Archive for the ‘2011’ Category

Direct injection, once the domain of luxury and high-performance models only, will soon be available on a humble Hyundai. The South Korean automaker has unveiled its new 2.4-liter Theta II GDI (gasoline direct injection) that will debut in the 2011 Sonata early next year.

With a compression ratio of 11.3:1, the 2.4-liter Theta II GDI delivers a peak output of 198 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque--enough to justify Hyundai’s decision to drop the V-6 option on the new Sonata.

Direct injection technology works by spraying fuel directly into the combustion chamber at pressures of more than 2,000 psi. This results in a more...

Kia’s first US-built vehicle, a 2011 Sorento SUV, has rolled off the production line at the automaker’s newly built plant in Georgia. The all-white SUV is the first of an expected 300,000 vehicles to be built at the plant annually, and is set to go on sale in January.

As for the actual plant, Kia states that it employs more than 2,500 workers directly, with on-site and nearby suppliers creating another 7,500 additional jobs in the area. The site also represents an investment of more than $1 billion by Kia.

Built on 2,200 acres, the complex includes a body stamping facility, a transmission shop where the Sorento’s six-speed...

General Motors first revealed the production version of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt in September of 2008 and ever since the original unveiling the car has appeared in the same silver exterior with an emerald hue. This will be the color of the first batch of production Volts but GM still needs a new and exciting name for it.

Late last month GM launched an online contest that asked for color name suggestions, with three finalists to be flown to Los Angeles this December to compete for a final chance to be among the first to test-drive a pre-production Volt.

Out of 13,000 entries, those three finalists have now been picked, with GM selecting...