Last Auto: November 2014

Saturday, November 29, 2014

More auto dealers join Black Friday fray with sales incentives - Columbus Dispatch

Auto dealers have emerged as contenders for the attention and dollars of Black Friday shoppers.

The promotions were enough to lure customers to car lots on a day when people traditionally shop for electronics, apparel and toys.

"It used to be that automotive (dealers) would throw in the towel and sit on the sidelines while every other retailer had their best day of the year," said Chris Haydocy, co-owner of Haydocy Buick GMC on the West Side.

That has changed. Yesterday, most brands had some sort of marketing push and special discounts aimed at boosting traffic for the day, and many of the deals continue through the weekend.

At Germain Nissan on the Northeast Side, customers were offered incentives such as a limited supply of televisions, tablets and tickets to today's Ohio State football game against Michigan.

"The last few years, we've thought maybe we should get in on that action," said Paul Germain, one of the top managers of the company that owns the store.

Inside the showroom, giant bows adorned the vehicles.

Jim Merriman, 51, of Johnstown, was shopping for a car for his daughter, and the Nissan store was one of his first stops.

"It's Black Friday, and I'm off work," he said.

And that fact — that many customers have the day off — is one of the main reasons that dealers and automakers see an underused opportunity to attract customers.

Another factor this weekend is the OSU-Michigan game. Several dealers said they expect a lull in business during the game today, and they expected those in the market for a car to shift their shopping to yesterday or Sunday.

Dealers across the country are trying to boost sales on Black Friday and this weekend.

"Black Friday represents one of the hottest shopping days in America, and new-car shopping is no exception; there are amazing deals on new cars right now as the calendar year comes to a close," Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, said in a statement.

"This month's deals include some 2015 models and some outgoing 2014s, compact sedans, midsize sedans and even a sporty three-row SUV."

Some of the promotions:

• Chevrolet is offering $1,000 cash back plus zero percent financing on some models, including the 2014 Silverado pickup and 2015 Malibu sedan.

• Buick and GMC are offering a 20 percent discount on some models, including most in the 2014 model year. The selection of eligible vehicles varies depending on the store.

• BMW is offering up to $3,500 off the price of some models, plus other incentives.

For many brands, the holiday weekend is the start of campaigns that will run through December. The year's final month is one of the busiest for the auto industry, and it's the busiest for certain brands.

"They're pushing for a strong finish," said Mike Dunlap, BMW new-car sales manager at Midwestern Auto Group in Dublin.

dgearino@dispatch.com

@DanGearino

Source : http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/11/29/1-more-auto-dealers-join-black-friday-fray-with-sales-incentives.html

2015 Arizona International Auto Show: Over 500 of hottest cars, 2015 models on ... - ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)

PHOENIX - Arizona International Auto Show is a paid advertiser of ABC15

More than 500 of the hottest cars are driving into the Phoenix Convention Center this week for the 2015-model Arizona International Auto Show.

Car enthusiasts will be able to see the latest in luxury, sports, comfort and electric vehicles. Plus, models like the Honda CR-V, Acura TLX, Audi S3, 2015 Ford Mustang, 2015 Ford F150 and the Lexus NX will be making their big debut.

At least 100 vehicles will be available for road tests, including the Chrysler 200 and 300, Dodge Challenger, Dart and Fiat 500. Also available is the Ford Mustang, F150, Kia K900 and Soul, and Lincoln MKC and Navigator, among others.

Each attendee will receive a free year subscription to Motor Trend magazine.

November 30 is family day. Kids six and under will be able to get into the auto show for free. Spider-Man will make a visit from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and Captain America will make a visit between 2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

HOURS & ADMISSION:

Thursday, Nov. 27: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 28: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 30: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Adults: $11
Seniors/Military/Children (7-12): $7
Children (6 & younger): FREE

Visit AutoShowPhoenix.com for more information.

Arizona International Auto Show is a paid advertiser of ABC15

Source : http://www.abc15.com/entertainment/events/2015-arizona-international-auto-show-over-500-of-hottest-cars-2015-models-on-display-in-arizona

Friday, November 28, 2014

Mazda Assembler Berjaya Auto Jumps on Higher Dividend Plan - Bloomberg

Berjaya Auto Bhd. (BAUTO), the distributor and assembler for Mazda Motor Corp. (7261) vehicles in Malaysia, plans to raise dividends this year and double sales within three years with new models. The stock rose the most in two weeks.

The company, which has about 229 million ringgit ($68 million) of cash, will pay higher dividends tied to the quarter ended October, Francis Lee, a director at Berjaya Auto, said in an interview yesterday. Sales will be bolstered by four main models, with the Mazda 2 to be offered in January, he said.

