Filed under: Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Ford

The Ford S-Max and C-Max have a new little sibling, and its name is B-Max. Making its global debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the very compact minivan rides on the same platform as the Fiesta and is just 4.3-inches longer than that model’s five-door hatchback. Aiding in the action of ingress/egress, the B-Max ditches B-pillars entirely so occupants can easily glide past the dual sliding rear doors.

The B-pillar appears to be completely removed but are in fact integrated into the front and rear doors. When closed, the two work together and behave in the same manner as a traditional pillar.

Doors closed and occupants protected, forward motivation is provided courtesy of a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engine, the latest and smallest of Ford’s EcoBoost engine family. With the aid of Start/Stop technology, the EcoBoost engine should even better fuel economy than a similarly powerful four-cylinder engine.

For more information on the Ford B-Max, follow the jump and peruse the press release. And stay tuned to our live coverage of the Geneva Motor Show, as we’ll bring back live images of the B-Max just as soon as we can.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford debuting B-pillarless B-Max in Geneva

Ford debuting B-pillarless B-Max in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

General Motors and Chrysler have informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that cars sold to rental companies aren’t getting repairs done on recall for months at a time. NHTSA then started monitoring three million units from the two manufacturers in rental fleets to see how long they went unrepaired.

One month after a recall, NHTSA says that between 10 and 30 percent of cars had been repaired. By 90 days, the average was just 30 percent. According to the administration, it takes a year or more for rental companies to get more than 50 percent of their cars repaired.

According to The Detroit News, there aren’t any laws on the books that say a rental company has to get a car repaired before it rents it to a customer. What’s more, hundreds of recall notices go out a year, and rental cars move around a lot, making it difficult to nail them down for repairs.

According to Bob Barton, president of the American Car Rental Association, most companies place a hold on models that have been recalled, preventing them from being rented until repairs are made. The hitch, according to Barton, is that it can take months for the company to realize a recall has been issued.

NHTSA says its investigation is ongoing, and the administration noted a statement that dealerships aren’t allowed to sell a recalled vehicle until repairs have been made. That said, NHTSA also doesn’t have the authority to legally require that customers – including rental companies – have recall repairs made.

[Source: The Detroit News | Image: Hertz Rent-a-Car]

Report: Rental companies drag heels repairing recalled cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It was seen as a panacea to communication problems – collapsing time spent on travel and postage to instant delivery.

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PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday marked his 87th birthday saying government is taking over Nestle Zimbabwe because it refused to buy his milk.

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Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Volkswagen

The Volkswagen Tiguan is getting a makeover for the 2012 model year, and the changes will be on display this week at the Geneva Motor Show. Changes include a refreshed front end that incorporates the automaker’s new sullen yet distinctive aesthetic.

The grille has been remade to mimic that of the new Jetta and Passat, with a pair of horizontal chrome strips that blend into the Tiguan’s updated headlamps. Jumping up to the top SEL trim will net you updated peepers with Bi-Xenon lamps and the LED eyeliner treatment that seems to be all the rage these days. Volkswagen still hasn’t released a photo of the Tiguan’s new boot, but the post-jump press release tells us that the taillamps have been updated to reveal a “double L” pattern. SEL buyers will also get new 19-inch “Savannah” wheels designed by R GmbH.

VW made minor enhancements to the Tiguan’s interior as well, including updated material choices and a rash of standard features. All 2012 Tiguan models will receive an eight-speaker sound system and Bluetooth, aux-in and heated side view mirrors.

The Tiguan will retain the excellent 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, but fuel economy has been given a serious bump. VW claims the updated engine will fetch 29 miles per gallon in highway driving, up considerably from the 25 mpg of the outgoing model. Follow the jump to read over the the official press release, and click on the photo above for a closer look at the 2012 Tiguan.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan shows its new face in Geneva

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan shows its new face in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen, Design/Style

Earlier this year, famed design house Italdesign Giugiaro became part of the Volkswagen Group, and the longtime collaborators are are presenting their first joint concepts at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

The Italian design firm calls the Tex an “interpretation of tomorrow’s sporty Volkswagen,” incorporating coupe-like lines into a hatchback shape. In execution, it looks a bit like the current Euro-spec Honda Civic hatch to our eyes – especially up front. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if we’re honest, we expected something a little bolder from the company that has penned some of the most gorgeous designs of all time.

The Tex Concept is powered by Volkswagen’s Twin Drive plug-in hybrid system, which we’re told has a range of 35 kilometers (about 21 miles) with just the battery driving the wheels.

Inside, the Tex uses a driver-focused cockpit, and unlike the vast majority of concept cars that we’ll be seeing in Geneva, the Giugiaro interior looks nearly production-ready. We like the implementation of the flat-bottomed steering wheel, supportive seats and funky new shift knob.

While the Tex is merely a concept right now, there’s no telling if Volkswagen will use this as a basis for a future sports car, perhaps even a Golf or GTI far along down the road. Hit the jump to read the full details in Volkswagen’s press release, and see the Italdesign Giugiaro Tex Concept for yourself in both of our high-res image galleries below.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Volkswagen Giugiaro Tex Concept brings Italdesign to the people

Geneva 2011: Volkswagen Giugiaro Tex Concept brings Italdesign to the people originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The rising cost of living in the country became clear on Monday when the government’s statistics showed that the overall inflation rate hit a four-month high in February this year.

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Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Etc., Safety, Chevrolet, Diesel

We record Episode #219 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and we’ll be joined by Randy Nonnenberg of Bring A Trailer, too. We’ve picked a couple of topics for discussion below, and drop us your own feedback and questions or vote on your fellow readers’ submissions to help determine what we discuss this evening. You can subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven’t already to hear your question answered.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #219

Geneva Motor Show
Diesel Cruze confirmed for the US
NHTSA Backup camera delay

Subscribe to the Autoblog Podacast and hear your questions asked:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #219 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

The 2011 edition of Consumer Reports‘ annual Auto Issue will hit newstands on March 8, but we have a sneak peek at what you’ll find inside.

First up is are CR’s Automaker Report Cards, and Honda, Toyota and Subaru continue to enjoy their three-year run at the head of the class. General Motors and Ford, however, are playing catch up fast. In fact, the Blue Oval now has a Recommended rating for 71 percent of its fleet. Chrysler, however, is sitting near the bottom of the pack, though it’s kept company by former classmate Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

The Consumer Reports 2011 Auto Issue also examines the best and worst values across eight vehicle segments. Hyundai and Kia both earned a couple of “bests” while General Motors was given a few “worsts.” Beyond the value of a vehicle, CR also names its Top Picks for 2011. For the first time ever, the Ford Mustang has made this list thanks to its multitude of engine choices, fuel economy and price.

If used cars are more your speed, Consumer Reports has even compiled a list of its top choices for 2001-2010 model year vehicles. Awards for best-in-class were chosen based on the results of road tests when the vehicle was new combined with ongoing reliability data.

We have a hefty dose of information for you to digest. The Top Picks, Best and Worst Values and Best of the Best Used Cars are all waiting for you after the jump.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Continue reading Consumer Reports reveals details of 2011 Auto Issue

Consumer Reports reveals details of 2011 Auto Issue originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Africa recorded a trade deficit of R4.9 billion in January, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) said on Monday.

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