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Lawrence Cannon, Canada's Minister of Transport - Conservative Member of Parliament from Quebec - has announced that fuel economy standards for new vehicles in Canada will quickly accelerate. At least he hopes. There will be a period of discussion and consultation before the federal goverment hopes to base their standards on the latest American bill... or perhaps even further them.
Cannon wishes to meet the American's 35mpg-by-2020 average (6.7L/100km) standard at a minimum. Transport Canada says today's averages work out to 8.6L/200km. With enviromental groups attacking the US law for not insisting on more immediate changes, the Canadian goverment hopes to begin applying some form of new standards by 2011.
Who will face the consequences? Everybody - from General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota - straight through to you the customer. Will you save money? After all, great efficiency equals less fuel consumed equals less money, right? If regular gasoline rises to $1.50/L in parts of Canada this summer as economists expect; and if the cost of technology in new cars is high enough to generate noticeable premiums in your monthly payment, the only words 'less' will affix itself to are emissions and consumption.
Shanghai Auto continues its dominance in the Chinese marketplace - with the help of two massive outsiders. Shanghai GM ("importers" must participate in joint ventures to gain permission to sell and build in China) tops the list of China's top ten with sales of 500,000 automobiles.
The story of General Motors claim to the number one spot in China is undercut by news of two Volkswagen joint ventures nailing the podium as well. In fact, Shanghai Auto and VW team up for third place, 34,000 units behind Shanghai GM and just 8,000 units behind FAW Volkswagen.
Chery wass China's most successful auto exporter in 2007. They sent 120,000 vehicles out of China 
and sold 381,000 inside the Great Wall, as well. Total Chinese production reached half the volume of Built-in-the-USA product during the twelve months of 2007.
Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, and Ford were also involved in joint ventures with sales in the top ten. BMW sales topped 51,000. Honda sold 30.6% more vehicles than they did in 2006.
8,790,000 new motor vehicles were sold in 2007, twice as many as China saw leave showrooms in 2003. Vehicle ownership per 1,000 people is still about two-thirds less in China than in the rest of the world. For per capita ownership to reach that of the USA, the figure would have to rise 17x's. There are still approximately 956 million people in China without a vehicle. (Feel free to check my math.)
Yes, you read that correctly. Pontiac sold Azteks in 2007. Yes, you were under the correct impression that Aztek sales stopped in 2005. But, that impression was ever-so-slightly misleading.
The Aztek improved in 2002. Ever-so-slightly. The excessive cladding that coated the lower portions of the body was removed in favour of body colour continuation. Although Pontiac sought to sell 75,000 Azteks each year, that goal was never reached and production came to an end.... and not a moment to soon.Even so, over the last twelve months leading up to the point sixteen days ago, 25 Azteks were sold. One can assume the invoice was substantially less than the listed MSRP. The 185-bhp crossover-utes sold for $21,530 (front-wheel drive) or $24,445 (all-wheel drive). It's safe to assume a typical '05 Aztek would be worth half that price.
Cadillac's new CTS is a gem for GM. Class-competitive, dynamic both on the road and in pictures, the powerful CTS is bound for sales success. When success strikes, the key for automakers is to stretch the brand. Just take a look at Mini - Convertible, then Clubman, and an upcoming cute-ute.
Therefore, Detroit is the location for the introduction of the CTS coupe concept. Striking design goes a notch or two further than the already striking CTS sedan.Cadillac CTS debut factoid: the CTS coupe can handle a 2.9L turbodiesel which generates 250 bhp and 406 lb-ft of torque - for international markets, no doubt.
Horsepower isn't lacking underneath the hood of the other new CTS. V is becoming a very accepted performance brand, but with high hopes of competing with Mercedes AMG and BMW M, Cadillac had to up their game. The recipe clearly included a statement which read: "No Replacement for Displacement". Under which, another heading noted: "No Substitute for Cubic Inches".
Cadillac CTS-v debut factoid: 550 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque supplied by a supercharged 6.2L V8 team to make this Cadillac the second-most powerful General Motors vehicle in the world. Second to.... this car.
Saab builds a competitive vehicle? We won't know until the 9-4X is produced and production examples are driven, but on modernity; appearance; and appeal, the 9-4X BioPower stacks up well. Especially when contrasted with its Bad 8-deserving brother, the 9-5.
The 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder loses 55 horsepower when fueled with gasoline (instead of E85 ethanol), but the lower figure of 245 ain't shabby either.
Saab 9-4X debut factoid: Salomon worked with Saab to design a unique ski-stowage system.
North American Car and Truck of the Year nominees included the Cadillac CTS and Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. They didn't win. Mazda's CX-9 and the Chevrolet Malibu took the crown. GoodCarBadCar talked to you about this a month ago, and made very clear that, amongst the potential nominees, Cadillac's CTS sure did look good.
Ferrari's Millechili sounded the alarm. Even the exoticar makers must go green. Detroit is the venue for a more realistic near-future possibility, the F430 Spider BioFuel.
Think crazy-fast, corn-powered, Italian convertible beauty. You get the picture. If not, view it in AutoBlog's gallery.
Ferrari BioFuel debut factoid: the badges suck.
Lawrence Cannon, Canada's Minister of Transport - Conservative Member of Parliament from Quebec - has announced that fuel economy standards for new vehicles in Canada will quickly accelerate. At least he hopes. There will be a period of discussion and consultation before the federal goverment hopes to base their standards on the latest American bill... or perhaps even further them. 