Berjaya Auto plans to introduce newer models as it seeks to more than double its share of Malaysia's market for foreign car brands in three years to as much as 7 percent, he said. The stock has rallied 103 percent in 2014, outperforming rivals Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd. and DRB-Hicom Bhd., which have tumbled at least 33 percent.

"This quarter we will pay something more," Lee said in Kuala Lumpur. "We are only touching the surface" he said, referring to the company's sales potential in Malaysia.

Berjaya Auto jumped 4.7 percent at the close, while the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index fell 0.7 percent. Tan Chong, the assembler of vehicles for Nissan Motor Co., lost 3.2 percent.

"My first quarter I paid 2 sen per share," Lee said. "Going forward, I will be paying a quarterly dividend and this is unheard of for motor companies to pay a quarterly dividend."

Yen Beneficiary

The company is also benefiting from the weaker yen as the cost of its imported cars and parts drop, which will widen profit margins, Lee said.

"Berjaya Auto is the main beneficiary of the weaker yen compared to other players," he said. For every 10 sen the ringgit appreciates against the yen, an additional 4 million ringgit to 5 million ringgit will flow into the company's profit, he said. The ringgit has strengthened 6.4 percent versus the yen in the past three months.

The shares are valued at 11.1 times 12-month projected earnings, compared with 15.9 for the benchmark KLCI, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The company is estimated to post a 62 percent surge for its fiscal year ending April 2015, according to five analysts in a Bloomberg survey.

"The company is our top pick in the auto sector," Alexander Chia, head of the RHB Research Institute, said by phone. "Berjaya Auto has a strong pipeline of new products."

Berjaya Corp., the controlling shareholder of the company, sold 60 million shares to investors on Nov. 25, cutting its stake to 36.7 percent. Lee, who owns 660,000 shares, said the sale will provide more liquidity to the stock.

The company plans to acquire a 20 percent stake in a vehicle assembly plant owned by Inokom Corp. Sdn. for 30 million ringgit ($8.96 million) in the next "few weeks", Lee said.

The plant assembles vehicles for companies including Berjaya Auto's 30-percent associate unit, Mazda Malaysia Sdn. The company is also considering building a new paintshop with Japan's Mazda and Sime Darby Bhd., Lee said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Choong En Han in Kuala Lumpur at echoong6@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Michael Patterson at mpatterson10@bloomberg.net Chan Tien Hin

Source : http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-27/mazda-assembler-berjaya-auto-jumps-on-higher-dividend-plan-3-.html

Quick Play: Grand Theft Auto V [w/video] - Autoblog (blog)

We've spilled a lot of virtual ink in our coverage of . Rockstar Games' 2013 blockbuster was arguably one of that year's very best titles, delivering a unique version of automotive mayhem, along with all the other things – guns, sex, drugs, murder, thievery and biting satire – that the series has been praised and criticized for.

We originally reviewed it shortly after its September 2013 release and walked away hugely impressed, heaping praise on the game as a whole, while also reserving many positive words for the automotive experience, with the car selection, physics and customization options ranking highly in our original review.

Now, here we are in 2014 and with Black Friday bearing down on us. Rockstar has made a very clever play. With a year of next-gen console sales in the books, the studio has released a heavily updated version of its blockbuster title for the Xbox One and Playstation 4, leading folks like you! r author to shell out another $59.99 for the privilege of terrorizing San Andreas in the glory of next-gen. Considering how well it was received last year, we figured we'd take a second look and see if the original's goodness translated to our trusty Xbox One.

