario would be the Riviera becoming the coupe version of that car. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts View original post here:  Triggering Speculation, Buick Files for Riviera Trademark

When you’ve endured a spate of bad publicity, any good news is welcomed. Fisker has recently experienced negative coverage thanks to issues with battery supplier A123 Systems, along with financial negations with the DOE surrounding its next model, the Atlantic. We haven’t heard much about the Atlantic’s future lately but sales of the Karma are rolling on. Fisker is aiming to secure private funding to continue development of the Atlantic, rather than relying on the Department of Energy. The small automaker has already raised nearly a billion dollars in private equity funds. For now, the future of Fisker’s plant in Wilmington, Delaware is in doubt. DOE funding was supposed to make sure the Atlantic was produced in the United States. The Karma is produced by Valmet in Finland, and Europe appears to be taking to it quite well. Fisker has announced that in the Netherlands is the second-best-selling luxury car brand in the “segment for high-end four-door models.” Yeah, that is a pretty narrow definition – but still, Fisker will take what it can get. According to Fisker, the Karma outsold the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Audi A8 during the period from January to April. Tom LaSorda, Fisker Automotive Chief Executive, said: “This is a great achievement for Fisker and signals the potential demand in Europe, where we intend to sell 40 per cent of our output. It is an encouraging sign of progress following the Karma launch. But we have much more to do as we bring new models to market.” The model to top the charts? The Porsche Panamera. It is interesting to see that Fisker seems to be doing well in Europe. It introduced the Surf model (pictured) nearly exclusively because of the Europeman market. Whether or not the Karma’s European success has to do with fuel prices, style or regional production isn’t certain. European success is something that will probably figure heavily into future decisions about the Atlantic though. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Go here to read the rest: Fisker Places Second In Dutch High-End Luxury Car Sales

The Scion FR-S was just introduced, and Toyota apparently has big plans for the platform that underpins it. Developed to be sporty and light, sources say it will provide the basis for future Toyota performance vehicles. Developing a new architecture for one car just doesn’t make sense anymore. The program got off to a good start by having Subaru also utilize it for the BR-Z. While the FR-S hasn’t even been delivered in the United States yet, the rumor mill is already churning about what is next for the FR-S. According to Car & Driver , it will be a convertible. That means Scion is following a typical release strategy – introduce a two-door performance coupe, followup with a convertible later to stimulate interest. A FR-S Roadster was shown off in California recently, but C&D says a traditional soft top is in the works for the FR-S. Don’t expect any fancy hardtops either, which would only jack up the weight and price. The price tag will go up though, but likely will be kept under the $30,000 barrier, which for some would be a lot of money to shell out for a vehicle with the Scion badge. The convertible, along with any other variants, are said to be about two years out. Right now Toyota and Subaru are just keeping up with demand. We’ll see more options and a turbocharged model come in the future. What we’d like to see is an FR-S sedan. Imagine a four-door, RWD FR-S sedan for about $25K. We could see a lot of enthusiasts with families going for that. Lexus is said to be using the platform for either the next-generation IS or another small sedan. If that happens, we may be less likely to see a small sedan at Scion. Regardless, we’re excited about the potential for new products based on this platform. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts More here: Scion FR-S Convertible Coming in Two Years

Lexus lost its sales crown to BMW last year, after a 11 year run at the top. The decline in sales is thanks to a lineup that has largely been stagnant over the last few years. Clearly, Lexus was coasting. Under new pressure to perform, Lexus has been putting a renewed effort into its products. The rear-wheel drive 2013 Lexus GS was developed with a directive from Chief Executive Officer Akio Toyoda to advance Lexus styling and be fun to drive. Most who have tested it so far say it largely lives up to that. The interior is gorgeous and the exterior more engaging than any GS before it. The GS was the first Lexus to debut the spindle grille, which has now been spread across the lineup. It is indeed polarizing, something that is a stark change for Lexus. Lexus, polarizing? Different need. Via Automotive News , Lexus Kazuo Ohara senior managing officer says polarizing is the whole point. “What we want more than anything in this rebirth is for unity among our Lexus lineup…a design that anyone and everyone likes is boring.” The effort includes a unified styling theme across the lineup, much like Audi (to the extreme), BMW and Mercedes-Benz have done. Toyota has given Lexus more autonomy in development as well as streamlining the approval process. Toyoda rejected three design proposals for the GS, and the team that used to exhaustively vet each new car has reportedly been “cut by half.” Lexus hopes its revamp will help it keep more of its customers in the fold. Currently it retains about 70 percent of its buyers, a figure that is less than BMW and Mercedes- Benz. The new Lexus is looking a lot better to us. The next-generation IS should be a really impressive car. The current one is the lone Lexus product we’ve loved, and the next one is going to be based on the FR-S platform. Yes, times are a changing at Lexus – and not a moment too soon. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts More here:  2013 Lexus GS Heralds New Era At Lexus

