RAV4: More Value

For some other brand’s vehicles, an “Edition S” sometimes means a sportier model, for example the 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S (with a more powerful engine than the standard AMG GT). However this is not the case for the “just-announced” Toyota RAV4 Edition S, in the European Market.

According to Toyota, the RAV4 Edition S means it’s more value oriented: it includes more options with a discounted price. For example the below features are standard:

– All-wheel-drive
– Roof rail
– 2-zone automatic AC
– Smart key system (keyless entry, engine start/stop)
– Toyota Touch2 infotainment system with 6.1-in LCD screen

The Edition S version can be optioned with the 2...

Lexus LC500 & LC500h Trademarked

It looks like Lexus higher-ups  were working hard during the Thanksgiving holiday season. Why You ask? Because they registered both the “LC500” and “LC500h” trademark in multiple countries on November 24th and 25th. Let’s take a look at the details below:

US (11/24) – serial number: 86462781 (for LC500) and 86462851 (for LC500h)
Canada (11/24) – application number: 1704062 (for LC500) and 1704063 (for LC500h)
Australia (11/25) – TM number: 1660392 (for LC500) and 1660396 (for LC500h)

From Concept to Production

The LC500/500h is actually the production version of the 2012 LF-LC con...

US Auto Sales: Key Factors

For an automobile consumer, the key factors that affect the decision to purchase a new vehicle is:

1. How easy he/she can get access to the funding (auto loan)
2. How old is his/her current car
3. How good is the new car model

The below chart is sourced from WSJ.

For factor #1, it looks like financial institutions have lowered the bar for approving car loans. According to the credit-monitoring firm Experian, now 20.4% of all auto loans are sub-prime loans, which is granted to borrowers in the lowest credit score range. Banks are even providing longer term loans. Get this, the average long term loan now reaches 5.5 years...

C450 AMG Sport

Last week, Mercedes-Benz announced its plan to debut two new AMG Sport models in next month’s North American International Auto Show, in Detroit. You heard right, not one but TWO.

The two new AMG Sport vehicles we are talking about are the C450 AMG Sport and also the GLE 450 AMG Sport (the GLE class is similar to the BMW X6). Check out the image below of the 2016 Mercedes-AMG C63S. The exterior of the C450 AMG Sport will also share some similar styling, including the quad exhaust tips.

More Information Leaked

The C450 AMG Sport will utilize the same twin-turbo 3...

What happened to Spyker

One of the saddest things a company can say in a press release is probably to announce that they are going bankrupt. This should be exactly the case for Spyker today, as the Dutch auto maker filed a petition for financial restructuring (something similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US), and was approved by the district court of Midden-Nederland in Lelystad, the Netherlands.

Most people know the name of Spyker from its move of taking over Saab from GM back in 2010. But it looks like running a business to build production passenger car requires a lot of capital, and expertise, which Spyker still needs improvements...