DETROIT AUTO SHOW SPECIAL: Nissan slashes base Leaf price for 2013 model | Honda plans Fit-based subcompact crossover for U.S. | Hyundai concept heralds next design phase

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DAILY NEWSLETTER January 14, 2013 Follow Us:

2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Nissan slashes base Leaf price for 2013 model Nissan will cut the base price of the slow-selling Leaf electric car by 18 percent, or $6,400, the automaker said today. The company will sell a 2013 base Leaf S for $28,800, down from $35,200 on the 2012 base model. ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 3:23 pm U.S. Eastern time 2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Honda plans Fit-based subcompact crossover for U.S. Honda says it will be the first automaker to sell a subcompact crossover in the United States when its Fit-based vehicle arrives early next year. A concept version of the vehicle was unveiled at the auto show here. ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 2:00 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/14/13 2:49 p.m. ET - adds more detail 2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Hyundai's rakish HCD-14 concept heralds next design phase Hyundai showed the future direction of its rear-drive premium car designs with its HCD-14 Genesis concept today at the Detroit auto show. Hyundai says its HCD-14 Genesis concept heralds the next phase of design for the brand's premium rear-drive vehicles. ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 3:00 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/14/13 3:23 pm ET - updated for press conference 2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Retooled Chevy Corvette guns for new generation of enthusiasts 2014 sports car packs more power, improves fuel economy GM aims to capture a new generation of sports car lovers -- many raised on video games and extreme sports -- with a complete overhaul of the Chevrolet Corvette that promises additional power, a more refined and comfortable interior, and modern styling. ... >> story  Published: Jan 13 7:00 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/14/13 3:21 p.m. ET - adds more detail, links 2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW VW aims at family crossover market with CrossBlue concept Volkswagen AG's VW brand -- signaling its intentions to target another high-volume United States segment -- introduced a three-row crossover concept today at the Detroit auto show. ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 11:15 am U.S. Eastern time 2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Re-engineered Grand Cherokee SRT gets 8-speed gearbox, 8.4-inch screen The re-engineered 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT will get an eight-speed automatic transmission, Chrysler Group's newest interior electronics and refreshed styling. Teamed with its 470-hp 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 engine, the eight-speed transmission gives the SUV a 44 percent improvement in towing capacity, to 7,200 pounds. ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time 2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Lincoln bids for younger crossover buyers with MKC The Lincoln MKC Concept makes its world debut at the Detroit show Monday, the second vehicle in a new generation of Lincolns aimed at young upscale customers. The MKC Concept is Lincoln's vision for its entry in a small segment that's rapidly growing in importance: compact luxury crossovers. ... >> story  Published: Jan 13 12:01 am U.S. Eastern time 2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Cadillac ATS, Ram 1500 win North American car, truck awards The Cadillac ATS and Ram 1500 were named 2013 North American Car and Truck of the Year today by a panel of automotive journalists. ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 7:10 am U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/14/13 7:48 am ET - adds GM statement Honda targeting record 2013 sales in U.S. American Honda is forecasting a record sales year in the United States for its combined Honda and Acura divisions, even as projections for the overall market waver under economic uncertainty. Honda is aiming at its 2007 sales record of 1.55 million sales for this year, American Honda CEO Tetsuo Iwamura said. ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 1:13 pm U.S. Eastern time Ford execs predict 'steady' U.S. growth, more competition Ford's top executives predicted steady, consistent growth in the United States this year and remained confident in the company's earnings prospects despite increasingly tough competition in the region. ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 1:45 pm U.S. Eastern time   Automotive News Blogs Corvettes that might have been JAMES B. TREECE: It's a fair bet that every designer at General Motors wants to work on the iconic Chevrolet Corvette. ...  Read the blog  Published: Jan 13 10:30 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/13/13 11:38 p.m. ET   JAMES B. TREECE Old and new GM parties like it's ....  Read the blog    MIKE COLIAS Mark Reuss' good day at the office  Read the blog    LARRY P. VELLEQUETTE Chrysler pays tribute to 1963 concept car  Read the blog    NICK BUNKLEY Chrysler, profitable again, still avoiding wild show stunts  Read the blog    LUCA CIFERRI Maserati flagship leaves Chrysler roots behind  Read the blog    RICK JOHNSON Volvo's new CEO Samuelsson learning the ropes  Read the blog    JAMIE LAREAU NADA leaders talk facility upgrades at the Detroit auto show  Read the blog    JESSE SNYDER In Detroit, show goers say, 'I built that'  Read the blog    Jaguar Land Rover plays matchmaker  Read the blog    NICK BUNKLEY Detroit's show … grandiose in so many ways  Read the blog    ARLENA SAWYERS Women celebrated at Urban Wheel Awards  Read the blog      » 1/17 - Mobile Savvy Car Buyers by MAX Systems » 1/22 - Operations Case Study by Microsoft » 1/24 - Online Reputation by Auto News

