Chevrolet to Rush in a Facelift for New Malibu Next Year to AddressCriticism and Lackluster Sales

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2012 |

Normally, automakers gift a mid-cycle update some 3 to four years when the launch of a brand new model. If a refresh comes earlier, this suggests that a auto manufacturer is discomfited by the approach it's been received by customers, the media or each.Such was the case with the 2012 Honda Civic that received a makeover solely eighteen months when its conception, with the 2013 model creating its official debut at the la automotive vehicle Show last week.
Honda isn’t the sole company to travel down this road as General Motors is additionally going to revamp one among its newest entries within the market, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu.
Speaking to Automotive News, g CEO Dan Akerson disclosed that the corporate is not proud of the mid-size sedan's soft early sales and therefore the mediocre reviews it received by magazines, therefore it's set to hurry in an exceedingly facelift for late next year, solely concerning eighteen months when its market launch.
"We ar getting to do a midcycle sweetening, not dramatic, by this point next year," Akerson told the publication, adding that the revisions can embrace a brand new connective tissue.
"I assume it is a sensible automobile. it will do OK," Akerson same. "It may be a robust phase and it's one we want to achieve success in. We'll see however it plays out."
While the Malibu's deliveries have really exaggerated four p.c this year through Gregorian calendar month to 189,094, in line with Autonews, for the foremost a part of 2012, these sales embrace heavily discounted samples of the outgoing 2012 Malibu. once dealers started pushing out a lot of 2013MYs in Sep and Gregorian calendar month, the car's sales unfit around three p.c.

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Refreshed 2013 Toyota Verso Priced from £17,495 OTR in the UK

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2012 |

One by one, the new or updated vehicles from this year's Paris Motor Show area unit being launched across Europe. Toyota on its half has proclaimed rating for the facelifted 2013 Verso MPV that's out there for to order currently with client deliveries from period 2013.On-the-road costs vary from £17,495 for the entry-level 5-seater Active model with a one.6-liter fuel unit, to £23,445 for the 7-seater one.8-liter fuel and a pair of.0-liter diesel variants, each in stand out trim.
Toyota says the new-look Verso comes with some 470 new or revised components like the redesigned front of the automobile, interior updates and tweaked fuel and diesel engines.
Speaking regarding the powertrain line-up, GB customers will make a choice from 2 fuel units, a 1.6-liter with one30Hp (132PS) and a 1.8-liter delivering 145Hp (147PS), plus a 2.0-liter diesel rated at 124Hp (126PS) with carbonic acid gas emissions reduced by 10g/km to comprise 130g/km.
Toyota's compact passenger van adopts a replacement three-grade structure: Active, Icon and stand out. commonplace options on all models embody front fog lights, air-con, electrical front windows, Hill-start Assist management and, on the seven-seat versions, the company's simple Flat folding system for the rear seats.
Full details on rating and commonplace options are often found within the spec-list that follows below.

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Ford Launches New Transit Custom in Sport Van Trim for European Market

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European patrons curious about the new Ford Transit Custom can shortly have an additional choice offered within the choices list, as ranging from early next year, the Blue Oval can provide the game Van grade that features Associate in Nursing assortment of cosmetic merchandise to boost its look.The new trim level is on the market solely with the short distance, however customers have a alternative of six bronze finishes, named Panther Black, Atlantic Blue, Moondust Silver, hour Sky gray, layer Blue and metal grey.
The Transit Custom Sport Van's bumpers, mirrors, door handles and aspect moldings square measure all painted within the body color, whereas Ford adds sport stripes on the bonnet and therefore the bumper, and new 18-inch wheels wrapped in low-profile tires size 235/50.
In the cockpit, the game Van model options half animal skin seats, Associate in Nursing rest in black animal skin, the Ford adjust voice-controlled property system, Associate in Nursingd an instrumentation|system} with DAB radio as commonplace equipment.
Under the hood of the front-wheel drive model is Ford's two.2-liter Duratorq TDCi ICE manufacturing 153hp (114kW / 155PS) and a peak force of 385Nm (284 lb-ft).

