Welcome back, Lexus. The Buick LaCrosse has been put on notice. After years of producing some bland, uninspired products the 2013 Lexus ES looks like one of the most impressive products from the brand to date. The ES and RX have long been Lexus’ best sellers. The brand’s very bread-and-butter, a lot is riding on the next-generation ES. The current, geriatric ES has become uncompetitive with the rest of the segment. The good news (for Lexus) is that this has changed completely. The current ES is quite sleepy and largely devoid of any style. The new ES takes things up to a notch, appearing to be a class up from where it really is priced. For one, this is the best application of the “spindle” grille yet. The overall package is large and looks very mini LS-like. The 2013 has a substance that the previous car clearly lacked. Lexus has upped its game, which is good to see. Inside, the case is no different. The current ES has a dated, oval shaped design theme with acres of (good quality) plastic on the dash. The ES has the distinction of being the last car on the market to have a tape-deck. We’ll let you decide if that is a good thing or not….. Regardless, the ES builds on the GS interior design, which itself took inspiration from the LFA supercar. The design is horizontal, with many different textures and layers. Style and substance – our favorite element is the chunky steering wheel. Kudos guys, the ES looks the part. The ES will be available in two model iterations – ES350 and ES300h. The former retains Lexus’ familiar 3.5-liter V-6 power. The ES300h brings hybrid power to the lineup, with an apparent focus on fuel economy unlike previous Lexus efforts. The ES300h is powered by a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder, which Lexus says will result in a combined 40 mpg city/highway. An EV mode will enable drivers of the ES to operate on battery-power only for short periods. Will this sway enthusiasts and those with a passion for driving? Not a chance. We also doubt the ES will appeal much to younger demographics. But for the core demographic the ES has always catered to, the 2013 ES350 just got a whole lot more appealing. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts See more here:  New...

Mid-size cars have long been the most important market segment in the United States. The best selling passenger-car here is the Toyota Camry, which has retained that spot for quite some time. Right behind it is Nissan’s Altima, trailed by the Ford Fusion. The Altima hasn’t exactly been exciting, but it has no doubt struck a chord with buyers. The redesigned Altima aims to build on that success, with number one in its sights. The mid-size segment is fiercely competitive. In just an 18-month period, nearly the entire segment will have been redesigned. That is unprecedented, and all this competition inures to the benefit of the consumer. Wait, we’ve seen this look somewhere before! The Altima draws heavily from the styling of the larger, more expensive Maxima. They two look very closely related. This is part of an effort by Nissan to make the Altima seem like a class above the rest. The surfacing looks very premium, with swooping lines and a more aggressive front end. On the exterior we think they’ve done a good job on accomplishing a more expensive aura than the 2012 Altima. The interior is a bit of a different story however. With a dated overall design it fails to push the envelope. It definitely isn’t bad, just that we were expecting more. The technology package is very impressive though, something that can’t be discounted. Hopefully what will be improved is interior quality levels, which have never been great in past Altimas. Overall build quality needs to be upped to maintain pace. One thing that needed work on the current Altima was wind and road noise. Nissan says this has been addressed, with new materials that make for a 30 percent increase in absorption capability. These materials are put in places like the roof trim, instrument panel and floor mats. Bucking a trend that held in the industry until just recently, the 2013 Altima hasn’t added weight. Despite being 0.8 inches longer and 1.4 inches wider, the 2013 Altima has shed 79 pounds versus the previous generation car. That is thanks to the increased use of high-strength steel and components like an aluminum hood. This focus on efficiency has paid off in the Altima’s fuel economy numbers. Nissan is claiming 38 mpg highway a class leading figure....

