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Big car manufacturers like BMW, Volkswagen, and Audi have been toying with the idea of semi-autonomous rides implementing different driving technologies. Even search engine giant Google is pouring in a big budget to perfect the technology so it should not be a surprised if the flagship brand of GM, Cadillac, will also be investing a ton to join the race.

Cadillac has a project called Super Cruise which explores the possibilities of driverless technologies and is now capable of automatic lane centering, steering, and braking given the conditions are optimal for its operations. According to Cadillac, the system might be ready and the first batch of these vehicles might be on the production line by 2015.

Super Cruise allows the driver to enjoy the ride and improve driving performance. The goal of the Cadillac advanced technologies is to provide a very intuitive experience for the end user.

Cadillac’s Super Cruise makes use of information coming in from the GPS map, cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and a bunch of radars. Everything is designed to work well together in order to make life easier for the driver while in the freeway or in traffic.

Some of the core technologies available for the Super Cruise is already available in some production models of the Cadillac like the new XTS and ATS sedans as part of the Driver Assist Package which comes as an option for buyers.

General Motors though recognizes the limitations of the semi-autonomous driving technology as it relies on factors like the weather and the visibility of the lines on the road. An example of such limitations will be evident when there is fog which will require the driver to take over the steering wheel.

The top priority of the driverless or semi-autonomous technology is safety. There might come a time when the advanced systems of these vehicles can help eliminate possibilities of a crash even before the driver recognizes of the hazardous situation. With all these in place, it will be good enough to trust the decisions your vehicle will do.

The Laramie Limited 2012 Ram 1500 that surely catches the eyes of opulent pickup truck consumers will be officially unwrapped during the auto show in Chicago this February.

The tag price for this special edition Ram 1500 which is set to go on sale by the second quarter of this year has not been announced yet. Pricing though is expected to kick off at roughly $45,000. The current flag carrier of the line up, the Laramie Longhorn Ram 1500 goes for $44,120 inclusive of a destination fee of $995.

The Laramie Limited will be rolled out as 3500, 2500, and 1500 HD with versions that have, single rear wheel or dual rear wheel; mega cab and crew cab version; and 4-wheel drive and 2-wheel drive; long- and short- wheelbase variants.

The top of the line Laramie Limited gets a leather treatment for its seats, ambient lighting for the cabin, and its cluster of gauges with markings saying “Designed in Detroit”. The pickup also has a remote start, navigational radio, camera to aid backing up, adjustable pedals, heated seats and steering wheel.

The brand is expecting to attract a good amount interest with the release of the Laramie Limited in addition to their other luxury models.

Earlier this year, Chrysler shared the information that the sales of Ram trucks jumped by 21% comparing the same period between 2011 and 2010. The vehicle manufacturer was able to deliver 212,952 trucks and 212,952 trucks for 2011 and 2010, respectively. The report did not indicate the breakdown of sales per particular unit.

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A few weeks ago, Japanese car manufacturer Toyota sealed an agreement with Bavarian brand BMW to share hybrid technologies and engines to minimize the development cost of green vehicles. Under this agreement, come 2014 BMW will be supplying Toyota with their 2.0L and 1.6L 4-cylinder engines running on diesel.

A lot of people are also wondering if Lexus, the luxury brand of Toyota, will also get the diesel engines of BMW. As we know, Lexus is a BMW competition and naturally, the Bavarian brand would not give their engines to Lexus.

This was confirmed by an executive from Toyota Europe saying that the agreement with BMW does not entail BMW engines ending in the body of Lexus vehicles. The statement was supported by a recent interview of a German business paper with the development chief of BMW where he clarified that the diesel engines from their factories will not be used for the Lexus brand.

Experts in Germany also see that it will be wise for Toyota to position the Lexus brand as a leader in innovation gearing up to have more full hybrid vehicles and plug-ins to boost its sales. From January thru November of 2011, the European sales of Lexus was pegged at 24,623 compared to BMW’s 590,453 units for the same time.

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The Chrysler Group after a review of their third quarter finances found out that they turned some earnings. The good news allowed the auto manufacturer based in Detroit to raise their profit forecast for the coming months. Chrysler which is at present majority owned by Italian company Fiat, had a 3Q income of $212 million which is a big leap to the $84 million loss for the same period back in 2010.