One of our biggest points of praise on the X360/PS3 version focused on the car selection. It was, to put it simply, huge. Every body type you can imagine was represented, as well as work vehicles like semis, garbage trucks, bulldozers, concrete haulers and more. They were complemented by a slew of motorcycles, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, boats and jet skis. In other words, there really was something for everyone.
The next-gen updates add to the already impressive roster of vehicles by including everything from the standard game's downloadable content packs. There are a few next-gen exclusives, including boats, planes, motorcycles and cars. Many of them, though, were rather difficult to come by, although this could be attributed to the sheer number of vehicles on the roads of San Andreas.
The car collection was remarkable when this game first showed up last year, but it isn't the thing we'll be raving about in this Quick Play. That honor will be reserved for the graphics. GTAV's updated looks dramatically change the atmosphere and character of the game. The cars are crisper and far better defined relative to the Xbox 360. You can really notice body details, particularly in first-person mode, while the more accurate lighting and shadowing give the cars a more life-like appearance. Driving down a street, you'll see reflections of other cars and buildings in your vehicle's paint. Walk past a car parked in the sun, and light plays across it in a very realistic manner, catching bits of chrome here and there. It all looks remarkable, especially if you've been playing GTAV on a last-gen system.
The more powerful next-gen consoles also have a powerful effect on the vistas of San Andreas and Los Santos. Obviously, you'll get the most breathtaking views by pilfering one of the game's helicopters or aircraft and flying around (we strongly recommend this, if you want to see what your next-gen system can really do), but even from the seat of a car, the game's surroundings are seriously impressive.
It all runs beautifully, too. Unlike other next-gen titles (cough, cough Assassin's Creed Unity cough, cough), the framerate remained consistently smooth throughout our testing. The sole incident of our Xbox One stumbling came while flying a fighter jet, through the city at extremely low altitude. Aside from that singular instance, though, GTAV runs as smoothly on the next-gen as it does on older systems.
The biggest addition to GTA for next-gen consoles is the new first-person mode. Not only do you get a criminal's-eye view of your felonies as you commit them, but it opens up an entirely new world while behind the wheel of the game's many vehicles and aircraft. See the video below for a few minutes' worth of mayhem in the new mode.
Interiors are fully rendered on every vehicle, and just like in third-person mode, you have full control of the camera, which can be panned around about 270 degrees. Honestly, racing games like and could take a lesson from GTA, as the camera is slower to pan, and in turn, more controllable. Driving in first-person in Forza and looking to the left or right, the camera almost snaps to a predetermined point. GTA, though, doesn't hem its players in like that. You can fix on an angle, and the camera will only self-center once you start accelerating. It's pretty much exactly how we'd like every racing game's interior view to be handled.
The real highlight of first-person view, though, comes on the game's motorcycles. The sensation of flying through traffic, at speed, is exhilarating. Hit a car, which is almost inevitable, and the camera tumbles end over end. It's all hugely entertaining. Moreover, there's a sense of detail in Rockstar's handling of first-person mode. If you're on a bike, your avatar will put on a helmet, with the visor impacting your overall view. Fit your character with a pair of sunglasses, and it filters your view accordingly. Our main quibble focused on driving at night. We wish we could lift the visor or remove the sunglasses, as it gets so dark we were regularly forced to switch back to third-person mode.

Grand Theft Auto V is far from the only last-gen game to get a next-gen re-release. Crystal Dynamics' phenomenal reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise comes to mind (it's a must-play if you dig third-person adventure), as does the Playstation-exclusive The Last of Us. But where the differences in the last-gen and next-gen version of Tomb Raider were notable, they weren't game changing. The effect in GTA is far more revolutionary. Spending another $59.99 on a game that's been out for a year (and which you may have already bought) is an understandably hard pill to swallow. Rest assured then, that with GTAV, the price is wholly worth it.

Related GalleryGrand Theft Auto V: Xbox One Quick Play

Image Credit: Rockstar Games

Category: Toys/Games, Autoblog Black

Tags: featured, grand theft auto, grand theft auto v, gta, gta v, playstation 4, video games, xbox one

Source : http://www.autoblog.com/2014/11/27/grand-theft-auto-v-review-video/

Thursday, November 27, 2014

South Korea's Auto Importers Call for Easing of Rules on Small Cars - Wall Street Journal (blog)

: A woman walks past a Kia Morning compact vehicle in a showroom in Seoul.; Bloomberg News

South Korea's auto sector is an area where foreign companies often complain about non-tariff barriers. In the latest grievance, importers of foreign brands say the government's rules on small cars are too restrictive for them to compete with local ones.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles earlier this year gave up its plan to introduce the Fiat 500, a popular city car with a 0.9-liter engine, because the car was 4 centimeters larger in width than Korean standards to be recognized as a small car, meaning it can't get tax breaks given to compact cars.

"Some European city cars are selling well globally but aren't available in Korea partly because of different standards. The government needs to ease rules on small cars so that consumers can have a greater choice in that segment," said Yoon Dae-sung, executive managing director at the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association.

More In Economy & Business

According to Seoul's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, a car must have an engine size of smaller than 1,000 cubic centimeters and the body of the car must measure less than 3.6 meters in length, 1.6 meters in width and 2 meters in height to be classified as a small car.

Small cars are popular among drivers who are conscious of fuel economy and pricing because such compact automobiles are subject to various tax incentives such as no registration fees and 50% cuts in highway toll and charges of public parking lots.

Only three domestic car models–the Morning and the Ray of Kia Motors Corp. and the Chevrolet Spark of General Motors Korea–are classified as small cars in Korea. Separately, GM's Damas van and Labo truck models are regarded as small commercial vehicles, subject to the same tax benefits as the three passenger-car models.

Amy Jackson, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, recently said that Korea occasionally tries to insist on unique standards that are "overly restrictive" when compared with global norms. For example, Korea once proposed a monetary penalty "way higher than any other countries in the world" on sales of cars with large engines before backing down.