Today, there are just two brands at the Ford Motor Company – Ford and Lincoln. This focus has enabled the Ford brand to survive and thrive with some of the best products it has ever had. Fords today are mostly recognized at being at the top of their respective classes – too close for comfort with their Lincoln counterparts. With the new 2013 MKZ, Ford is aiming to change that. Lincoln is getting a complete makeover and a huge investment by Ford. “The new Lincoln MKZ represents the future of Lincoln in both style and substance….it is proof of our commitment to deliver a new breed of Lincolns for a new generation of Lincoln clients – motor cars that are distinctive, elegant, full of technology and a delight to own.” says Jim Farley, Group Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales and Service. The car’s design motif inside and out is organic, with flowing lines. The 2013 MKZ follows the look of the concept revealed at the Detroit Auto Show in January very closely. The exterior shares no body panels with the 2013 Ford Fusion. The MKZ is the first product to be styled by a dedicated team in Lincoln’s unique Design Studio. For the first time in a long time, Lincoln has a dedicated design studio and separate staff working on its products. These are the steps it needs to take in order to become a world-class luxury brand again. Two defining elements of the MKZ’s exterior are the horizontal-slat grille and the full-length LED rear taillights. This marks a return to a familiar, and distinctive Lincoln design trait. Inside, the flowing lines continue with the center console. You might notice the lack of a shifter. What’s old is new again – Lincoln is offering a push button shifter with buttons on the dash. Some might think its gimmicky but it saves on console real estate and is a neat feature. That is what luxury is all about, isn’t it? Mainstream cars are increasingly rising to high levels of refinement and feature sets, and luxury manufacturers need to do more to make their products be set apart. Three engine setups will be available on the MKZ. Ditching a V-6 on the base model, the base 2013 MKZ will be powered by a standard 2.0-liter EcoBoost. At 240 horsepower, Ford says it will deliver V-6-like performance while...

[ad#block] We’re pretty big fans of racing video games over here at Automoblog, and it just so happens that Atari is releasing its newest version of the popular Test Drive series – Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends – which will be released in May on the PS3 and Xbox 360. You can preorder the game on Amazon right now for only $40 . Some very famous tracks will be in the game, including Monza, Ruen, Silverstone, Monaco, and Road America, among plenty others. The cars, as you would expect, are very detailed inside and out, including visible engines and gearboxes. Atari just officially revealed all of the Ferraris available in the game, a total of 50. They will be split into three classes: GT , which includes most of the cars including the F50, Enzo, F430, 360 Modena, and Dino 246 GTS; Sport Class , including the racing versions like the FXX, F40 Competizione, and 330 P4; and Monosport , including the full racing cars like the modern F1s back to the good ol’ 125 F1 from 1948. The full list is below, but please scroll to the bottom to see renderings of each car. List of Cars Car Type Year 125 S  SPORT 1947 166 Inter Touring GT 1948 212 Export Vignale Spyder SPORT 1951 250 Testa Rossa SPORT 1957 250 California Spyder (LWB) GT 1957 250 GTO SPORT 1962 275 GTB  GT 1964 330 P4  SPORT 1967 Dino 246 GTS  GT 1972 365 GTB4 Daytona GT 1968 365 GTS4 Daytona GT 1969 308 GTS GT 1977 308 GTB Quattro Valvole GT 1982 288 GTO GT 1984 F40 GT 1987 F40 LM SPORT 1989 512 BB GT 1976 Testarossa GT 1984 512 TR GT 1991 348 Spider   GT 1993 F355 GTS  GT 1994 F355 Spider GT 1995 F355 Challenge SPORT – series 1995 333 SP SPORT 1994 F50 GT 1995 F50 GT SPORT 1997 456 GT GT 1992 360 Spider  GT 2000 360 Challenge Stradale GT 2003 550 Barchetta Pininfarina GT 2000 575M Maranello  GT 2002 Enzo Ferrari GT 2002 FXX SPORT 2005 612 Scaglietti  GT 2004 599 GTB Fiorano GT 2006 F430 Berlinetta GT 2004 F430 Spider GT 2005 F430 Scuderia GT 2007 F430 Challenge  SPORT – series 2006 125 F1 Monoposto 1947 312 F1-67  Monoposto 1967 312 B3                                                       ...

