PSA and Mitsubishi to Partner for Electric Vehicles;

PSA and Mitsubishi are going to partner in the attempt to develop new electric vehicle models and powertrains. PSA is a French automaker and Mitsubishi is a Japanese automaker along with Nissan whose Frontier model can be found at a discount with Frontier deals. GM, whose luxury models can be found at a Hartford Buick dealer, is releasing the Chevy Volt, a new hybrid car featuring the latest electric powertrain technology and will compete with the new joint development model.

Also, Volkswagen, whose models can be found at a VW Peoria Dealer, has released information about developing a Volkswagen Golf hybrid model. The first models will be light commercial vehicles. A commercial vehicle would be sold by PSA. The vehicle would likely be a commercial van which would be a strong candidate for electric powertrain viability. The van would be similar to the Peugeot Partner or the Citreon Berlingo.

The reason why commercial vans are in consideration is because they are driven a specific distance and usually the same route. It would be easier to plan commercial van recharging because of this. Regular car owners do not necessarily plan out their trips as much and might not be able to plan out recharging times as easy as a business that uses commercial fleets.

The electric car market is anticipated to increase both in Europe and throughout the world as more consumers become interested in fuel saving hybrid models or completely electric models.

Last September, the two automakers developed an agreement in which Mitsubishi would give some of its electric car models to the Peugeot and Citreon brands. The model that the cars are based on is the i-MiEV Mitsubishi model that is currently on sale in Japan. The Global Smart Car might also be seeing a release in other markets as well.

Mercedes Designo Program Allows for Customer Customization;

The Designo Program by Mercedes is being offered to its Canadian customers. The program allows customers to choose their own color for various models such as the S-Class, CL-Class, SL-Class, M-Class, and E-Class. Other automakers such as Land Rover, whose models can be found at a Denver Land Rover dealer, and Volkswagen whose latest models can be browsed at a Peoria Volkswagen Dealer, have not offered such a program yet. Be sure to look for local Boston Toyota Prices for deals on Toyota models.

The Mercedes program will be implemented in other markets if it turns out to be successful. The program is the first matte paint offering on a production vehicle by any manufacturer. Other choices include a customer's choice of leather interior stitching and unique trim selections. There are several color choices available that include Allanite Grey, Cashmere White, and Platinum.

Leather interior color choices include Light Brown, Platinum White, Deep White and Jet Black. Colors for the trim include rich Curly Maple, Tamo, Olive, and Bamboo. The customer will be able to choose his or her own unique combination of the above elements for a more individualized model.

The program is intended to give Mercedes owners more control over certain aspects of their vehicle so they feel that their car is more unique to their own tastes. Marcus Breitschwerdt, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada said, "The designo program empowers customers to select from a myriad of exclusive trims, distinctive colours and top quality materials to design a vehicle that reflects their own discerning tastes and individual preferences.”

The optional designo MAGNO helps the vehicle maintain its appearance and features fewer scratches than other types of paint. It also hides dirt and dust better than regular finishes. The paint is available as an optional addition with the designo program. The program will roll out in Canadian markets this year.

Honda Output Hit By Strikes;

Honda Motor Co. announced that they are experiencing lower production due to the shutdown of Chinese factories that have been involved in a recent strike. Production fell 15.7 percent in May, and may continue to stay at below normal levels until an agreement is reached between Honda and the workers. Competitors like Ford and Buick whose models can be found at a Cincinnati Ford Dealer or a Birmingham Buick GMC dealer have been unaffected by the strikes.

Honda has four manufacturing plants in China and there have been strikes at different plants throughout the past few weeks. Volkswagen whose cars can be purchased at a VW dealer was not affected by any of the strikes. The strikes were triggered by one strike at a transmissions plant that resulted in Honda negotiating an agreement with workers. The agreement resulted in higher wages for workers along with more benefits. As a result, several other workers groups attempted to get similar results and hosted strikes of their own.

Pressures in China have been mounting due to low wages, rough management at some factories, long hours, and poor working conditions. Workers have expressed discontent as living costs have been increasing in China while wages have remained stable or decreased.

Toyota and Nissan, who are both rival Japanese automakers, increased their productions for May. Toyota was also hit by strikes in China but the strikes did not decrease production for the company. There is not anticipated to be any economic impact to Honda from the lowered production.

Once an agreement is reached, production levels will likely return back to normal. In the mean time, Honda may increased production at other factories in order to compensate for the lessened production if necessary. Honda built a total of 37,367 cars in May. The company also stopped production during a few days in June.

BMW, Audi, and Mercedes Brand Demand Rises;

Mercedez-Benz, BMW AG, and Audi AG are increasing their production as earlier than expected demand from the luxury automakers has risen. Ford who produces the Lincoln luxury line and Ford Focus has also improved its luxury market share over the past year. Other automakers like GM whose luxury cars can be repaired at a Buick Service hope to compete better with the top German luxury manufacturers in the next few years.

Daimler AG who owns Mercedes has hired 1,800 temporary workers for the summer to help them meet demand. Saturday shifts have also been added at their German manufacturing plants. The Mercedes GLK SUV, SLS AMG gullwing supercar, and E-class convertible have been in very high demand. BMW has hired 5,000 extra workers and Audi, a division of Volkswagen AG, has added extra shifts for its current workers to meet their own demands.

