Hyundai Gets Glitzy with Equus Stretch Limo Designed by Hermes [w/Video]

Hyundai Gets Glitzy with Equus Stretch Limo Designed by Hermes [w/Video]

While Hyundai premiered its restyled 2014 Equus in New York, at the Seoul Motor Show today, the Korean carmaker unveiled a special edition of its limousine, designed in collaboration with Hermes French fashion house "Hermes".

Based on the 2012 model year version, the “Equus by Hermes” is a more luxurious edition of the long-wheelbase model, with the exterior tweaks and the cabin styled and customized by Hermes designers.

Hyundai says the project is the results of two years of work from designers and researchers in the company’s pursuit of a “modern premium” car. The interior focuses on the harmony of colors and features more than 20 items that were produced specifically for this car. Needless to say, everything was hand-made by Hermes artisans. The entire interior is lined with different types of leather chosen by Hermes, with the door panels being lined with crocodile leather, of the same type used by Hermes for some of its famous handbags.

Designers drew inspiration from aircraft interiors to design the rear center console of the car, which includes a folding table and four-cup holders, plus a water bottle compartment and a large storage space where a travel blanket can be kept.

Only three Equus by Hermes models have been built, none of which is for sale. Hyundai says it doesn’t plan to launch it on the market, and only aims to improve the brand image by associating it with a well-known, estab lished European luxury brand.

Hyundai’s first attempt to associate with a fashion house was with Prada, which co-designed a limited-edition line of Genesis sedans. However, only a third of the 1,200 cars made were sold.

By Dan Mihalascu

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Cut Out: Fisker Furloughs a Week of Pay as It Prepares Government Loan Payment

Cut Out: Fisker Furloughs a Week of Pay as It Prepares Government Loan Payment

Things aren’t looking good for Fisker Automotive. First, we hailed it as innovative and fun while being green. They we questioned the company’s stability and the $ 100,000 Fisker Karma’s reliability. And now onto its third CEO in a matter of months and having just had its namesake Henrik Fisker step down from the company, we’ve come to question its long-term prospects. This week, Fisker announced it was furloughing 200 U.S.-based employees from March 22 to April 1 to save a little cash.

Yeah, we’re worried for them.

The company has run into nothing but problems since its inception in 2007, fraught with delays and the better part of its guaranteed $ 529 million government loan becoming not-so-guaranteed at the last minute. Fisker has an undisclosed amount due to the federal government in a month from the money it did receive. The company is saving every cent it can.

A company statement issued by Fisker said furloughing employees is ”a common practice, particularly in the automotive industry, to manage costs and operations based on current activity levels and commercial requirements and is not expected to materially impair Fisker’s operations or the scope or timing of Fisker’s future business plans.”

Don’t panic, it says.

Fisker has been looking at bringing on a Chinese partner to keep its finances afloat. First, Fisker was talking to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the owner of Volvo, which has only become a stronger company after its sale by Ford. Then, Fisker began negotiations with Dongfeng Motor Group. Both have hit snags because of the federal loan repayment terms. It’s still scrounging around for options.

Two weeks ago, Fisker founder Henrik Fisker left the company over disagreements with the management team. The day after, he put his money where his mouth is, buying a Fisker Karma for himself.

With a host of products planned between convertible and wagon versions of the Karma sedan to a proposed smaller car called the Fisker Atlantic, the company isn’t lacking for ideas. It’s just lacking for ways to make them happen.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)

General Motors to Build Next-Generation Electric Car in South Korea

General Motors to Build Next-Generation Electric Car in South Korea

General Motors’ one and only all-electric car, the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV, is produced in South Korea. It was designed in South Korea. General Motors’ battery supplier for the project is LG Chem. Yes, that company that made your old cell phone, is a South Korean firm. So it makes sense that with GM planning out its next electric car already, it’s going to come out of the Land of the Morning Calm.

When pressed, General Motors gave no timeline on the launch, but it said the car would be slightly larger than the diminutive Chevrolet Spark and would be an all-new design for an electric car instead of one adapted for EV use. Details otherwise have been scant, other than to say GM CEO Dan Akerson has said that future cars would have 100- and 200-mile ranges. The cars would beat most of the EV segment for range, as the majority achieve between 70 and 80 miles between charges.

