Seoul – Kia revealed the first official photographs of its all-new flagship sedan to be launched during the first half of this year in the Korean market. Referred to by its codename ‘KH’ until now, the company also confirmed that the Korean market name will be ‘K9’ – while the name for export markets, as well as overseas launch timings, will be revealed later this year.

K9 is Kia’s first rear-wheel drive sedan. It boasts Kia’s ‘best of the best’ design, driving performance and high technology capabilities and is regarded as one of 2012’s most eagerly anticipated all-new models in both Korean and overseas markets.

This model’s Korean market name, K9, will complete Kia’s domestic market ‘K’ series range of passenger cars, whose members also include the front-wheel drive K5 (Optima in overseas markets) and K7 (Cadenza in overseas markets) sedans.The letter ‘K’ represents not only Kia and the company’s home country of Korea, but also refers to the Greek word ‘Kratos’ (meaning powerful, domination and reign) and the English word ‘Kinetic’ (meaning active, dynamic).

The ‘K’ series trio of sedans is a strong statement of Kia’s determination to offer consumers the broadest product line-up and establish itself as a major presence in the global automotive industry through ceaseless innovation and technological developments.The K9’s exterior gives solid form to the recently released sketches of the new model, and presents its design concept, ‘high-tech luxury sedan’ image, with futuristic, sophisticated and distinctive charisma.

Furthermore, the sophisticated and bold profile with its simple but strong character line and the innovative and stable rear view with its high-tech LED combination lamps, luxurious chrome garnish and bumper-integrated muffler, completes the parameters for whole new level of luxury car design.Soon-Nam Lee, Director of the Overseas Marketing Group, said, “K9 is our first rear-wheel drive large sedan, created without compromise in its design, driving performance and new technologies. K9 sets a whole new level of standards and values in the large sedan segment, and its design will be another Kia demonstration of our brand’s power to surprise the world.”

Source: http://www.kiamotors.com/about-kia/company/corporate-news-view.aspx?idx=600

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) announced the Hyundai Elantra has earned the title of “2012 Canadian Car of the Year” at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. The Elantra was selected as the winner from a group of three finalists which also included Hyundai’s Accent.

The announcement of Elantra’s Canadian Car of the Year victory comes just over one month after the car was named the 2012 “North American Car of the Year” during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. As the Genesis luxury sedan earned both titles in 2009, this marks the second time in four years that a Hyundai vehicle has won both awards back-to-back.

The AJAC “Best New Design” award is presented annually to the vehicle that exhibits the best balance of form and function. The jury is composed of AJAC journalist members from across Canada who rate vehicles on a combination of aesthetics, function, and brand essence. The aesthetics component reflects the sheer beauty of the design. The function component assesses the manner and degree to which it accommodates the practical requirements of the vehicle type and brand essence considers its success in conveying the image, heritage, and values of the specific brand.

Each year AJAC names the best new cars in eight categories following an intensive one-week event known as “Test Fest.” From these eight winners, three finalists are selected before the highest-rated vehicle is chosen as the overall “Canadian Car of the Year.” Last October, the Accent, Elantra, and Veloster were named Best New Small Car under $21,000, Best New Small Car over $21,000 and Best New Sports/Performance Car under $50,000 respectively. With three wins, Hyundai took home more AJAC Canadian Car of the Year category awards than any other manufacturer.

Source: http://www.hyundai.com.au/About-Hyundai/news/Articles/Hyundai-Elantra-and-Veloster-Shine-in-the-Canadian-2012-Car-of-the-Year-Awards

Detroit – When the new 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 arrives this spring, performance car enthusiasts will experience the hands-on driving satisfaction of a “stick” with the ease of an automatic transmission due to General Motors’ newly improved TapShift technology.

Since its introduction several years ago, TapShift has allowed drivers to control up- and down-shifts with paddle shifters. For 2012, GM powertrain engineers implemented a patent-pending software algorithm that improves tap response time by up to 60 percent compared to the previous system. No hardware changes were required for the upgrade.

The faster you can get to the next gear, the better, and from the sound of it, the ZL1 automatic’s performance is going to make paddle shifting more exhilarating and satisfying for drivers of all skill sets,” said Eric Fedewa , director of Global Powertrain Forecasting at IHS Automotive. “We’re seeing a trend toward more manual-mode-capable, fun-to-drive automatic transmissions across all vehicle segments, and GM’s technology is leading the pack.

By staging hydraulic pressure in the clutch for the next gear, the new control module algorithm reduces tap delay for the 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, and 4-5 up-shifts by 200-300 milliseconds. The system anticipates shift requests based on current gear, throttle, torque and speed. By pre-filling the clutch for the next gear, the tap up-shift response is near instantaneous.

