World Auto News & Reviews

It’s no secret that General Motors’s Buick unit has been a rolling success in China. Now, the U.S. automaker’s China division has another reason to celebrate as sales of the new Buick LaCrosse sedan in the country have reached 100,000 units less than a year after its introduction in the market.

According to GM, the LaCrosse is “the fastest-growing member of China’s premium upper-medium sedan segment (say again?)”, with the 3.0-liter SIDI model accounting for nearly 80 percent of the segment, which includes sedans priced over RMB 300,000, or roughly $44,200 USD, in the first six months of 2010.
(more…)

Here at Leftlane, we’re still holding out for a phone app that will let us summon our parked cars with the push of a button, a la James Bond. For everyone else, there’s the next best thing: GM’s new iPhone/Android application.

Based on the app first previewed at CES for the forthcoming Volt, the software will soon allow owners of most 2011 Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC vehicles to control a number of vehicle features via remote. Leveraging its OnStar network, GM developed the phone app to replace a number of key fob functions, and then some.
(more…)

JE Design has unveiled a new styling and performance package for the Audi Q7 S-Line.

To give the car a wide body appearance, the company installs a front spoiler (€690), flared wheel arches (€2699), a roof-mounted spoiler (€1099), and a rear bumper extension with a four-tailpipe exhaust system (€1798). Other styling tweaks include headlight masks (€99), a lowering module (€1428) which reduces ride height by 35mm, 22-inch alloy wheels (€5190), wheel spacers (€409), and a steering angle limiter (€49) which “ensures the wheels cannot touch the chassis.”
(more…)

Maserati can definitely use some new products and upgrades to its current lineup. Sales of the luxury Fiat owned brand dropped 42 percent to 4,911 units and profits dropped 85 percent to 11 million euros ($13.8 million).
(more…)

Itochu Corporation recently concluded an agreement to enter into a capital and business alliance with THINK Holdings AS, a Norwegian manufacturer dedicated to electric vehicles (EVs). Under the agreement, ITOCHU will be investing THINK at the same time as acquiring the right to sell EVs and Drive Systems designed and manufactured by THINK in Japan and other Asian markets.

THINK has been developing and manufacturing EVs since 1991, and became the first EV manufacturer to obtain a model approval in Europe in 2009. The company has an impressive track record, manufacturing and selling more than 9,000 EVs, mainly in Europe and North America.
(more…)