  A sign of emerging technology and a push to minimizing the environmental impact of automobiles has led to the sizable production of electric or electrified vehicles becoming a reality. Dismissed for a long time, cars using battery-backed propulsion are being inundated into a world where a well-performing counterpart (the internal combustion engine) has existed as the standard. Aside from driving range of a battery-powered vehicle, charging time is the biggest obstacle in operating an electric car. In the normal life of today’s motorists, the trip to a nearby filling station has been regarded as a practical way of refuelling a vehicle. Taking only a few minutes to pump multiple gallon of flammable fluid into a fuel tank, the prospect of waiting several hours for a battery to recharge is, indeed, unattractive. While most electric cars can be charged from a 120-volt outlet commonly found in households, there would be very few motorists who are willing to wait between 10 to 21 hours for charging their Chevrolet Volt or Nissan Leaf. In fact, the Tesla Roadster’s 120-volt mobile connector can take over 30 hours to fully charge the battery. Many electric car buyers are encouraged to pick one of many home charging stations such as the GE Wattstation that can greatly improve battery recharge times with 240 volts of power. With 240 volts, these power stations are capable of charging a Nissan Leaf from an empty to full battery in 7 hours from a wall unit. Found within commercial charging stations and can easily be wall-mounted to a garage. Now, as commercial charging infrastructure is furnishing in major cities, a quicker method than the 240-volt charger unit exists for delivering significant energy to an electric car in 30 minutes or less.     At the ongoing Electric Vehicle Symposium 26 at the LA Convention Center, the new reality for electrified motoring is DC fast charging units. Injecting a charge to a compatible battery with up to 500 volts, DC fast charging is being shot to the main stage for selling battery-powered cars and trucks to the public. Several major manufacturers of electric car charging stations have already or will soon commit to incorporating DC fast charging set-ups in public. Eaton, ECOtality and Schneider Electric are among the...

The BMW Z4 isn’t a car on most enthusiasts radar. The last time it made real news was when it became the first BMW to debut the new N20 four-cylinder engine. Lack of interest is probably because the Z4 doesn’t have much of a performance edge. The second generation model took some youthfulness out of the design. Very good looking, no doubt but it seemingly aims at a different buyer. The fairly large Z4 is more of a cruiser than a lightweight canyon carver. According to Edmunds Inside Line , BMW is looking to change direction a bit – without alienating the car’s existing buyer base. Good luck with that one. The next-generation Z4 isn’t scheduled to arrive until 2015. When it does, IL says it will come designed around the N20 four-cylinder. Designed to be light and nimble, the 2015 Z4 will have better weight distribution and a shorter front end. Bringing it closer to the Z3 (but with more grown up styling, please) sounds like a good recipe for BMW’s roadster. Another interesting piece of news in the article is a change in philosophy regarding BMW design. We may be partial (disclaimer, this writer owns an E46 3-Series) but we think BMW styling has traditionally held up very well over time. Most would agree that the E39 5-Series, for instance, is still a good-looking car even today. There is something to be said for cars that have a timeless quality. That pattern was broken with the previous-generation Bangle-designed cars – we doubt they’ll stay fresh years from now. They current generation of BMWs are classically good-looking; a return to design form for BMW. According to IL , BMW is opting timeless design as a modus operandi. The team is said to be designing cars with the goal that they will still look good 15 years from now. That is done by specifically avoiding certain features that would stand out as dated. After all, used cars have an impact brand image as well as new cars. The first cars designed this way were the latest 5-, 6- and 3-Series models. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Read more here:  BMW Working On 2015 Z4, Pursuing Long View Design Policy