  I can attest to the fact that media day at an auto show represents a near Christmas-like atmosphere for automotive lovers. In what is a typical scene for the presentation of all-new models or significant concept cats, automakers keeping cars wrapped is a gift waiting to be unwrapped. At the latest Canadian International Auto Show  for which I had the privilege of attending, the presence of vehicles under the cover of large cloths was lured me with a magnetic attraction. With almost every vehicle unveiled at the exhibit having made an appearance at some other auto show, their was still a heart-beating anticipation as a brand’s spokesperson readied the automotive press for some brief theatricals of light and sounds before showing off a pivotal car, truck or crossover. Knowing what to expect, it was still a sensation presentation to set eyes on cars such as the Acura NSX concept and 2013 Ford Fusion line-up on the instant a cover was removed. As vehicle prepare for the 2012 New York International Auto Show, the Toyota Motor Corporation assured their will be no peeking for what will be an important premiere. In photos released of what is a new sedan set for debut inside the Jacob Javits Convention Center, Toyota has been successful in keeping wraps on the vehicle as it was being entered into the building. Hoisting the Toyota model by crane to the top level of the convention center, a red car cover hid every detail of the large sedan. Even any possibility of a rushing breeze from the adjacent Hudson River did not cause Toyota’s secret to be unveiled ahead of its presentation inside the convention hall.     Without seeing what is under the clever cover, all indications point to the undercover vehicle being the replacement to the current Toyota Avalon. Releasing teaser images for what will be a more sports sedan-style vehicle compared to its 2012 counterpart, Toyota’s latest product could rest closer to the level of the Japanese luxury brand’s Lexus cars. From the teaser image of the vehicle’s rear corner, this sedan design could be the most striking Toyota car revealed for the United States in quite some time. Set for an official unveiling on April 5th 2012, the latest Toyota sedan presentation will be followed by an interactive engagement...

Automakers are consistently fretting about losing Generation Y, and they’re turning their attention to reaching us. We think a lot of that lack of interest among Gen Y has to do with economic factors. Things like unemployment and gas prices have a strong impact. Driving your own car has become an increasingly frivolous expense for some. Beyond that though, automakers need to make vehicles we are interested in. Thankfully, we’ve seen a lot more of that lately. The Subaru BR-Z/Scion FR-S/Toyota FT-86 is a car both companies hope will reach younger buyers and enthusiasts alike. What enthusiasts want and what the general public wants to buy aren’t always the same thing however. Hence things we pan sometimes do very well and things we advocate for…..not so much. We can think of a few examples of this. Given all the hype in automotive circles, the success of this trio of cars will be very interesting to watch. According to Automotive News , early returns seem to indicate a high level of interest here in the here and around the world. In Japan, the Subaru BR-Z went on sale on February 3rd. Since then, the company reports that it has sold 3,551 BR-Zs. That might not seem like much, but Subaru has forecasted just 450 units a month sales in Japan. For the United States, the figure is slightly more, at 500. Both figures seem to be easily reachable. The fact that the car is doing so well in Japan though is an encouraging development. Subaru’s data reports that sales to buyers under 40 years old represent 60 percent of the total figure. Buyers are opting for the six-speed manual versus the automatic by a similar margin. The BR-Z goes on sale in the U.S on April 20th. Subaru hopes the car will post similarly impressive numbers when it arrives here. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Read the original here:  2013 Subaru BR-Z Exceeds Sales Expectations in Japan

As far as events go, the Olympics is the biggest one on earth. More than just about the sports, it has turned into a hugely commercialized event as well. Hence, The Olympic Program (TOP) for the world’s leading brands. This year the summer Olympics will be held in London. The city has spent hundreds of millions in dollars preparing for the event – public transport, event venues, you name it. The goal of London this year was to avoid mistakes of the past through a sustainable, “green games”. BMW is the automotive sponsor, a coveted billing. At the beginning of this year it was announced that BMW would be providing a staggering 4,000 vehicles for use by the “Olympic family.” No, that isn’t typo – 4,000 BMW vehicles (primarily 3- and 5-Series sedans) will be shipped from Germany to England for use in the Games. 250 VIPs will be designated certain BMWs while of the rest of the cars will transport dignitaries, athletes, sponsors and politicians as needed. They will have the advantage of using 30 miles of specially set-aside roadways in order to avoid congestion. Must be nice. 200 of the cars will be electric; 3,000 of the others will be 320d and 520d models. BMW has announced that it has delivered the first 20 of the specially-outfitted cars to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralymic Games (LOCOG). LOCOG (what an acronym!) Chief Executive Officer Paul Deighton said: “The BMW fleet will become a familiar sight around our venues this summer and will help us perform a huge range of tasks to will help to ensure the smooth running of the Games. Taking delivery of the first vehicles is an exciting moment for us as we continue our preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.” What will happen to the 4,000 vehicles after the Games is anyone’s guess. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Read the original here:  40 Down, 3,960 to Go – BMW Delivers Vehicles To Olympic Committee

