TTAC News Round-up: Chevy Hot to Sell You a Sedan, Volvo's V90 Peek and Cheap Gas

Aaron Cole
by Aaron Cole

“What do I gotta do to get you to drive out of here in a brand-new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu today?”

That, Ford and Google are moving to the country, Hyundai halts in China and Volvo’s wagon spied in some guy’s garage … after the break!

Chevrolet needs to move these sedans, folks

Automotive News reported that under a new deal between Chevrolet and its dealers, selling more Cruze, Malibu and Silverado models would net higher bonuses from the manufacturer.

The proposed contract would also include a minor penalty for dealers that sell cars with unfinished open recall repair work.

But basically, just get out of the way of all these Equinoxes that are coming in.

Ford, Google deal includes North Carolina robot car ranch

According to The Detroit Bureau ( via Yahoo Autos), the pending partnership between Ford and Google could include a 1,000-acre proving ground in North Carolina where robot cars can run free — the way God intended them to be.

The campus in North Carolina would be roughly 10 times larger than the University of Michigan facility that Ford uses, and could be used for testing and research for the companies, who are allegedly beginning a joint venture to build cars.

The report also details some in-car technology that the partnership could provide, such as geo-targeted advertisements and ad serving (OnStar does that) for drivers.

China weighs heavy on Hyundai, Kia

So far, 2016 hasn’t been a banner year for the Chinese economy ( and ours) but the Wall Street Journal reports that Hyundai and Kia are bracing for another difficult year after the automaker missed its annual target for 2015.

On Monday, the South Korean automaker predicted a meager 1.6-percent increase in 2016, well below the double-digit gains posted only five years ago.

The automaker reported that the slowdown in China, flip-flopping currency values and increased competition was affecting its bottom line.

Volvo V90 breaks cover a little early

AutoGuide has some nifty shots of the wagon based on Volvo’s fancy sedan and, for the most part, it looks like we thought it would.

The wagon will make its bow at the Geneva Auto Show this March, but the better news is that it’ll definitely make its way to the States.

Wagons ho!

Gas is cheap, getting cheaper

According to AAA, gas was cheaper in 2015 than it had been since 2009, and will continue its slide for 2016.

The organization said that, on average, gas was cheaper by about $1 in 2015 than it was the previous year, and most gas stations in the U.S. are hovering around $2 per gallon for the cheap stuff.

AAA estimates that the average price per gallon for 2016 will be between $2.25 and $2.40, lower than the 2015 average of $2.40.

Aaron Cole
Aaron Cole

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  • Moparmann Moparmann on Jan 04, 2016

    So, if the new Malibu is "all that, and a bag of chips" what purpose does the Impala serve? :-)

    • See 3 previous
    • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Jan 04, 2016

      @Hummer I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest they are both overpriced.

  • Hummer Hummer on Jan 05, 2016

    What happened to the subscribe feature?

    • See 2 previous
    • Corey Lewis Corey Lewis on Jan 05, 2016

      @Hummer That is correct.

  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
  • JTiberius1701 Middle of April here in NE Ohio. And that can still be shaky. Also on my Fiesta ST, I use Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires for the winter and Bridgestone Potenza for my summer tires. No issues at all.
  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
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