The launch of the 2013 Cadillac ATS is just around the corner. 2012 promises to be a big year for Cadillac. For the past few years it has been sorely in need of a fresh direction. The CTS and SRX are the only truly competitive, volume vehicles in the lineup. The competition, on the other hand, has different segments of the market well covered. For 2012 that will begin to change somewhat, as Cadillac prepares to introduce what it calls its two “bookends” – the 2013 Cadillac XTS and ATS. The ATS is the volume model of the two, and the only we are looking forward to the most. That is because its rear-wheel drive. The Alpha platform that underpins it is an all-new architecture designed specifically for the ATS. The CTS has been successful straddling the compact and mid-size sedan segments, but for the first time Cadillac will go straight for the jugular versus the BMW 3-Series. Now Cadillac has announced pricing information for the ATS. The base model is powered by a 2.5-liter, 200 horsepower four-cylinder mated to a six-speed automatic. This option enables a low price of entry and better fuel economy. During development Cadillac engineers have mentioned the E46 3-Series as a benchmark. These specifications put it on par with the 328i of that era. It starts at $33,990. Shelling out $1,805 will net you an extra 70 horsepower with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder model. Odds are the 2.0T will be the best-selling ATS model. Unlike the other two it is available with rear- and all-wheel drive, as well as automatic or manual transmissions. Those who want six-cylinder power can opt for the 320 horsepower, $42,090 3.6-liter V-6 model. Cadillac is showing confidence with its pricing of the ATS, not attempting to undercut the 3-Series by a large margin. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder model comes in at about $910 less, but with 40 less horsepower. At $35,795 the 2.0-T commands about $895 more than the 328i, but offers 30 more hp. The ATS promises to be the stiffest challenge to the 3-Series yet. Let the competition begin. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Continued here: 2013 Cadillac ATS Starts at $33,990

Right out of the proverbial box, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster is an instant contender in the sports economy segment.  The 2012 Veloster is an all-new unique three-door coupe for Hyundai, and the hits just keep coming for the South Korean carmaker. It was announced last week that Hyundai Motor America can’t seem to keep up with the demand for their Sonata and Elantra sedans that are produced in U.S., and they will need to add close to one thousand new workers to keep up. If the 2012 Veloster is as popular, Hyundai could have another problem with production. It starts with the Veloster’s three-door unique styling that pulls off the two-door roofline. The third door is on the passenger side, hinged at the front like a regular door. Although the Veloster isn’t the first three-door, it isn’t awkwardly hinged at the rear. The new three-door looks good and the unique styling gets lots of attention on the road. The 2012 Hyundai Veloster comes in two models, both three-door coupes. Veloster M/T ($17,300) uses a 6-speed manual gearbox. Veloster DCT ($18,550) uses the automated dual-clutch transmission. Standard equipment includes a cabin filter, 196-watt AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system with iPod and USB jacks, Bluetooth, 7-inch touch screen, power everything, remote keyless entry, 60/40 rear seat, and 17-inch alloy wheels. Two optional packages are available, the Style package ($2000) includes 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome grille trim, foglights, panoramic sunroof, premium 8-speaker audio system, leatherette seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and alloy pedals. The Tech package ($2000) adds navigation with rearview camera, rear backup beepers, different 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlamps, push-button start, and 115V outlet. Inside, the leatherette upholstery that comes with the Style Package is very nice, and the interior is comfortable with a sporty feel. Details include a three-spoke leather steering wheel, guages that are easy to read, and digital information that’s easily accessed. With the third-door it’s easy to climb in and out of the back seat, although space is limited with only 31.7 inches of legroom. But total interior volume in the sporty compact segment is class leading. Driving the sporty Veloster over Berthoud Pass in...

An electric turbocharger? What is this, Popular Science ? Apparently not. The Sydney Morning Herald has the skinny on the next-generation Subaru WRX. Next time around, Subaru is expected to put even more of a focus on the beloved WRX, ditching the Impreza name and separating them more visually. “Our understanding is that [WRX] will be completely distinctive from the current Impreza, it will look considerably different,” says David Rowley, spokesman for Subaru Australia. We’re down with that. WRX is coming later in Impreza’s life cycle this time, meaning they’ll have had more time to make significant changes. “I think it’s fair to say they’ll be looking at a whole raft of technical refinements on WRX because by the time we see it, it will be some years old in terms of the maturity of Impreza so inevitably there will be some very significant technical changes and innovations.” says Rowley. What is most interesting is the possibility of an electric turbocharger. The current car has always made its impressive power outputs thanks to a turbocharger hooked up to Subaru’s flat-four boxer engine. The system would function by harnessing heat from the exhaust in order to generate electricity that would power the turbo. Is there actually enough exhaust pressure to do that? It seems doubtful, but that is something the engineers will have to figure out. Advantages would be removing plumbing under the hood, increasing efficiency and reducing turbo lag. Motor Trend reports that Subaru first got a patent on the electric turbo back in 2007. Judging by its patent, Subaru seems like the only one really exploring this right now. The concept sounds very interesting; it would certainly be a tech showpiece. Do we expect it to actually make its way to the production WRX though? Not exactly, but we’ve been wrong before. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Here is the original:  Electric Turbo To Feature On Next-Generation Subaru WRX?