The profits that came in during the third quarter is consistent with the projection of the analysts. The carmaker raised its earnings forecast to $600 million for 2011 instead of the max of $500 million projected earlier. This year will be the first full year earnings since their bankruptcy declaration bacik in 2009.

The positive results in the finances and the increased sales are both in line with the plan drawn back in 2009. Recently, the company and the United Autoworkers, signed a four year pact to ensure the growth of the company, and make sure to reward the workers who helped revive the brand.

Throughout this year, Chrysler has been outpacing the automotive industry in the United States when you look at the sales primarily attributed to their revamped range of vehicles. Vehicles like the Grand Cherokee by Jeep and the Chrysler 300 and Chrysler 200 spearheaded the good comeback of Chrysler. The sales of the brand were up by as much as 23.1% compared to the 3rd quarter sales of 2010, and an improvement of 26.1% for the first nine months of the year. Overall, the auto industry in the U.S. improved its sales by 6% for the third quarter.

The excellent sales performance of Chrysler translates to their increase market share of the U.S. market to 11.6% or 1.9% points.

The car manufacturer also scaled back their incentives which in turn raised their transaction prices. For the quarter, Chrysler’s incentive per transaction is $2,859 which is a big decline from last year’s.

The net revenue of Chrysler for the quarter is $13.1 billion reflecting a 19% improvement looking at their 2010 numbers.

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Germany automobile company, Opel, will release an upgraded model of the 2012 Opel Insignia. This new model, along with the turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine and the standard 1.4-liter engine and new technology features, will be made more available to consumers in Europe.

The new 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol engine has replaced the old 1.8-liter engine. The new 2.0-liter turbocharged counterpart that comes with a four-wheel drive platform packs in an additional 30 horsepower and has a final HP power of 250. These engines are presently available at various markets in the US. Therefore, when the German automaker said that the 2012 Opel Insignia will be released with new engines, we assume that they are talking directly to European consumers.

Opel’s brand new 1.4-liter Turbo ecoFLEX engine accelerates the car at 0-100km/h in 10.9 seconds with a top speed of 205km/h. The fuel efficiency figures are at 5.9lt/100km with CO2 emission figures at 134g/km. On the other hand, the 2.0-liter turbo engine has 250 HP and four-wheel drive platform that accelerates the car from 0 to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds with a maximum speed of 250 km/h and CO2 emission figures of 209g/km.

The 2012 Opel Insignia packs new infotainment systems—the Navi 600 and Navi 900 Europa—plus a revamped front camera with the Following Distance Indication feature, snazzy leather trims, and a beautiful “Luxor” finish. This updated version of the 2012 Opel Insignia is expected to make its debut during the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Toyota is gearing to roll out a small car in 2013 specifically for markets in China according to a recent report.

The new small vehicle will be a bit bigger than the budget car Etios which is marketed in India. The city car will have a 1.5L engine running on gasoline under its hood. Initial reports suggest that the new Toyota will have a starting price of around $12,853 or about a million yen.

The car manufacturer wants to keep its cost of production as low as possible by making use of parts from Etios. It will also be pouring in around forty billion yen to have production line in China with a volume outlook of around 200,000 cars per year.

Toyota wants to get a bigger chunk of the booming automotive market in China and wants to get a share of as much as 5% of the automobile market in China. Part of the plan is to launch the new car and strengthen its joint ventures with Guangzhou Automobile Group and China FAW Group.

Toyota is also planning to increase the production of Etios in India by more than doubling its production. They aim to make around 190,000 units come 2013. The company also plans to roll out another budget car in their market in Brazil by next year following a production forecast of around 70,000 units per year. They have the same plan of releasing a low cost model in Indonesia.

German automobile giant, Audi AG, has finally released the official concept design of the A5 DTM concept race car which will make its debut during the International Frankfurt Motor Show this year. The A5 DTM race car has been called the R17 internally and is set to replace the A4 DTM four-door model, the one that has earned Audi its four Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters titles.

While the German automaker was hush-hush about the A5 DTM race car concept design’s specifics, the brand, however, confirmed that the A5 DTM race car will be unveiled with a heavy duty carbon-fiber monocoque. It will also have a steel roll cage, which, that the automaker confirmed, has passed the latest regulations on automobile safety. Furthermore, the front and rear crash absorbers requirements have been upgraded as well. The sidewalls of the A5 DTM race car boasts of a hybrid concept that combines Rohacell, carbon, and Zylon for increased side impact protection by almost four times.