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BMW Celebrates DTM Dominance with New M3 DTM Champion Limited Edition

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After associate 18-year absence, BMW came to the German phaeton Championship, i.e. the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) this year to fight down archrivals Mercedes-Benz and Audi.The obvious alternative for the model its racer would be based mostly upon was the M3 automobile. DTM organizers had modified the foundations and enforced  several restrictions so as to make sure shut competition – therefore all detail was crucial within the M3’s battle against the A5 automobile and also the C-Class automobile.
Even though it fielded 3 groups and 6 cars, compared to its rivals’ four groups and eight cars, Bruno Sprengler won 5 out of the season’s ten races and took the driver’s championship, whereas BMW Team Schnitzer won the team’s title and also the Munich-based company was awarded the manufacturer’s championship.
In honor of this triple success, BMW M GmbH launched the M3 DTM Champion Edition. just like the champion’s automobile, its bodywork sports a Frozen Black aluminous color, the sole one obtainable for the fifty four cars which will be factory-made, at the side of matt black alloys.
It additionally options a carbon fiber roof and boot lid, that area unit adorned with the M stripe, carbon fiber flaps and stretcher wing, a BMW M brand to the rear of the front wheel arches and decals on the rear windows celebrating Sprengler’s and BMW’s triumph.
In the cabin, the sills replicate the Canadian driver’s helmet style and his signature, at the side of the car’s serial variety, and are brocaded within the dashboard carbon fiber trim. The handwheel is roofed in Alcantara and, aside from carbon components, there’s a black “Novillo” animal skin trim with “Palladium Silver” different components.
Owners of this edition also will get the Competition package, M Drive and also the M Driver’s package, whereas the sole obtainable transmission is that the seven-speed M DCT Drivelogic dual-clutch semi-auto. They won’t have to be compelled to “suffer” the drawbacks of a stripped-out race reproduction, though, as options like heated seats, park distance management and also the skilled navigation system can build everyday driving snug.
The BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition are going to be obtainable from Feb 2013 in choose markets with its value in Deutschland beginning at €99,000 (US$130,000) together with VAT (there’s no word on U.S. handiness or evaluation yet).
Each of the fifty four homeowners also will have the possibility to attend the BMW M Fascination Nordschleife coaching course at Nürburgring beneath the eye of Sprengler himself.

By Saint Andrew Tsaousis

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New BMW 4-Series Coupe Concept Photos Leak on the Web; Think it's aLooker?

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Official imaging of the all-new and for the foremost half, production prepared BMW idea 4-Serieswas leaked onto the net these days, many weeks prior the car's public presentation at the 2013 Motown Motor Show.The idea study confirms the various language BMW has chosen for the auto, convertible and therefore the grannie auto sports sedan variants of the F30 generation 3-Series.
So however shut is that the study to the assembly model that may follow next year? Well, BMW features a tradition of gently masking coming models and naming them ideas. All you've got to try and do is consider the 2010 idea 6-Series to envision that the idea 4-Series is ninety nine p.c prepared.
The only parts we have a tendency to see ever-changing area unit the lamp graphics, the rear bumper style and therefore the full animal skin treatment with accent handicraft for the inside that shares a similar dashboard with the 3-Series Sedan and road models.
The sleek wanting auto with the aggressive and upright connective tissue will share its underpinnings with the 3-Series, therefore expect the same mixture of turbocharged four-and six-cylinder gas and four-cylinder diesel engines (the latter in choose regions), joined to 6sp manual and 8sp automatic transmissions, with AWD to be offered as associate possibility.
More to come back once BMW formally comes out with the release.

Story References: BMW via Worldcarfans via Autowp
Thanks to Jay and Mr for his or her tips!

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