Going into production this month, the 2014 Chevrolet Spark is expected to have class-leading rangeâ€"we expect a little over 80 milesâ€"from its 20 kilowatt-hour battery pack. Its electric motor will drive 130 horsepower and an earth-moving 400 pound-feet of torque through the front wheels. It is estimated that it will be able to reach 60 mph from standstill in a brisk 8 seconds and cost less than $ 25,000.

GM Korea specializes in engineering and producing most of the company’s smaller vehicles, including the Chevrolet Spark, Sonic, Cruze, Malibu, and Buick Encore. North America has local production for all of those but the Encore.

The Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid will continue to be built in the U.S. with its battery packs supplied by LG Chem.

Source: Reuters via Automotive News (Subscription required)

London Company Hires "Van-Sitters" to Double Park Its Cars and Run from Traffic Wardens

London Company Hires "Van-Sitters" to Double Park Its Cars and Run from Traffic Wardens

In most of Europe’s biggest cities, the lack of parking spaces is probably the most stressful aspect of being a driver. Not to mention the cost of parking or the fines for illegal parking, which can amount to £120 (€142) in London.

The UK’s capital has to be one of Europe’s most driver-unfriendly cities â€" huge parking fines aside, there’s also the congestion charge, traffic cameras that follow your every step, 20 mph speed limits (32 km/h) â€" and we’re sure Londoners can add many more to this list.

However, people have to move around the city, and for businesses, cars are even more vital. This is why a London property maintenance company has found a solution to avoid paying huge parking fees or being fined for illegal parking. Basically, it started employing young people with a clean license to “van-sit” their fleet of commercial vehicles instead of parking them in central London.

Will Davies, the boss of Aspect, pays an average £8 (€9.5) per hour for young unemployed people to remain double parked near the buildings where his other employees perform maintenance works. When a traffic warden approaches, drivers simply run away. Davies has figured out this solution is cheaper than paying parking fines up to £120 (€142) in London, as well as clamping fines and ca r pound release fees.

He says what he does is lawful. "It's completely legal and trials in Westminster have been incredibly successful," Davies told Aol UK. "Instead of paying fines, the money goes to young unemployed people," he added.

He even plans to extend the service to the public, if it proves successful. “In fact, we are thinking of rolling out the scheme to include anyone who needs a car-sitter while they attend a meeting,” Davies said.

By Dan Mihalascu

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2012 Nissan Frontier 4X4 PRO4X Long Term Update 3

2012 Nissan Frontier 4X4 PRO4X Long Term Update 3

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Kia Cub Concept Officially Beats the Dead Horse of “Four-Door Coupes” in Seoul Motor Show Debut

Kia Cub Concept Officially Beats the Dead Horse of “Four-Door Coupes” in Seoul Motor Show Debut

The term “four-door coupe” made nearly as much sense at its inception as champagne made from grapes harvested in the Midwest (champagne only comes from France), so Kia’s rather liberal definition with the Kia Cub shouldn’t detract too much from its overall purpose. Anyhow, the four-door coupe hatchback Kia Cub is the automaker’s latest concept car, launching this week at the Seoul Motor Show concurrently with the New York Auto Show. To be honest, it looks a bit like the 2011 Kia GT concept mixed with the not-for-the-U.S. Audi A1, which isn’t a huge surprise since Kia’s design chief Peter Schreyer likely worked on that before his departure in the mid-2000s.

Kia says that despite its 13-foot length, the Cub has rear-opening doors in back to assist with “limo-like” accommodations. Rear seats are separated from one another to aid the feeling of exclusivity, while the cabin’s overall look is minimalistic and sporty. The Kia Cub concept sits on 19-inch wheels, has LED headlights, and Kia says its shape is designed especially to thwart wind noise, which, you know, is completely unacceptable in a limousine.

Power comes by way of the ever increasingly ubiquitous turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine found under the hood of the Hyundai Veloster Turbo and 2014 Kia Forte SX that produces 204 horsepower. Kia says it has designed the car for young urban dwellers, which makes sense in being as small as it is. Seoul is a jam-packed city, like New York City but far cleaner.

Kia says it has no plans to put this Korean-designed Cub into production, but we wouldn’t be surprised if some of its cues find their way to other models over the next few years. With three new Kia vehicles launching at the New York Auto Show to complement the already new Forte, Sorento, and Cadenza, suddenly the subcompact Kia Rio, introduced for 2012, has become one of the oldest vehicles in the automaker’s lineup.