Today at High Gear Media, Jay Leno showed off a special Plymouth Duster and shoppers are interested in manual transmissions again. We spied the next-generation Audi RS6 Avant and a new SAE fast-charging standard is going to be announced. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on The Car Connection. Did you know baby boomers are keeping… Original post: Porsche Hybrids, Toyota Supra Successor, Scion iQ and Playstation: Car News Headlines

Today at High Gear Media, Jay Leno showed off a special Plymouth Duster and shoppers are interested in manual transmissions again. We spied the next-generation Audi RS6 Avant and a new SAE fast-charging standard is going to be announced. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on The Car Connection. Did you know baby boomers are keeping… Read the original here: Porsche Hybrids, Toyota Supra Successor, Scion iQ and Playstation: Car News Headlines

If you lean green and you’re looking for a new car, listen up: shoppers who purchase a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid or Focus Electric can boost contributions to four nonprofits that keep America beautiful. In fact, you don’t even have to buy a car to take part in the promotion — just make a handful of clicks on the web… Original post: 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid Offers Fans A Chance To Give Back

If you lean green and you’re looking for a new car, listen up: shoppers who purchase a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid or Focus Electric can boost contributions to four nonprofits that keep America beautiful. In fact, you don’t even have to buy a car to take part in the promotion — just make a handful of clicks on the web… The rest is here:  2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid Offers Fans A Chance To Give Back

Saab devotees are a loyal bunch. The crew at Saabs United has kept tabs on every development surrounding the future of the Saab brand. So far they’ve made phone calls, flooded General Motors’ Facebook page and organized an effort to save the Saab Museum. Out of nowhere, Saab’s administrators announced all the vehicles in the historic collection would be auctioned off. This included cars of historical value. They made up a list of the most valuable in the group, with the intention of purchasing them for a future museum. Thankfully, the City of Trollhattan (tourist revenue!) and SAAB AB (the airplane manufacturer) along with The Wallenberg Foundation coughed up the $4 million needed to purchase the collection of 120 vehicles. In March, the museum reopened to the public. When Saab production stopped last year, many cars were still left on the line. Slowly they are being completed. One of them was a Saab 9-3 Griffin; the very last one to ever be produced. It is scheduled to be finished off at the end of May. Saabs United has rallied fans to give enough money to purchase the car. A deal has been worked out with Saab’s administrators to reserve the car. Following that, SU intends to place the car in the recently-saved Saab Museum. The amount needed to purchase the car is 28,500 euros (about $37,500). Currently they have raised about 20,000 Euros (about $26,249 USD at current exchange rates) with nearly 16 days left. If the amount needed to purchase the 9-3 isn’t hit, the funds will be donated to the Saab Museum. Want to donate? Head over to Saabs United to learn more . There is a ticker on the right hand side that lets you know how much is left. As for Saab itself, administrators are still going over the bids they have received. A decision is said to arrive sometime before this summer. Hang tight. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts The rest is here: Saab Fans Donate To Save Last 2013 Saab 9-3 Griffin

If exclusivity is the greatest luxury, apparently BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz didn’t get the memo. The top three global luxury auto manufacturers are duking it out for sales. They all desire the top spot, and are planning on boosting sales significantly to achieve that goal. BMW has taken the top spot since 2005, but Audi surpassed last year Mercedes-Benz for number two. Audi sales have been boosted by a remarkably fresh lineup and new entries in high-volume segments such as the A1 and Q3. Now Mercedes is preparing a fresh assault on the entry-level market with the front-wheel drive Mercedes Front Architecture. It underpins cars like the new A- and B-Class, as well as the FWD CSC Concept that is coming to the States. Between now and 2015, Mercedes plans to launch 10 all-new models in an attempt to reassert itself in the sales race. Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche recently outlined its plan to be number one again: “Wherever we are not number one, we will strive to become it.” Via Automotive News , the Center of Automotive Research in Germany has forecasted that Mercedes will reclaim the number two spot from Audi by 2015. Their forecasts project BMW on top with 1.76 million vehicles, Mercedes-Benz in second with 1.68 million and Audi in third with 1.63 million. You know how forecasts go (how exactly do they think they know what will happen anyway?) but it is still interesting to see them betting against Audi, which has been on a sales rampage. Volkswagen aims to be number one by 2018, and Audi’s goal in the luxury segment is a key part of that plan. A lagging area for Audi has been sales in the United States, which are far behind BMW and Mercedes-Benz. There is a lot of room for growth in the States. We do think Mercedes will be very successful with new models like the A-Class and CSC Concept, so it’ll be an interesting battle to watch between the top three. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts More:  Forecasts Say Mercedes-Benz Will Overtake Audi in 2015