» Jan. 15-17 - World Congress » March 15 - Best Dealerships entry deadline » April 15 - PACE Awards » May 14 - Marketing Seminar - Los Angeles       Automotive News' top 5 news stories of the week 1. Retooled Chevy Corvette guns for new generation of enthusiasts 2. Lincoln bids for younger crossover buyers with MKC 3. GM aims new Corvette beyond successful plumbers 4. Maserati trumpets new Quattroporte to carve out bigger U.S. niche 5. Toyota sheds vanilla styling with eye on Hyundai's rise     2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Acceleration, not speed, behind BMW diesel push BMW has a message for the incorrigible speed freaks looking for a more politically correct set of wheels in this era of energy efficiency: switch to a diesel. ... >> story  Published: Jan 13 6:46 pm U.S. Eastern time   GM hopes U.S. stock sale revives image as it seeks higher credit rating The sale of the Treasury's stake in General Motors and a possible credit rating upgrade of the automaker in 2013 will help distance the company from the stigma of its 2009 bankruptcy restructuring. ... >> story  Published: Jan 13 8:21 pm U.S. Eastern time   In battle for the car, Sirius faces fight from Pandora Sirius XM Radio's grip on American drivers is under an increasing threat as the availability of Internet connections in more cars is helping Pandora Media counter some of its rival's big selling points. ... >> story  Published: Jan 12 9:19 am U.S. Eastern time   GM to add 400 dealers in China in 2013 Cadillac may introduce ATS, ELR hybrid in China by mid-2014 General Motors will add 400 dealers in China this year as it looks to keep growing faster than China's overall automotive industry which is expected to grow by 8 percent this year, the automaker's top executive in that country said today. ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 3:55 pm U.S. Eastern time   Neumann said to take helm at Opel early after VW relents on non-compete clause Volkswagen is prepared to allow Karl-Thomas Neumann to leave the automaker before his contract runs out to become CEO of Opel, reports said ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 7:07 am U.S. Eastern time   U.S. Treasury's 'Corvette geeks' helped save car, GM engineer says As GM worked through bankruptcy in 2009, the chief engineer for the Corvette was called on to discuss the future of the iconic sports car. ... >> story  Published: Jan 13 7:49 pm U.S. Eastern time   2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Milestones and a few potholes: A 60-year drive with America's sports car The arrival of the redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Corvette today at the Detroit auto show falls just four days short of a key anniversary -- 60 years ago the original Corvette concept, EX-122 -- debuted at the 1953 GM Motorama at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. ... >> story  Published: Jan 13 7:00 pm U.S. Eastern time   Marchionne says Dart's slow start due to transmission availability Sales of the 2013 Dodge Dart have been slow because the car didn't launch with the transmission it should have, Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said this morning. ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 12:47 pm U.S. Eastern time   2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Toyota sheds vanilla styling with eye on Hyundai's rise When Tokuo Fukuichi was brought back to Toyota Motor to become head of design, he was given a simple directive from President Akio Toyoda: make Toyota cars simple and cool. He took a risk and objected. ... >> story  Published: Jan 13 3:45 pm U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/13/13 5:40 p.m. ET   Schreyer to take charge of Hyundai group design German designer Peter Schreyer, the creative brain behind the Audi TT, will oversee both Kia and Hyundai's designs as the automaker seeks to outdo rivals such as Volkswagen. Schreyer will assume the newly created role to lead design efforts at both Hyundai and Kia, Hyundai said Sunday. ... >> story  Published: Jan 13 3:58 am U.S. Eastern time / UPDATED: 1/13/13 9:07 a.m. ET -- adds more detail   Nissan taps Mexico plant to build Note subcompact for Americas Nissan, the largest automaker in Mexico, will start domestic production of the Note subcompact and export the cars throughout the Americas. The five-door model will be the third built at Nissan's plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Nissan said Saturday. ... >> story  Published: Jan 12 1:34 am U.S. Eastern time   2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Suppliers look to fuel future Mileage-boosting tech on display at show Cars will do what cars do at the North American International Auto Show -- draw crowds and cameras. But at several exhibits, rapid advancements in new fuel-saving products will have supplier executives and politicians using the Detroit event as a showcase for new technology and a platform to talk about the future. ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 8:46 am U.S. Eastern time   2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Musk: Tesla aims for profit in 2013 Tesla Motors aims to earn its first profit later this year and launch a cheaper electric vehicle within three to four years, CEO Elon Musk said. ... >> story  Published: Jan 13 11:24 pm U.S. Eastern time   2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Infiniti Q50 replaces G37, becomes tech showcase Infiniti is upping the ante on its biggest volume model with a redesign that makes it a showcase of new technologies. Nissan's luxury arm introduced the new 2014 Q50 -- the new name for the brand's bread-and-butter entry sports sedan, the G37 -- at the Detroit auto show today. ... >> story  Published: Jan 14 9:45 am U.S. Eastern time   2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Mercedes CLA: A play for the younger set Mercedes-Benz is ready to go a little Scion, with a luxury twist. Mercedes-Benz' sleek and sculpted CLA sedan will go on sale in the United States in September as the first of three new front-wheel-drive vehicles from the luxury marque. ... >> story  Published: Jan 13 7:30 pm U.S. Eastern time

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