Seoul's transport ministry said Thursday it was considering changing rules on small cars.

"We know there are complaints by foreign-car importers on this issue. We have commissioned a study on the classification of car sizes to a research firm. We'll decide if we'll ease rules after we get the outcome next year," said a ministry official.

An official at Peugeot South Korea said the company may consider importing compact models such as the Peugeot 108 and the Citroen C1 into Korea if rules are eased.

More In Kia Motors

After a plethora of free-trade agreements with other countries in the past few years, Seoul reached a preliminary free-trade deal with Beijing earlier this month, which negotiators described as marking a high level of market access.

But both sides agreed to maintain import tariffs on autos amid concerns about a possible influx of increasingly popular European and Japanese brands made in China and shipped to the Korean market.

Korean auto makers are rapidly losing ground to imported foreign brands such as BMW AG and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz, which have gained appeal among Korean consumers.

Foreign car makers have more than doubled their sales over the past five years and currently account for a record 15% of the local market, up sharply from 2% just a decade ago.

Park Hae-ho, a spokesman for GM Korea, said his company isn't worried about a possible easing of regulations because its cars are priced competitively.

"The Fiat 500 sells at double the price of the Chevrolet Spark. That means a lot for consumers," said Mr. Park.

Asked if an eased rule on small cars would have an impact on sales, Kia officials declined to comment.

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Also popular on Korea Real Time now:

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For the latest news and analysis, follow @WSJAsia

Source : http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2014/11/27/south-koreas-auto-importers-call-for-easing-of-rules-on-small-cars/

Eat some turkey, see new cars at auto show - Orlando Sentinel

Is there anything more Thanksgiving than the combination of pumpkin pie and the latest car models hitting a showroom floor?

The annual Central Florida International Auto Show opens at the Orange County Convention Center at noon today and will run through Sunday.

"It's really become kind of a nice different tradition," show spokeswoman Shelbi Okumura said.

More than 500 new models will be on display by 22 different car manufacturers, including Cadillac, Kia and Nissan.

Something new this year is the return of Audi and Mercedes-Benz to the showroom floor, Okumura said. Both manufacturers have been noticeably absent the last few years, she said.

For a second year in a row, Camp Jeep will be offered at the show, giving attendees the chance to experience Jeep's on and off-road capabilities with the Jeep Test Track. There are two other test lots for attendees to test drive other new 2015 models.

Okumura said Camp Jeep debuted at last year's show and is returning because it was so popular.

"It's almost like a ride at Disneyland," she said. "It gives the auto show that extra sort of interactive component."

Okumura said a car show opening on Thanksgiving isn't as outlandish as it sounds. Two other shows, one in Phoenix and another in Las Vegas, also open on the holiday.

"We get really good crowds on Thanksgiving day," she said, adding the show offers a nice alternative to shopping on the holiday. Show officials, including show producers Motor Trend Auto Shows, do not give crowd estimates, but Okumura said thousands of people will attend the show this weekend.

Sunday is Family Day, complete with face painting, balloons and zoo animals. Children 12 and younger get in free with a paying adult.

cdineen@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5414

If you go

•Where: Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, Orlando

•When: Today noon-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

•Prices: $10 adults; $5 seniors, $5 students younger than 21 with student ID, $3 children 7-12; children under 7 free Thursday-Saturday; 12 and younger are free Sunday.

Source : http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-central-florida-car-show-20141126-story.html

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Rockstar Reveals Custom Grand Theft Auto 5 PlayStation 4 and Xbox One ... - IGN

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Two lucky winners will get their hands on the "super limited-edition" consoles.

By Rachel Haas

Rockstar Games has unveiled two custom Grand Theft Auto V designs for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

To celebrate the launch of GTA V on the next-gen consoles, the studio is offering the limited-edition PS4 and Xbox One as the grand prizes in two separate giveaways.

"Both of these individually hand-fabricated consoles features an exclusive black-on-black Grand Theft Auto V design, laser etched on micro perforated metal paneling with hi-gloss deep green painted accents and a custom color-matched controller," according to Rockstar's website.

The company will also be giving away 20 runners-up Deluxe Prize packs of new GTA V gear and collectibles. The items featured in the prize will eventually be available for purchase over at the Rockstar Warehouse, but sadly, the consoles are only available through the giveaways.

Rockstar revealed a GTA V skinned PS4 in September, featuring the Rockstar and GTA V logos on a yellow, black, and white console.

Grand Theft Auto V hit the Xbox One and PS4 on November 18. A PC version is slated to arrive in January. Head over to IGN's GTA V page for more news and updates.