Source: Kia

All-New 2014 Skoda Octavia RS to Climb the Hill at Goodwood, in July

All-New 2014 Skoda Octavia RS to Climb the Hill at Goodwood, in July

The all-new Skoda Octavia is a car which wants you to take it very seriously. However, Skoda knows that for it to be truly accepted, there must be a hot version sitting at the top of the range. This is why they will debut the RS version (vRS in the UK) of the new Octavia at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, held from July 11 to 14, 2013.

Since Skoda itself admits that the Octavia is "the heart" of their brand, and factoring in the VW influence on the technical side, we expect the new RS to be a highly-competent machine.

As it has been said so many times before, it will most likely share its powertrain with the new VW Golf GTI, so around 220hp is to be expected. This coupled with the lighter construction than that of the old model, as well as more power, should make it the fastest series-production Octavia RS of all time.

Design-wise, don't expect it to jump at you, and we say it will be very restrained when it comes to sporty touches. Sure, you get the lower bumpers and side skirts, as well as the dual exhausts and rear spoiler, but if you don't paint it in a special color, then it will likely pass by unnoticed.

The first-gen Octavia RS's trademark paint finis h was a bright yellow, with light-green brake calipers â€" why not revive that?

By Andrei Nedelea

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2013 New York International Auto Show — Everything You Need to Know

2013 New York International Auto Show â€" Everything You Need to Know

We’re in the Big Apple, covering the 2013 New York International Auto Show from the Jacob Javits Center and the outlying venues. This year, General Motors looks to continue its momentum with five new modelsâ€"the redesigned 2014 Cadillac CTS, refreshed Buick Regal and LaCrosse, the sendoff version of the current-generation Chevrolet Camaro, and the U.S. debut of the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible. But we hear GM will have another announcement this week, too, which could be Corvette or full-size truck pricing or a look at the supposedly heavily refreshed 2014 Chevrolet Malibu.

Other automakers aren’t sitting idly, though. Volkswagen will finally be bringing its most important car to the U.S., the 2014 Golf, and the Korean automakers have a long list of world debuts. Below is a list of vehicles debuting at the New York Auto Show. We’ll update it as more are revealed to the world. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, with links below.

Kia Thinks New CUB Concept is a Four-Door Coupe

Kia Thinks New CUB Concept is a Four-Door Coupe

Automakers often leave us scratching our heads with the things they claim in their press announcements and presentations. By definition, the term four-door coupe is a misnomer because technically, you can have both, but let's say for the sake of conversation, we accept it for what it stands in today's automotive world â€" a sedan with a coupe-like profile and roofline.

Looking at these freshly released pictures of Kia's brand-new CUB Concept that debuts at this week's Seoul Motor Show (March 28 to April 7), how would you best describe its body style? If you answered a five-door hatchback, Kia will kindly disagree with you, as according to the Koreans, the CUB is a "compact four-door coupe".

Putting Kia's description of the concept aside, the CUB was designed at the Kia headquarters studio in Seoul, under the direction of President and Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. The hatchback is just under four meters long, has rearward-opening rear doors and an 'access-all-areas' interior concept without traditional B-pillars. Kia says many of its design elements were inspired by the 2007 Kee 2+2 concept.

Under the hood, the four-seater model features Kia's new 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engin e rated at 201hp or 204PS.

The Korean company said that at present, it has no plans to put the CUB concept into volume production.

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2014 Dodge Durango First Look

