World Auto News & Reviews

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All-New Santa Fe Lineup Defies the Status Quo and Reinvents the CUV Landscape with “Fluidic Sculpture” Design, Sophisticated Engineering and Efficient Powertrains

First Non-Luxury CUV with Torque-Vectoring Cornering Control and Driver Selectable Steering for Outstanding Driving Dynamics

DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. – Charlie Mallon has been acquiring Chevrolet items for 40 years — Chevrolet signs, racing flags, coffee table books, soda cans, hats, belts, shirts, playing cards, drinking glasses, posters, tractor trailers, a biplane and miniature cars – lots of miniature cars.

The 54-year-old auto dealership consultant hopes to soon add a Guinness World Records title to his collection.

Mallon laid out 2,181 different Chevrolet items Wednesday night at the Downingtown West High School in an attempt at what would be a newly created Guinness World Records category for “Largest Collection of Chevrolet Memorabilia.” Most of Mallon’s collection centers on the Chevrolet Corvette, a car he’s admired since he was a child.

Rsselsheim. For the first time in its history, Opel is providing its award-winning electric cars for the prestigious international Rally Monte Carlo. Six electric Opel Ampera will make their debut in the “Alternative Energy” version of the rally which commences in Annecy-le-Vieux, Clermont-Ferrand and Lugano on March 22 and finishes three days later in the capital of Monaco, Monte Carlo. In order to take part, competing vehicles must have a maximum of 115g/km CO2 emissions. The main aim of the rally is to cover a certain distance, maintain a constant speed and use as little energy as possible. Some 150 vehicles are expected to take part this year.

By entering its electric vehicles with range extending capabilities in the international rally, Opel is once again showing that it is a global leader in the field of e-mobility. “Spectators will have the chance to see our electric cars in action under the challenging conditions the rally has to offer.” says Enno Fuchs, Opel’s Director E-Mobility.

Total sales up despite three fewer selling days

Second best month in company history

For the year, 39 percent of all Hyundai vehicles sold have 40 MPG highway EPA labels

COSTA MESA, Calif., May 1, 2012 – Hyundai Motor America, the most fuel efficient automaker in the U.S., today announced an all-time April sales record of 62,264 units, up 1 percent over last year’s all-time April record, and the second best sales month in company history after last month’s all-time record. With three fewer selling days this April versus last April, Hyundai’s average daily sales rate improved 12 percent.

Audi delivered a thrilling premiere of two new vehicle models: Romain Dumas/Loïc Duval/Marc Gené won the Spa 6 Hours, the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, in an open battle of the vehicle concepts. Crossing the finish line behind the Audi R18 ultra of the trio were last year’s Le Mans winners Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer. They had dominated the race in the early phase with the Audi R18 e-tron quattro, the first diesel hybrid sports car in history. In the end, they had to admit defeat though. The other two Audi driver teams completed the perfect 1-2-3-4 victory of the brand.

The successful racing debut of the Audi R18 ultra and the R18 e-tron quattro marked an important milestone for Audi. In their first competition, the two vehicle concepts, in addition to their reliability, demonstrated a very balanced overall performance. The sporting results confirmed a basic agenda set by Audi – the decision in favor of two vehicle concepts – right on the cars’ first race. Major technical advantages of individual concepts can be offset by the LMP sports prototype regulations in a way that allows a thrilling competition to unfold – even though this question will have to be answered anew on each of the race tracks under highly different general conditions.