Rachel is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @haasrachel.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/11/26/rockstar-reveals-custom-grand-theft-auto-5-playstation-4-and-xbox-one-consoles

JD Power-LMC forecast US November auto sales up one percent - Reuters

The price and fuel economy is shown on the window of a new Ford F150 pick-up truck at on car lot in Carlsbad, California November 5, 2014.

Credit: Reuters/Mike Blake

(Reuters) - U.S. auto sales will rise 1 percent to 1.26 million vehicles in November, the highest for the month since 2001, according to a forecast jointly developed by J.D. Power and LMC Automotive.

LMC Automotive on Tuesday also forecast full-year 2014 U.S. auto sales at 16.4 million vehicles, up about 5 percent from 2013.

LMC Automotive also sees 2015 U.S. auto sales at 16.8 million vehicles, which would be 61 percent higher than 2009, when U.S. auto sales hit their lowest rate since World War Two, adjusted for population.

In November, retail transaction prices are forecast at $30,874, breaking a record set last month. U.S. consumers will spend an estimated $33.3 billion on new vehicles in November, J.D. Power said.

Car-shopping websites and industry analysts Edmunds.com and TrueCar Inc also made U.S. November auto sales forecasts this week. Edmunds on Monday forecast an annualized selling rate for November of 16.7 million vehicles, and TrueCar on Tuesday forecast an annualized selling rate for November of 17 million v! ehicles.

TrueCar said sales would be 4.1 percent higher than last November and Edmunds forecast a 1.3 percent rise.

Chrysler Group LLC, a unit of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, will show sales up 15 percent according to Edmunds and up 20 percent according to TrueCar.

Edmunds said Nissan Motor Co sales will drop 8.5 percent but TrueCar showed Nissan down only 0.5 percent.

TrueCar shows General Motors co sales up 6 percent but Edmunds forecast them up only 0.6 percent.

(This story corrects last paragraph to show lower forecast for General Motors is Edmunds)

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Chizu Nomiyama)

Source : http://www.reuters.com/article! /2014/11/25/us-autos-sales-jdpowerlmc-idUSKCN0J922020141125

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

These Images From 'Grand Theft Auto 5' Are So Vivid, They Look Like Real Life - Business Insider

GTA 5 NorthernScript/Twitter

"Grand Theft Auto 5" came out in 2013, but this month, the remastered version was released for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

The new release features a first-person point of view, which some people might find disturbing.

But others are finding tranquility and beauty not in the violent aspects, but in everything that's around them. Someone even made a documentary-like video using the game's imagery and a little artistic license, according to Polygon.

Using the hashtag #GTAPhotographers, players are sharing the pictures they're taking in the game on social media. And some of the results are stunning.

"Grand Theft Auto 5" isn't all violence, all the time.

Wendy_Rich_UK/Twitter

In addition to robbing and stealing cars ...

TheOneManLegend/Twitter

... some people are finding side activities they can do.

Velema_S/Twitter

Like taking in-game snapshots of some of the beautiful views of the fictional city of Los Santos.

ArsenicThreat/Twitter

The graphics are unbelievably detailed.

AriozaOfDeath/Twitter

"Grand Theft Auto 5" looked beautiful before, but Rockstar took a long time to improve each and every detail in the game.

AriozaOfDeath/Twitter

Thanks to the awesome graphics power found in current-gen consoles, the images have never looked this stunning.

NorthernScript/Twitter

Or this real.

LambentBunny/Twitter

Some people leave Los Santos and head to the country to take pictures like this.

OhSoGamer/Twitter

And this.

GTAsnapmatic/Twitter

But views of the city are always magnificent.

thismathew/Twitter

Even grittier views like this one.

flaming_nic/Twitter

"Grand Theft Auto" isn't the only awesome game out there ...

Ricardo Alguacil/Flickr

Source : http://www.businessinsider.com/grand-theft-auto-5-amazing-images-2014-11

We're in an auto bubble: Here's how to play it - Yahoo Finance (blog)

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Uber is reportedly facilitating subprime auto loans to its drivers. According to a report by tech blog Valleywag, the car share company is hooking up drivers with loans through Santander Consumer USA that can be paid off through Uber paychecks. The company is specifically marketing these loans to drivers with bad credit saying, "Even if you have bad credit or no credit at all, we can help you get behind the wheel in a week." Uber contends that these loans are low-risk, but others think that this is indicative of a larger auto-loan bubble in the U.S.

Brad Lamensdorf, portfolio manager at Ranger Alternative Management, tells Yahoo Finance that we're absolutely in another bubble. He points to low quality loan exposure and artificially high auto sales because of easy credit. Auto loan balances have reached a new record of $900 billion, exceeding the previous 2005-2006 balance by 10%-- deep subprime loans in general have increased 13% alone in Q2 2014.