As great as the previous system’s performance was, we were driven to achieve even better results,” said Gabe Gibson, GM performance car calibration engineer. “Not only did we make the upgrade to Camaro, we implemented it on the 2012 Corvette as well, and will use it on all vehicles with TapShift control going forward.

Staged up-shifts will help drivers of the 2012 ZL1 – the most powerful production Camaro ever – get the most out of its supercharged 6.2L engine that is SAE-rated at 580 horsepower (432 kW) and 556 lb.-ft. of torque (754 Nm).

ZL1 customers’ choice of an automatic 6L90 transmission with TapShift manual mode or a six-speed manual transmission is unmatched in its class. With 0 to 60 taking 3.9 seconds, and a top speed of 184 mph, the power and acceleration of the ZL1 automatic rivals many supercars.

Source: http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/

Detroit – A low emission model of the 2012 Chevrolet Volt electric car are on their way to California, where customers will qualify for a $1,500 state rebate and be allowed to drive solo in the state’s carpool lanes.Volts with the Low Emissions Package, which is standard for California, began shipping from the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck plant this week and should begin arriving at the more than 140 participating Chevrolet dealerships in California before the end of the month.

The Volts with the Low Emissions Package are certain to be a strong draw for California commuters looking to travel the state’s notoriously congested freeways in the carpool lane,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing.Commuters who use carpool lanes in Southern California save an estimated average 36 minutes a day, or about a third of their total driving time.

California has more than 1,400 miles of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes. Originally restricted to vehicles with two or more occupants to help minimize congestion, the lanes are now open to single occupancy use by owners of advanced, low-emission vehicles. Volts registered in Georgia, New York and Florida also are eligible for single occupancy access to carpool lanes.

The Volt has a total driving range of up to 379 miles, based on EPA estimates. For the first 35 miles, the Volt can drive gas-and tailpipe-emissions-free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank. Volt owners have travelled more than 10 million miles since the vehicle launched late last year. Roughly two-thirds of those miles were powered by grid electricity.

Source: http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012

Detroit – Chevrolet is America’s favorite performance brand, with Camaro and Corvette accounting for one out of every three sports cars sold in the United States in 2011.Chevrolet accounted for 37 percent of the sports-car segment last year, selling 88,249 Camaros, which surpassed its nearest competitor, the Ford Mustang, by more than 18,000 units. That lead is expected to increase when the new Camaro ZL1 goes on sale this month.

Chevrolet accounted for 28 percent of the luxury-sports-car segment in 2011, selling 13,164 Corvettes. Currently the only domestic car in the segment, Corvette more than doubled the sales of its nearest competitor, the Porsche 911.

With the addition of the Camaro ZL1, there are only a handful of brands in the world with two cars that can match the performance, technology, and excitement of Corvette and Camaro,” said General Motors North America President Mark Reuss. “Unlike many competitors’ performance cars, the Corvette ZR1 and Camaro ZL1 are appropriate for both daily drivers and track use from the factory – with standard coolers for brakes and drivetrain.

And we challenge any company to bring two cars to compete with the Corvette ZR1 and Camaro ZL1, dollar for dollar,” Reuss said. “They will discover what enthusiasts already know – that Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette are the world’s best performance cars for the money.

To demonstrate the capabilities of the Corvette and Camaro, Chevrolet recently tested full-production models with no performance modifications on the “Grand Course” at Virginia International Raceway. The Grand Course configuration is a challenge for production cars because it requires prodigious power, precise handling and tenacious grip to record a fast lap.

Source: http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/

It’s a good thing that the Nissan Frontier pickup has a roomy cargo bed – the popular compact truck just keeps bringing home industry and media awards. The latest recognition comes from Insure.com, which has named the 2012 Nissan Frontier S King Cab and Frontier SV King Cab models to its list of “Least Expensive Vehicles to Insure.” The annual survey of more than 900 vehicles aims to help consumers in the market for a new vehicle identify the best vehicles to help keep their insurance payments low.

We’ve had a lot of fun in our recent advertising showing the Nissan Frontier in extreme fantasy situations, such as skiing down mountains or serving as emergency landing gear for a jet airplane, but the truth is, Frontier is a great purchase option for many practical reasons,” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America. “Insurance can be a significant part of the total cost of ownership for a new vehicle and we are pleased to see the Frontier included in this year’s Insure.com ranking, which validates Frontier’s outstanding value equation.

The Nissan Frontier continues to be a leader in the mid-size truck segment. Offering performance, utility and value, the Nissan Frontier combines premium hardware, extraordinary power and off-road athleticism. With a choice of two body configurations, 4×2 and 4×4 drive, 152-horsepower 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder (King Cab only) or class-leading 261-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 engines, and good fuel mileage (19 city, 23 highway, King Cab 4-cyinder 2WD), Frontier offers exceptional levels of family or workplace performance to fit nearly any need or budget.