Under the hood, the A5 DTM race car will roll out with a V-8 Engine with 460 horsepower or 340 kW of power. The A5 DTM will have a six-speed transmission.

The production of the initial prototype of the A5 DTM race car or R17 has been reported to be in full throttle in Audi Sport in Ingolstadt, Germany. While we have seen the outstanding rendering of the A5 DTM concept race car, we just have to wait for this year’s International Frankfurt Motor Show for its full unveiling.

In celebration of the 60^th anniversary of Toyota’s Land Crusier line, there will be two special edition models fashioned after the Land Cruiser V8 and its average five-door model as announced by the Japanese car company’s European arm. The two special edition Land Cruisers would be rolling into the showrooms with a smashing set of 18-inch alloy wheels, genuine leather seats, upgraded audio system, and a badge to represent the line’s 60^th anniversary celebration.

In terms of under the hood performance, the standard D-4D 3.0-liter diesel engine has been given a horsepower raise for up to 188bhp. That’s an additional 11 hp from the standard one. Also, it now has additional 10 Nm of torque and now functions with 420 Nm and still it retains its original figures in terms of fuel-efficiency. To make the power plant pass the stricy Euro 5 regulations, a diesel particulate filter can be added.

The price for the 60^th Anniversary Land Cruiser Edition starts at £49,950 with its V8 counterpart carrying a £61,950 price tag. Both special edition models are out in the European market today.

Oh and let’s not forget that the three-door Land Cruiser is also available on the market once more and comes with manual gearbox and a LC3 level. Standard specs like Vehicle Stability Control, climate control, Bluetooth, fog lamps, a set of 17-inch alloy wheels and a 6-speaker audio are include in the model with a price tag of £30,395. We still don’t know if the 3-door Land Cruiser is part of Toyota’s celebration but one thing’s for sure, a lot of LC fans have waited long for it.

McLaren announced this week the pricing for the MP4-12C in the United States will start at $229,000 exclusive of the $,2400 delivery fee. The McLaren MP4-12C is expected to hit US dealerships this summer.

Surely, the MP4-12C is not coming in cheap but the announced retail price is on the low side of the first estimated sticker price starting at $225,000 through $250,000. The McLaren MP4-12C is also slightly priced higher than the 458 Italia of Ferrari which starts at $225,325.

The McLaren MP4-12C has a twin turbo V8 3.8L engine that gives out 592 horsepower with a torque of 442 lb.-ft. This powerful engine is paired with a double clutch gearbox that helps the car get from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 3.8 seconds. The top speed can get over 300 km/h.

This McLaren also comes very light at 2,900 lbs due primarily to the monocell chassis made from carbon-fiber. This achievement in the design and materials used for the car makes its tag price reasonable.

The 12C is the first offering in a range of sports cars being rolled out by McLaren that will be sold through their 35 dealers across the globe. Ten of these dealers are based in North America specifically in Chicago, Beverly Hills, Dallas, San Francisco, Greenwich, Tampa Bay, Miami, Newport Beach, Philadelphia, and Toronto.

The MP4-12C will also come with some options to personalize the ride including 17 pain finishes that will be formally confirmed during the launch. There will also be 14 trims for the interior and performance upgrades ranging from the brakes, exhaust, and wheels.

According to the White House, American automaker Ford Motor Company has received a loan of $250 million (£158 million) from the U.S. Export-Import Bank.  The $3.1 billion in the entire loan amount will enable Ford to sell the 200,000 units of US-manufactured Ford vehicles in Canada and Mexico and double the company’s exports towards the next five years.

This is good news of all the U.S. manufacturers despite of what industry they are in.  The low interest loans of the U.S. Export-Import Bank can help them drive export deals upward.  During half of the fiscal year 2010 the U.S. Export-Import Bank has already loaned out around $17.4 billion.

The announcement of Ford’s loan took place when President Barack Obama visited Ford’s plant in Chicago, Illinois where the famed 2010 Ford Explorer is set to be assembled in the later part of the year.  The Ford Plant in Chicago is also set to give employment to almost 1,200 people. The automaker has been able to retool their assembly plant using the $5.9 billion in low interest loans that the U.S. Department of Energy granted to them.  The president aims to increase the manufacturing jobs in the United States by doubling their exports in the next five years.

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