[Get the Latest Market Data and News with the Yahoo Finance App]

Lamensdorf already sees the first signs of deterioration in the market, as delinquencies and repossessions are on the rise. Experian has reported that repossessions by finance companies have doubled to 2.75% in Q2 from 1.13% last year. According to TransUnion the rate of auto loans that are more than 60 days late has risen to 0.95% from 0.87%. There are currently $6.0 billion in 30-day delinquent loans, up from $4.6 billion in Q2 2013.

So how can you play this trend?

"We feel like the auto industry through very aggressive financing and in very different ways [has] pulled through a lot of revenue that normally would not have gotten pulled through if the standards weren't so easy," says Lamensdorf. But, "going forward it's going to be a lot more difficult for these companies to do business in the auto industry…it's going to be harder to sell and create new auto loans."

Lamensdorf points to Santander (SC), one of his company's largest shorts as an example. "They just came out with a very poor quarter and they're loaded up with this kind of stuff. They're the epitome of what's occurred this year-- they have been moving up the lower quality ladder and eventually they're going to have to write it off or the government is going to come in and slow the growth down."

Auto sales have been a bright spot for the economy, but if Lamensdorf's thesis plays out, he expects sales to decline sharply. "For example, General Motors (GM) is $10 off its high yet the S&P is hitting all-time highs," he says.

Source : http://finance.yahoo.com/news/we-are-in-an-auto-bubble--here-s-how-to-play-it-202211448.html

The 10 Coolest Cars at the LA Auto Show - Wired

Top tech cars of the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show - ExtremeTech

Jeff Conrad with the 2016 Honda HR-V Crossover at 2014 Los Angel

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The annual Los Angeles Auto Show continues to dazzle with new car intros and concept cars. As well it should. LA is the car culture capital of the US and the world, more so that Detroit (heresy to live-in-the-past Michiganders), clearly more so that taxi-driven New York City, home to the two biggest US shows. More automakers have their US headquarters in California, there are more design studios and electronics R&D labs in California, and America's most innovative car company is in California: Tesla.

This was a typical year for LA: plenty of green cars with the BMW i3 wining the Green Car Journal car of the year award, fascinating concept cars, and at least one solid trend. In this case the trend it was the rush of new (Honda, Mazda) and refreshed (Nissan) subcompact SUVs in the low and midprice range.

LA's one drawback is a modest convention hall split into two segments. Here's our take on the best cars and SUVs of the 2014 LA auto show, which is completing press days and opening for a week-and-a-half run for the public at the LA Convention Center through Thanksgiving Sunday.

Honda HR-V mini SUV

For urbanites who want a car to own, not a Lyft, Honda made an SUV out of the hatchback Honda Fit, our Editors' Choice for subcompact cars. The 2016 Honda HR-V (main photo) is 169 inches long (4300 mm), nine inches longer than the Fit, the same as the boxy Honda Element (RIP 2011), and 11 inches shorter than the best-selling Honda CR-V hatchback.

Honda pulled from the Fit, CR-V and Civic parts bins for technology: The LaneWatch right side camera that Honda uses for blind spot detection is on all three. All three offer continuously variable transmissions. The Display Audio LCD in the center stack looks more Fit than CR-V or Civic but either way the buttons are small. The four-cylinder engine, here generating 138 hp, is based on a Civic engine. The look is more Fit than CR-V; the name suggests a variant on the CR-V packaging. Honda at LA did not mention the high tech Touring package of the CR-V that incorporates adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist.

The HR-V should be a good fit for Millennials and other urban dwellers dealing with tight parking spaces when returning from Ikea. Boomers living outside the urban core who are downsizing cars may be looking for some of the tech features of their existing midsize or large cars. For them, the CR-V may be as small as they'll go if they want serious tech. That or they'll look to the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA at $30,000 and up. The closest existing competitor to the CR-V may be the Nissan Juke but it's a relatively small seller, about 35,000 units this year, vs. 50,000 Fits and more than 300,000 CR-Vs. Others in the category include the Chevrolet Trax, Jeep Renegade, and just-announced Mazda CX-3 (below).

Like the Fit, the HR-V has the Magic Seat feature, meaning they fold low and flat by pull a nylon release tab. That's possible because the gas tank is under the front not rear seat. The HR-V goes on sale in spring 2015 as a 2016 model.

Toyota Mirai fuel-cell car also powers your home

The coolest tech car of LA is the Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell, a midsize car with a 300-mile range using highly compressed hydrogen, Toyota says. It goes on sale in a year in California. The Golden State has the greatest density of hydrogen refueling stations (not many, as opposed to virtually none in the rest of the country). But the numbers are increasing, and Toyota hopes to follow on with sales in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

The fuel cell generates electricity (and water vapor), so Toyota is pitching the Mirai as an emergency generator for the house during a power failure. Toyota talked about a week or two of energy for an American house running at partial load. (Beware using comparisons based on Japanese homes, which use about half the electricity American houses do.)