The Insure.com nod follows three other recent awards for Frontier. It was named first in the Midsize Pickup Truck category in the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) 2011 Texas Truck Rodeo, and to Kelley Blue Book’s “Best Resale Value Award: Top Ten Models” for model year 2012. In addition, J.D. Power and Associates named Frontier as the top midsize pickup in its 2012 Vehicle Dependability Study.

Source: http://www.nissannews.com/pressrelease/3277//nissan-frontier-king-cab-named-insure.com%E2%80%99s-annual-least

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced on February 16th 2012, that its production affiliate in Taiwan, Kuozui Motors, Ltd. (Kuozui) started the production and sales of the “Camry Hybrid” in Taiwan.

Being the seventh hybrid-vehicle production plant outside of Japan, production of the Camry Hybrid at Kuozui’s Kuanying Plant in Taiwan’s Taoyuan County began on February 15. Annual production targets are initially set for an approximate of 7,000 vehicles, which will be exclusively supplied to the domestic market. The prices of the vehicle range from 1,069,000 to 1,399,000 Taiwan dollars.

With this development, Kuozui President Haruaki Hoshino expressed: “We are very proud to begin production of the state-of-the-art Camry Hybrid at our Kuanying Plant. With environmental and energy-conservation consciousness in Taiwan rising every year, we hope to supply the Taiwanese market with as many hybrids as possible.

One of the most important management tasks addressed by TMC are environmental issues. The company is highly active on promoting hybrid and other environment-friendly vehicles. With the closing of 2011, worldwide sales of TMC-produced vehicles reached approximately 3.6 million units.

Source: http://www.ramadbk.com/news/?p=1324

Honda will voluntarily recall approximately 45,800 model-year 2008 and early-2009 Odyssey EX-L and Touring vehicles in the United States to replace the two power tailgate struts. The gas-filled struts that help to raise and support the tailgate of vehicles equipped with a power tailgate system may be prone to early life failures.

A strut failure may result in the tailgate closing under its own power, possibly unexpectedly, with the potential risk of injury and inconvenience to users. Two injuries have been reported related to this issue.

Honda is announcing this recall to encourage owners of all affected vehicles to take their vehicles to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Honda. Mailed notification to customers will begin in mid-March 2012. In addition to contacting customers by mail, in mid-March, owners of these vehicles will be able to determine.

Source: http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=6516-en

Honda will voluntarily recall approximately 8,700 model-year 2012 Honda Pilot and Acura MDX vehicles in the United States to inspect and, if necessary, replace the fuel tank. The vent shut float (VSF) valve case, a component of the emissions-related on-board fuel vapor recovery system mounted inside the fuel tank, could detach from its mounting inside of the tank due to an incorrect VSF case material.

A detached VSF case may result in fuel overflowing from the fuel tank or possibly a fuel leak, which increases the risk of fire. No fires or injuries have been reported related to this issue, which was identified during internal production testing by the part supplier.

Honda is announcing this recall to encourage owners of all affected vehicles to take the vehicles to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Honda. Mailed notification to customers will begin in mid-March 2012.

Source: http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=6518-en

The new Honda Civic 5 door has been rated one of Europe‘s safest cars, according to new independent crash testing results from Euro NCAP. In addtion, Euro NCAP have announced that they are extending Honda’s Advanced NCAP reward for its Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) technology to include the new Civic.

The new Honda Civic has been awarded Euro NCAP’s maximum 5-star rating. The rating scheme focuses on the vehicle’s overall safety performance which gives consumers an easy to understand single score. The system considers occupant protection, child protection, pedestrian protection and the availability of driver aids. Since the introduction of Euro NCAP‘s new rating scheme (February 2009) all Honda models tested have achieved 5 stars.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General, commented “The 9th generation Civic impressed and achieved high scores in all areas of assessment, putting it on a par with its rivals in this competitive market segment. The car scored well in Safety Assist and is also fitted as an option with Honda’s Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS).

Euro NCAP also announced that they are extending Honda’s Advanced NCAP reward for its CMBS technology to include the new Civic. The reward recognises Honda‘s CMBS technology as amongst the best available safety innovations, offering research proven benefits. Euro NCAP Advanced is an initiative developed in response to the rapid development of new safety technologies, for which there is no independent assessment.

Honda has been recognized for its Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS), a radar-based autonomous emergency braking system. CMBS is designed to help prevent collisions with vehicles which are stationary or travelling in the same direction. The system is aimed at alerting the driver to an imminent collision both at low speeds, typical of urban driving, and at higher speeds typical of rural roads and motorways. By studying accident statistics in Germany and extending the figures to the broader European community, Honda estimates that, if all cars were fitted with CMBS, between 200,000 and 250,000 accidents could be either prevented or mitigated every year.

Source: http://world.honda.com/news/2012/4120222Civic-5-star-Euro-NCAP/index.html