Auto Shows

SHANGHAI -- Not long ago, a black stretch version of the Audi A6 was the unofficial ride of choice for Chinese government bureaucrats.
Even today, rows of the cars are visible outside Shanghai's municipal training school, where the officials receive instruction and attend meetings.
Last year, China's government directed its officials to buy domestic limos rather than foreign sedans, such as those from Audi, Mercedes-Benz or BMW.

NEW YORK -- The sound system perched over the Chevrolet stand at the auto show here last week roared so loudly with music, mixed in with the sounds of revving engines and screeching tires, that earplugs were handed out to the hundreds of onlookers gathered for Chevy's press conference. It was General Motors' way of sending a message: Chevy's performance division is on a roll. And GM plans an advertising campaign to spread the word. Last year, Camaro sales topped Ford Mustang sales for the third straight year. GM says Chevy

TOKYO -- Subaru will gradually adopt the angular face of the Viziv concept crossover shown at the Geneva auto show across its lineup, the brand's global design chief says.
Subaru's current front end, dominated by a hexagonal grille and wraparound headlights, is too tame, global design chief Osamu Namba says. Going forward, models will take their styling cues from the Viziv.
The concept's front has aggressively incised bracket-shaped headlights that fuse with

CHICAGO -- The Kia Cross GT concept shows what a Kia seven-seater might look like. And it offers a glimpse of the brand's new design direction. Peter Schreyer, Kia Motors Corp. president and chief design officer, says the Cross GT is the next step in Kia's ambitions to move upscale. He said the concept is the next logical step for his "simplicity of the straight line" design language. For instance, the concept's grille is integrated smoothly into the headlights. "You might see that on other products too," he said. Schreyer is

DETROIT -- Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has issued a written apology to an Italian-American anti-bias organization for saying at the Detroit auto show that an Alfa Romeo needed a "wop" engine.
Marchionne, an Italian-born Canadian citizen, issued the apology this month to the Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition for his comments in January, which he explained had been delivered "in jest." He acknowledged his remarks were unacceptable and apologized to anyone who may have been offended.

In a calamitous bit of coincidental timing, three major auto shows are scheduled at the same time this November. The Tokyo, Los Angeles and Guangzhou, China, shows all have media days of Nov. 21 and 22. It's a quandary for automakers. When splashy vehicle unveilings routinely cost $1 million a pop, picking a show for a big introduction is no small decision. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association has pledged to fix the overlap in 2015, when Tokyo holds its next show. But for now, JAMA executive Toyokazu Ishida makes no

In a calamitous bit of coincidental timing, three major auto shows are scheduled at the same time this November. The Tokyo, Los Angeles and Guangzhou, China, shows all have media days of Nov. 21 and 22. It's a quandary for automakers. When splashy vehicle unveilings routinely cost $1 million a pop, picking a show for a big introduction is no small decision. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association has pledged to fix the overlap in 2015, when Tokyo holds its next show. But for now, JAMA executive Toyokazu Ishida makes no

RENNES, France -- Peugeot hopes more upscale features and an innovative design will help its 308 hatchback gain market share against the segment leader Volkswagen Golf in the saturated European compact market.
Peugeot says the 308 is the latest model that reflects the brand's ambitions to move upmarket by offering innovative driving features for roughly the same price as its predecessor.
Peugeot says it has packed the 308 with extra features that the current

LOS ANGELES -- Lexus Division will show its redesigned 2013 IS sedan at the Detroit auto show in January.
The IS sedan shares a platform and 3.5-liter V-6 engine with the longer GS sedan, but it also has its own entry-level 2.5-liter V-6. When the GS was redesigned this year, much of its platform and powertrain were carried over. The main changes involved design and technical refinements, such as increasing body rigidity. Expect similar changes for the IS, and the addition of a more tightly