The luxury car market hit a decline during the recession of 2008 as many buyers worldwide simply could not afford the higher priced models. However, recently surges in China and North America have boosted sales for all three major German luxury automakers. The new E-class has been in high demand since its release. The BMW 5-Series is sold out throughout the world. And Audi's demand has increased 15 percent.

Just one year ago both Daimler and BMW had to slash hours for thousands of workers as the luxury market slowed down. Car production was reduced by 23 and 13 percent respectively. BMW had laid off much of its non-temporary staff during the financial crisis of 2008 and into 2009.

Whether or not the improving luxury auto sales are a sign of a worldwide economy emerging out of a recession will remain to be seen, however Daimler, BMW, and Audi are enjoy the current trend of success that they hope will continue for the rest of 2010.

Why Small Cars are the New Craze!

Small vehicles such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla have been popular in the United States for many years. However, it has been mostly these two models that have taken a large share of the domestic small vehicle market. However, over the past few years domestic compact models such as the Ford Focus have been gaining in popularity. Chevy is also attempting to take a larger share of the compact car market in the U.S. with its new 2011 Cruze that can be maintained and repaired at a Cincinnati Chevy Service.

Abroad, small vehicles account for a much larger market share of global vehicle sales. With gas prices often being higher in many foreign countries than the United States, the fuel economy of small vehicles is hard to pass up for most consumers.

In the U.S., models such as the Focus, Fiesta, Civic, Jetta, Cruze, and Corolla will be battling for the largest market share for small cars that is anticipated to continue to grow domestically over the next few years. Most small car models are priced at around $16,000 or lower.

The new 2011 Cruze is priced at $16,995 and features several features such as Bluetooth, onStar, and 10 airbags. The Fiesta will be competitively priced at $13,320 and features a high gas mileage compared to other models. The Ford Fiesta has only been sold in Europe since its initial release and 2010 will see the first ever domestic Ford Fiesta.

With so many small car options to choose from, including models such as the Toyota Yaris and Honda fit, there will be a large competition for the global and domestic small car market. Time will tell who will emerge as the victor, however both the Fiesta and the Cruze look to be strong competitors against the more historically popular foreign models.

Honda CR-Z Priced Less Than $20,000 and Fully Equipped!

The Honda CR-Z, one of the most anticipated hybrid releases, was announced to have a price of less than $20,000 when it hits the markets in late August. The Honda CR-Z features the latest technology and safety features to keep drivers and passengers safe during a collision. Honda vehicles can be serviced at a Sarasota Collision center. There are still a few months left before the price of the new hybrid Chevy Volt comes out, a major competitor to the Honda CR-Z. The Volt can be test driven at an Indiana Chevrolet dealer.

The Honda CR-Z is the first mainstream manual 6-speed vehicle that will be available on the market. The lowest price for the model starts at $19,950 and goes up to $23,960 for a CTV transmission version with a navigation system. The CR-Z is a two seater and it is a much sportier model than most of the recent hybrid releases. The car features three modes for driving: normal, sport, and eco.

The Honda CR-Z is equipped with a 1.5-liter iVTEC four cylinder engine that is capable of 122 horsepower total. The fuel efficiency of the CR-Z is 37 miles per gallon with the CTV transmission and 34 miles per gallon with the manual transmission. This is efficiency is on the lower end compared to other hybrid models such as the Toyota Prius which gets 50 miles per gallon.

The most unique features about the CR-Z are its sporty look and its price. With a price tag of $20,000 to start, it is one of the most competitively priced hybrid models on the market. The 2010 Prius is similarly priced at $22,000 but every small price reduction helps in the increasingly competitive hybrid vehicle market.

For individuals who do not have families and won't mind the lack of backseats, who want to save a little money on fuel costs, contribute to a better environment, and look cool while doing it, the Honda CR-Z is a good choice.

Debate Continues over Electric and Hybrid Engines;

When it comes to electric vehicles, many automakers are wondering whether or not the market for purely electric models or hybrid models will be more popular in the future. The electric vehicles that are currently available are zero emission and feature the latest green technology. Similarly, there is question over how older but popular traditional gasoline models such as GM's Saturn will change in demand in the near future. Jersey City Saturn dealerships sell used Saturns, and they can also be purchased at Missouri used car lots.

However, a major limitation, especially for American car owners, is that the range for these vehicles is very limited. With large distances separating several cities in America, hybrid vehicles are more convenient in many cases.

Upcoming purely electric vehicles like the electric Mini E and the Nissan Leaf look like they might be popular models. Both the Leaf and Mini E will have a range of approximately 100 miles without a recharge.

For city commuters with less than 40 miles to drive to work, this will be a great option. However, for long trips across a state the fully electric vehicle quickly finds a limitation.

For electric vehicles to take a larger market share, they will have to likely have some type of long distance driving capability. There are numerous hybrid models such as the Chevy Volt and Toyota Prius that have solved this problem by including gasoline engines with their vehicles.

The Volt drives its first 40 miles on its battery engine. After that, the gasoline engine kicks off and can carry the car another 300 miles or so. The Prius works in a similar way except its electric engine switches to the gasoline engine at higher speeds.

Automakers like Nissan and BMW are releasing fully electric models, however there are several other automakers that are joining the pack. With the release of numerous fully electric models on the horizon, only time will tell how consumers react to their release.