The New York International Auto Show begins next week. One of the highlights will likely be the Fisker Nina. The Nina is Fisker’s low-cost project, which has been the focus of the company’s developmental efforts. While the Karma is produced by Valmet in Finland, the Nina is slated to be built in Wilmington, Delaware at a former General Motors plant. Work on the plant was stopped though after the Department of Energy failed to deliver $337 million in remaining funding. Now the race is on to find additional private equity for the Nina. Given that Fisker has raised $870 million in private funding already, that shouldn’t be a problem. Especially with vehicles like the Nina, which has been captured by Autoblog via the ubiquitous Brenda Priddy & Company. A desire to show a positive public reaction for the Nina is one of the reasons it is being shown now as well. The company says Nina is 95 percent sourced and developed – nearly ready to go. Love Fisker Automotive or it hate it, no one really doubts the design genius of Henrik Fisker. The entire car hasn’t been uncovered, but from what we can see the Nina looks to be another stunner. Coming from Henrik Fisker, did we expect anything less? Nina follows a similar template to the Karma, which is just fine with us. With a supposed asking price of around $40-45,000, there is no doubt Nina looks like a more expensive car than it is. It will be a range-extended electric vehicle in the mould of the Karma. Instead of a Ecotec four-cylinder though, the Nina will use BMW’s four-cylinder. Here’s to hoping that Fisker gets its reliability issues worked by the time Nina rolls around, because this car has us really excited. For more photos, head over to Autoblog and check out their gallery . The full debut is just around the corner. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Continued here: 2013 Fisker Nina Shows Its Face In Captured Photos

The confirmations of new product at the New York International Auto Show keep coming. This year the show is set to play host to a whole slew of important debuts. SRT Viper, Fisker Nina, Honda Crosstour Concept, Hyundai Sante Fe, the 2013 Chevrolet Impala and Traverse have all been confirmed. Earlier today Toyota released a teaser of what is likely to be the new Avalon. Particularly in the full-size sedan arena the show will be an interesting one – Chevrolet Impala, Toyota Avalon (likely) and now the replacement for the Acura RL. Wards Auto has confirmed that the new sedan will be getting a name change, dubbed RLX. RLX? What is it with Acura these days sticking X on everything? We thought X was supposed to mean crossover, or at least all-wheel drive. Regardless, RLX it is. As far as full-size sedans go, the current RL is just about as uncompetitive as they come. First introduced in 2004 as a 2005 model, the RL is overdue for a replacement. The mid-cycle enhancement it received for 2009 did it no favors, only making it look more dated (in our humble opinions). According to Acura’s vice-president Jeff Conrad, the redesign will be a total one. That is good news. Past reports have pointed to the new car being the first to debut Honda’s new hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive technology. The system would eliminate the usual AWD driveline because the rear wheels would be powered by electric motors. This would enable the SH-AWD’s usual front-to-back side-to-side distribution of power. If true, that’s what we like to hear – innovative technology to differentiate Acura from the rest. Acura is near-luxury, and it has adopted that role wholeheartedly with the new ILX and redesigned RDX. It remains to be seen where the new sedan will be positioned. Without rear-wheel drive or V-8 power though, we don’t expect it to make much of an impact. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts View original here:  2012 Acura RL Replacement Named RLX, Coming to New York