The price is $58,000, but thanks to the tax breaks for early adopters, incentives may cut the price to $45,000. One $8,000 tax credit is due to expire at the end of 2014, however. (Japan is offering incentives to the homeland market, too, as much as 30%.) There's also a $499 lease that includes free hydrogen. Toyota says there might be as many as 3,000 Mirais on the roads by 2017.

Don't be surprised to see initial inventory going to influencers in Hollywood, politics and the media, since they'll be happiest to talk up the need for more investment in hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Currently, the California Fuel Cell Partnership shows nine stations open, one for every four million people.

Toyota says it's taking the long view with fuel cells — a decade or two just as it did with the Prius hybrid, which was initially dismissed as a feel-good for granola-eaters, propped up by tax credits and HOV-lane passes at its 1997 rollout. Last year it sold 250,000 units in the US and was among the top 20 models for sales. Worldwide, Toyota has sold 3.5 million Priuses.

Next page: Audi, Ford, and SUVs

Source : http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/194676-top-tech-cars-of-the-2014-los-angeles-auto-show

Monday, November 24, 2014

Fan Documentary Teaches About the Wildlife in Grand Theft Auto 5 - IGN

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Nature, y'all.

By Cassidee Moser

A new fan-made documentary shows off some of the wonders to be found in the waters of Los Santos.

Compiled entirely out of footage captured in Grand Theft Auto V's first and third-person mode, the documentary is a tongue-in-cheek creation meant to be a spoof of traditional nature documentaries. And yes, the creators know it's not completely factually accurate.

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"Some people have been saying it's not totally accurate - of course it isn't," creator 8-Bit Bastards said on their YouTube page. "We're not professional wildlife researchers, we're idiots who play computer games."

Grand Theft Auto V is the most recent installment in Rockstar Games' long-running open-world crime franchise Grand Theft Auto. Originally released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2013, it was recently re-released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with a handful of new features, including a first-person mode.

To learn more about Grand Theft Auto V, check out IGN's official review.

Cassidee is a freelance writer for various outlets around the web. You can chat with her about all things geeky on Twitter.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/11/24/fan-documentary-teaches-about-the-wildlife-in-grand-theft-auto-5

The 10 Coolest Cars at the LA Auto Show - Wired

Gallery: The fuel cell vehicles of the LA Auto Show - Ars Technica

LOS ANGELES—The commercially-viable hydrogen fuel cell vehicle has long been the white whale for automakers. Using hydrogen as a fuel means a car could produce nothing but electricity and water. Hydrogen fuel cells also offer greater energy density than battery-powered cars, and they can be refilled faster than their battery-only brethren. But (there's always a but), fuel-cell vehicles lack supporting infrastructure; there are only nine hydrogen-filling stations in the state of California currently. Plus, hydrogen generally requires pressure or extremely cold temperatures to store it.

But a handful of automakers think they've figured the engineering out. Toyota is on the cutting edge with its Mirai mid-sized sedan, which will go on sale in the US in late 2015 (and sooner in Japan). Honda, Audi, Hyundai, and Volkswagen also all showed off a hydrogen concept car or announced plans for real production vehicles in the coming year or two.

And while hybrid gas/electric vehicles are becoming passé with hydrogen as the new darling, there are still some interesting all-electric and natural gas-powered cars out there. The LA Auto Show provided the perfect opportunity to see them all on the show floor.

Megan Geuss

Toyota claims its Mirai can travel up to 300 miles on a tank of hydrogen, which can be refueled in five minutes. The Mirai can reach 60 mph in 9 seconds.

Megan Geuss

Toyota claims its Mirai can travel up to 300 miles on a tank of hydrogen, which can be refueled in five minutes. The Mirai can reach 60 mph in 9 seconds.
Megan Geuss

The Mirai will go on sale in California next fall. California currently has nine hydrogen refueling stations (most of them in Los Angeles), but the state has set aside $200 million to build up to 100 more stations by 2020.
Megan Geuss

A look at the Mirai from the behind and in blue.
Megan Geuss

The Mirai stores hydrogen in two carbon fiber fuel tanks near the rear wheels of the car. A shutoff valve isolates the tanks if there's an emergency. The fuel cell stack where the hydrogen and oxygen create electricity and water waste is found in the floor of the car towards the front.
Megan Geuss

A hydrogen refueling pump. It was much heavier than a regular gasoline pump.
Megan Geuss