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In accordance with Chrysler's newfound spirit of continuous improvement, the 3-year-old Dodge Durango gets a major spiffing-up for 2014. A mild exterior refresh and interior refinements plus a powertrain update conspire to keep the three-row crossover fresh for a few more years. There's also a minor shuffle in the trim choices, with Crew being replaced by Limited and the Rallye package becoming a stand-alone trim. The SXT, R/T, and Citadel remain. The main change made by Dodge to the 2014 Durango is the addition of Chrysler's new eight-speed automatic behind both engines (3.6-liter V-6 and 5.7-liter V-8), boosting efficiency by around 9 percent. Official numbers have yet to be released, but we're promised 25 mpg highway for the V-6, yielding a 600-mile range. A center console-mounted rotary transmission selector comes with the deal, as do steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The 3.6-liter V-6 makes 290 hp (295 hp on Rallye) and 260 lb-ft of torque, while the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 cranks out 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. Best-in-class towing capacities of 6200 and 7400 pounds for the V-6 and V-8 are also promised. While rear drive is standard, all-wheel drive is available. The transfer case on all-wheel-drive V-8 models features a low range gear for improved off-roading capability and a neutral mode that allows the Durango to be flat-towed. A new Eco Mode is standard with the new eight-speed and improves fuel economy by optimizing transmission shift points and throttle sensitivity as well as managing the Hemi's cylinder deactivation system and the interactive deceleration fuel shut-off (IDFSO). The latter cuts fuel delivery when the vehicle is coasting. Eco Mode is the default setting upon start up, but can be disabled by a center stack button. Outside, the look up front is bolder and more aggressive with revised lighting, front fascia, and crosshair grille. Projector headlights are new across all trim levels. Rallye, Limited, R/T, and Citadel trims get hockey stick-shaped LED daytime running lights along the bottom of the headlights; R/T and Citadel models also get HID headlamps standard. Projector foglights in the taller front fascia are new. The new, slimmer crosshair grille floats in its shell, while each trim gets a unique mesh insert that is repeated in the lower fascia. Around back, the Durango gets Dodge's "racetrack" rear lighting graphic (here composed of 162 LEDs, and 30 more operating the brake lamps) found on the Charger and Dart, and the trailer hitch is integrated into the new rear fascia. All V-8 models along with R/T and Rallye V-6 models get dual 3.5-inch exhaust tips, while other V-6 models get a single 3-inch outlet. Wheel choices expand to seven, including 18-inch and 20-inch sizes with unique styles for each trim as well as silver painted, polished aluminum, and Hyper Black finishes. In addition to the above, Rallye and R/T models get a monochromatic look with dark-tinted headlamps, body-colored fascias, wheel flares, grille, and sill moldings. The R/T also sits 20mm lower for a sporty appearance and improved handling. An update to the electrical architecture brings Adaptive Cruise Control, which brings the car to a stop, plus collision alert and mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, and Rear Cross Path (RCP) detection. Buttons on the rearview mirror dial emergency crews or roadside assistance without the need for a cellphone. Inside, the redesigned dash features a 5-inch or 8.4-inch central screen plus a 7-inch display between the tach and speedometer. Redundant audio and climate controls as well as an SD card slot, USB port, and auxiliary jack are just below the center screen. A new three-spoke steering wheel with illuminated controls and paddle shifters is available. Chrysler's Uconnect telematics system gets another upgrade with an improved voice command system and an embedded cellular 4G link that provides access to apps and can make the vehicle a Wi-Fi hotspot. Uconnect allows hands-free control of apps including Pandora, iHeartradio, and Slacker and can read and respond to text messages. The nav system's Garmin graphics are less cartoonish and can portray 3-D images of buildings in select cities, and the screen's background coloring now coordinates with the interior color way. Rear-seat riders can now enjoy high-def video entertainment via twin 9.0-inch-diagonal screens mounted to the front seatbacks with separate HDMI and RCA jacks for each as well as an available Blu-Ray player. Second-row captain's chairs are an option, with a choice of a tall or short center console. The standard 60/40 split second-row bench can handle passengers and long objects such as 10-foot-long 2x4s with the front passenger seat is folded. Dodge claims the Durango can fit a 6-foot couch and coffee table when the second-row and 50/50 third-row seats folded. Reclining and heated rear seats are also available. In all, there are up to 50 different seating configurations and as much as 85 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row. With rumors of a Jeep Grand Wagoneer coming to replace the Dodge Durango as Chrysler's three-row offering, some may wonder why the automaker is updating the crossover after just three years. Regardless of the reasons, the 2014 Dodge Durango's new duds, safety equipment, eight-speed transmission, and renewed focus on improving fuel mileage make a compelling argument for the big Dodge to stay.

2014 Dodge Durango
BASE PRICE	$ 62,620 (est)
LAYOUT	Front-engine, 2WD/4WD, 6-7-pass, 4-door SUV
ENGINES	3.6L/290-295-hp/26-lb-ft DOHC 24-valve V-6; 5.7L/360-hp/390-lb-ft OHV 16-valve V-8
TRANSMISSION	8-speed automatic
WHEELBASE	119.8 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	201.2 x 75.8 x 70.9 in
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	4750-5400 lb (est)
GVWR	6500-7100 lb
PAYLOAD CAPACITY	1280-1430 lb
TOWING CAPACITY	6200-7400 lb
EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON	Not yet rated
CO2 EMISSIONS	Not yet rated
ON SALE IN U.S.	Fall 2013 (est)

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