  The ownership experience of a Porsche is viewed as one of the most sensual in the global sports car market. While the Porsche line-up has expanded to include vehicles like the crossover Cayenne and four-door Panamera, the essence of the German sports car company has remained based on the rear-engined 911 model. Balanced, thrilling handling and the power of flat-6 powerplants makes the brand new Porsche 911 a special, almost angelic icon in the exotic car category. Despite all the unique passion, history and design linked to the Porsche 911, the sports car is still a complex collection of parts working in concert; a fact that makes the Porsche not so different from any other automobile. Making the Porsche somewhat more mortal is a newly issued safety recall by the automaker for their flagship sports car. As the newest, longer, more powerful 911 class vehicles enter the United States marketplace, a safety defect risks slowing the 408-horsepower version of the Porsche 911’s lightning fast launch into American showrooms. This past December, there was a report of a fuel leak on one of the 2012 model year 911 generation Porsche Carrera S cars . Investigations discovered the gasoline leak resulted from a disconnected fuel line on the 2012 Porsche Carrera S. Through investigations of the issue, it was determined that a quick connector between a plastic and aluminum fuel line was prone to coming unattached. A defect believed to be “a result of assembly error” according to the NHTSA, fuel line connection’s release button has been making contact with a nearby coolant line. After the course of time, movement of the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S could cause the quick release button to disengage the fuel line. Results of a fuel line separation could involve stalling or an increased risk of fire.     The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notified Porsche Cars North American of the problem on March 20th. The voluntary recall was issued three days following the official NHTSA letter was sent to Porsche. Through the manufacturer’s remedy of the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S, authorized mechanics will install a spacer between the fuel and coolant lines to prevent any interaction that could dislocate. There will also be an inspection of the...

10 years ago today, MINI made a return in the United States. And by the way, yet it is MINI with capital letters. “Mini” is the old one. In general, small cars have never been our thing, but there are a few exceptions. The Volkswagen Beetle was one of them. The new MINI came along a bit after the revival of the VW New Beetle, with retro styling that you couldn’t help but love. Since 2002, MINI has stood out as one of the lone success stories in this segment. Example? When Fiat brought us the 500, surpassing MINI sales was the (overly optimistic) target. Unsurprisingly, Fiat didn’t reach that goal. For BMW, MINI has been a way to increase sales and reach buyers at a different price point. When MINI launched though, it’s success was far from certain. Jim McDowell, vice president of MINI USA commented on this, saying: “MINI launched in the U.S. during the time when gas was cheap and large trucks and SUVs ruled the road…many thought the brand would be a one-hit wonder.” 10 years later we can see MINI was definitely not a one-hit wonder MINI. After setting a sales record in 2008 when gas prices were highest, MINI set another record last year when prices were stable. In 2002, the first MINI store to launch was in the San Francisco Bay Area – one just 66 around the country. Today, there are 112 – surprisingly only in 38 states though. Over the next few years, MINI plans to expand that total to 125. A striking figure is that 60 percent of the showrooms are a stand-alone, a number that will only grow as all future dealerships will be free-standing. By 2014, MINI expects 90 percent of dealer facilities will be MINI-exclusive. MINI’s growth has been fueled by an ever-expanding (and overlapping) lineup that includes the Hardtop, Convertible, Clubman, Countryman, Coupe and Roadster. 10 years later, MINI plays a bigger role at BMW than anyone had ever imagined. All the best guys! No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Original post: MINI USA Celebrates 10 Years

Today at High Gear Media, Jeep teased three vehicles and automakers begin talking about the New York Auto Show. We reviewed the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo and Subaru announced the 2013 XV Crosstrek. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on The Car Connection. We took a look at four new crossovers you should watch in 2012. It was… View original post here: New York Auto Show, Scion FR-S Priced, Family Sedans: Car News Headlines

The Mercedes-Benz GLK isn’t for everyone. Instead of taking a safe route inspired by the M-Class, Mercedes took cues from the boxy, iconic G-Class and the result is a polarizing vehicle. The GLK cut a bold figure that prefaced the more defined design language of current Mercedes vehicles. Introduced as a 2010 model, the GLK is due for a mid-cycle enhancement. And right on schedule, Mercedes is debuting the 2013 GLK at the New York International Auto Show. The 2013 model focuses on refinement. The headlights are new and reshaped to incorporate LED light pipe elements. It helps give the car a softer face, and lower rear fascia has been designed as well. The surfacing is less busy and more befitting of a premium element. The only thing that we’ve taken issue with on Mercedes-Benzes of late is the LED strips they put in for lower fog lights. There must be a more premium way to integrate them into the body work rather than just throwing them on. Almost indisputably (there will always be those who disagree) better is the interior, which was never one of the GLK’s strong points. The same was true for the C-Class when it first debuted. Its MCE helped improve things a bit, and with the GLK Merc has advanced even further. The interior design shows the same cues that showed up on the B- and A-Class. That is to say, a design that features chrome circular vents and a large swath of trim area on the dash. On the Designo models this has the potential to look quite dapper. There is something missing though – the gear shift lever. It is now a stalk on the steering column. Now, the GLK wasn’t designed from the get go. It will be interesting to see what designers come up with in the interiors now that they are freed from having center console shifter. As far as powertrain changes, the GLK will be adding a new diesel model – dubbed the GLK250 BlueTEC. It is powered by a 2.1-liter four-cylinder making 190 horsepower and 369 pound feet (!) of torque. The diesel GLK will launch next year in the United States, this year in Europe. The standard GLK350, which now makes 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, is set to go on sale this summer. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts More here:  New York: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK

This year the New York International Auto Show is playing host to a lot of major debuts. Chevrolet is showing off the 2013 Impala and Traverse, Nissan the highly-important Altima and now Fisker is announcing its next model. Next model, what? They just rolled out the Karma! That may be so, but the company is already looking forward to its next introduction. The teaser is for Nina, and it doesn’t give us much of a clue about what to expect. In fact, it is the most complicated teaser of its type that we have ever seen. Project Nina, as it has been known, is the centerpiece of Fisker’s development efforts. The bulk of Fisker’s Department of Energy funding was meant to go to this car, and it is the reason why Fisker purchased a former General Motors plant in Delaware. Likely, Fisker views New York this as a chance to kit the rest button by generating positive publicity. Things haven’t been going well lately. First there was news that a skittish (it is an election year, after al….) DOE is unlikely to approve further funding for Project Nina. Then Consumer Reports decided to purchase a Karma, resulting in a slew of negative publicity thanks to its reliability issues. Recently, Chief Executive Officer Henrik Fisker said the company is “viable [and] self-funded.” With Nina 95 percent sourced and developed, they have decided the time is right to show it to the world. Since 2007, Fisker has raised a total of $870 million from private sources. If the DOE doesn’t step up with funding (to the tune of $337 million) for Nina, they’ll have to find funding from sources. They have a big network, so with a positive response (and hopefully some new orders) at New York, finding it shouldn’t be a problem. Fisker clearly has big aspirations, and Nina is the centerpiece of its plans to be a volume automaker. The Karma was designed to get the company’s foot in the door, much in the way Tesla developed the Roadster. We’ll see if this strategy works out. Given the Karma’s beautiful lines, we’re expecting the Nina to be a styling stunner. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Read more: Fisker Nina Announced For New York Debut

Despite enduring a lot of negative news about the economy in the United States, manufacturing is at an all-time high. Thanks to favorable exchange rates and a better wage situation, factories in the U.S (particularly in the car industry) are humming right along. To produce the new Passat, Volkswagen built a whole new facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The plant opened in May 2011. The Passat won Motor Trend’s 2012 Car of the Year award and is a key element of VW’s world domination plans (no, really!). VW has just announced it is adding 800 new workers at the plant, in addition to the 200 new positions announced earlier this year. By the end of 2012, the Chattanooga plant will employ 3,500 workers. VW originally promised to hire 2,000 workers when it announced the plant in July 2008. Volkswagen says the hirings are due to better-than-expected demand. Via Automotive News : “We’re adding a third team at this plant for a simple reason,” says Jonathan Browning, Chief Executive Officer of VW Group of America. “Customers want to buy Passats.” Maybe they’re seeing something we don’t, but Passat sales are slowly ramping up. Last month, 8,189 were sold – which if you extrapolated that out for the whole year, would places year-end sales at around 100,000 units. The year-end tally is likely to come in a bit higher than that, but still far below the pace set by the segment’s top competitors. For instance the mid-size top three is currently made up of the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion. They clock in at 34,542, 32,953 and 21,773 units respectively. The Passat’s total nets it an eight-place finish. Not exactly tearing up the sales charts. Despite a slow ramp up, VW plans to build 170,000 Passats a year by 2013, up from 150,000 units. The new additions mean Chattanooga will be running 10 hours a day, six days per week per shift. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Here is the original post:  Production of 2013 VW Passat Boosted At Chattanooga Plant