Although Toyota started bringing this concept "car" to auto shows over a year ago, it's still fun to look at. The Toyota FV2 is meant to be all-electric and has no steering wheel and no brake. Instead, you steer and stop the pod by shifting your weight in the seat.
Megan Geuss

Another not-quite-new vehicle from Toyota is the i-Drive, a three-wheeler that's all-electric and lets you lean into curves as if you were riding a motorcycle.
Megan Geuss

Audi revealed its A7 H-tron Quattro concept car on Wednesday. The car will run on hydrogen fuel and will also draw from a lithium battery to bring the car to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds.
Megan Geuss

Like many fuel cell vehicles, the A7 H-tron relies on a platinum-catalyzed cell stack. Ars wrote about the challenges of designing a good catalyst back in 2012.
Megan Geuss

Audi reportedly drove members of the press around in an H-tron, but it didn't have anything to say about production or launch dates.
Megan Geuss

A view of the H-tron from the front.
Megan Geuss

Nissan's shark-like BladeGlider has also appeared on show floors for at least a year, but as a zero-emission vehicle it's certainly eye-catching. The BladeGlider is battery-powered, rather than hydrogen-powered.
Megan Geuss

Earlier this year there were some far-fetched rumors that Nissan would bring the BladeGlider to dealerships, but that dream has remained elusive.
Megan Geuss

Hyundai's 2015 Tuscon Fuel Cell is unique in that customers in the right locations can lease one today.
Megan Geuss

Hyundai had a model of its fuel cell stack on display.
Honda

One car we did not get to see was Honda's Fuel Cell Vehicle (or FCV). Although the car has been in production for some time, Honda delayed its release but promised that it would be ready for the Detroit Auto Show floor in early 2015.
Volkswagen also introduced its Golf SportWagen HyMotion at the LA Auto Show this week. As the name implies, the body of the car will look like its Golf siblings. At VW's press conference the company noted that it would be launching the HyMotion "as soon as the conditions are right." So don't hold your breath.
Megan Geuss

Better late than never—Kia showed off its 2015 Soul EV this week, the automaker's first all-electric car.
Megan Geuss

Another view of the electric Soul. A Kia spokesman told Ars that the car is primarily for urban commuting, and it has a range of 93 miles.
Megan Geuss

Kias can always be charged at a dealership, or customers can use their free Kia "ChargeUp" cards to get DC electricity into their cards for free at select locations.

Listing image by Megan Geuss

Source : http://arstechnica.com/cars/2014/11/gallery-the-fuel-cell-vehicles-of-the-la-auto-show/

Lexus, Audi, Infiniti concept cars wow LA Auto Show - USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES -- At auto shows, there are the cars that people will actually end up driving and the cars meant to give a keyhole-view into the future. Sometimes, the latter are so beautiful they can take your breath away.

The public is now getting a look at three of these gleaming motoring beauties at the Los Angeles Auto Show. One is a coupe, one is a sedan and one is a convertible. All come in shiny metallic-flecked paint, as if to underscore they are the belles of the ball.

Here are the three:

Lexus LF-C2 concept. In true dream-car fashion, the designers of this beautiful convertible didn't exactly envision this car as road ready: As far as we can tell, it has no provision for a top. But that problem aside, the four-seater is meant to transmit a desire by Toyota's luxury brand to become more inventive, perhaps even daring, in its design.

Audi Prologue concept. At first, we thought the front end of this dream car looked too much like a Ford Fusion or Aston Martin. But once the crowds cleared, we could see that taken a whole, it's a drop-dead gorgeous view of where Audi intends to take its styling. The innovation goes inside the car as well, where touch-activated screens and surfaces replace many of the knobs and buttons. Perhaps best of all, this coupe can be driven. One copy was going to be plying the streets of Beverly Hills this weekend whilQe its twin sits on its perch at the auto show.

Infiniti Q80 Inspiration concept. Every detail of this car was treated like a work of art. Like the Audi, it's long and low with a sleek, swept-back roof. The cabin is made more inviting by the rear-hinged "suicide doors" that open it up completely. This one is a hybrid, with the batteries getting a boost from a 3-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine.

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Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/11/22/three-concept-cars/19400867/

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Your Ridiculously Awesome LA Auto Show Wallpapers Are Here - Jalopnik

Your Ridiculously Awesome LA Auto Show Wallpapers Are Here

Earlier this week I visited the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show with the specific objective of taking pictures of cars until my camera's shutter exploded. Out of the thousands of shots that we took, here are some that desperately need to be on your desktop.

We've covered nearly every aspect of the LA Auto Show, from the high-end concept cars, to the mid-cycle redesigns of familiar econoboxes, to the batshit insane. Here are a few choice images of some of the best cars we saw at the show, in my humble opinion: