Kia Groundbreaking Today in Georgia

After long delays that arose from the house arrest of its chairman, Kia Motors will hold its groundbreaking on Friday in West Point, Ga., at a site close to the border with Alabama and a short drive from sister company Hyundai's plant in Montgomery. The Kia plant, for which no new products have yet been named, is a $1.2 billion venture that was announced last year. In May, Kia said it would indefinitely delay the groundbreaking for the plant due to the house arrest of Hyundai chairman Chung Mong-Koo for political bribes. With Chung out of jail, the plant and a Hyundai factory in the Czech Republic are once again moving forward. The Kia plant had been expected to open in 2009, with a capacity of 300,000 vehicles a year and a workforce of 2500.

Kia's next Sorento, spied by TCC

Acadia Pricing from GMC: $29,990 And Up

GMC's new crossover vehicle, the Acadia, will wear a base pricetag of $29,990 when it goes on sale later in the year, GM announced on Thursday. Base front-drive models include a 275-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 engine and a six-speed automatic, rated at 18/26 mpg; stability control and curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes; and OnStar service for a year including the company's new navigation offering; and an AM/FM/CD/MP3 player. GM's new five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty applies to the Acadia and its crossover siblings, the coming Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook.

GMC details the new Acadia

'06 Touareg Diesel On Sale Now

Diesel rules for the U.S. are changing - and that's led Volkswagen to the unusual step of importing a string of Touareg diesels for U.S. sale as 2006 models long after the start of the 2006 model year. The new Touareg diesels meet 2006 emissions rules with particulate filters; VW still is working on solutions so that its diesels will meet the more stringent 2007 emissions rules taking effect next year. VW had held off on offering the Touareg V-10 diesel until it could guarantee the availability of low-sulfur fuel, which arrived at pumps nationwide on Sunday. The Touareg diesel boasts 310 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, and a long list of standard equipment to go with its $67,750 price tag, including a six-disc CD changer, navigation system, quad-zone climate control, and side-curtain airbags.

VW's diesels take a year off - read more

Volvo Sports Up XC90 V8

A new V8 Sport edition of the Volvo XC90 sport-ute is headed to showrooms, the Swedish Ford brand announced on Thursday. Volvo says the company's responding to owner requests for a sporting model by outfitting the XC90 V8 model with a dynamic sport chassis, stiffer anti-roll bars, firmer shock absorbers, and a sport steering system, along with 19-inch wheels. The seven-seater will be offered in Passion Red or Electric Silver paint, blue interior lighting, and an optional Dynaudio sound system. It's priced from $49,995 with destination included.

Nissan Recalling Murano, Maxima

The Nissan Murano and Maxima will be recalled for a potential defect in its ignition system, the Associated Press reports. The worldwide recall of 132,000 vehicles includes about 70,000 Murano crossovers and 10,00 Maxima sedans. In affected vehicles, the ignition assemblies could have connections that result in no starting or starting when the ignition is not keyed. The repairs will be completed for free at Nissan dealerships.

London Taxi Gets New Suit

It's the same but different. A new version of the world-famous London taxi cab has been unveiled but you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference.

Badged the TX4, it replaces the TX2 that was launched in 2002. Both ends of the vehicle have been restyled but the biggest change is under the skin, where a new 2.5-liter turbodiesel engine has been fitted to meet Euro IV emissions regulations. Anti-lock brakes and a coil spring suspension are part of the package for the first time, plus new in-car entertainment options, improved air conditioning and a better driver/passenger intercom.

The upgrade has taken three years and cost $9.3 million. Prices start at $50,000. The London taxi is one of the most recognizable cars in the world, and a handful are known to have crossed the Atlantic and have picked up fares in America. Built by LTI of Coventry, U.K., the basic style of the vehicle has changed little since the first purpose-built cab, the FX4, was launched in 1959. More than 100,000 units have been sold since then. -Richard Yarrow

  

From TCConfidential 

BP, Pope Have a VW Moment Together

The Holy Father gets some new wheels - but no dubs!

R.I.P. Ford Taurus, 1986-2006

The Taurus rolls into history. So why aren't we crying?

He Saw Dead People, Now He Sees the Judge

Acting prodigy Haley Joel Osment cops plea to drunk mailbox mowing. Diff'rent strokes, anyone?

FROM THE SOURCE headlines from the latest press releases

North American International Auto Show 2007 Charity Preview Tickets On Sale

Name	Symbol	Last	Change
Autobytel, Inc.	ABTL	3.26	+0.01 (+0.31%)
Autoliv Inc.	ALV	57.53	+0.37 (+0.65%)
AutoNation Inc.	AN	20.74	+0.04 (+0.19%)
ArvinMeritor Inc.	ARM	15.57	+0.29 (+1.90%)
American Axle & Mfr. Holdings Inc.	AXL	19.06	+0.53 (+2.86%)
Ballard Power Systems Inc.	BLDP	5.92	+0.01 (+0.17%)
BorgWarner Inc.	BWA	59.80	+0.56 (+0.95%)
Cummins Inc.	CMI	137.29	-0.54 (-0.39%)
DaimlerChrysler AG (ADR)	DCX	52.31	+0.96 (+1.87%)
Dura Automotive Systems	DRRA	0.24	+0.01 (+4.35%)
Eaton Corporation	ETN	73.46	-0.31 (-0.42%)
Ford Motor Company	F	8.03	-0.02 (-0.25%)
General Motors Corporation	GM	33.04	+0.62 (+1.91%)
Gentex Corporation	GNTX	14.24	-0.16 (-1.11%)
Goodyear Tire & Rubber	GT	14.45	+0.14 (+0.98%)
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR)	HMC	34.28	+0.03 (+0.09%)
Johnson Controls Inc.	JCI	83.67	+0.29 (+0.35%)
Lear Corporation	LEA	28.69	+0.85 (+3.05%)
Magna International Inc.	MGA	74.48	+0.84 (+1.14%)
Motorola Inc.	MOT	23.46	-0.18 (-0.76%)
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR)	NSANY	22.78	-0.10 (-0.44%)
Sonic Automotive Inc.	SAH	24.17	+0.26 (+1.09%)
Siemens AG	SI	87.62	+1.81 (+2.11%)
Sirius Satellite Radio	SIRI	3.80	-0.10 (-2.56%)
Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR)	TM	114.81	+0.66 (+0.58%)
TRW Automotive Holdings	TRW	25.42	+0.07 (+0.28%)
Tower Automotive Inc.	TWRAQ.PK	0.06	-0.00 (-1.64%)
United Auto Group Inc.	UAG	23.41	-0.08 (-0.34%)
Visteon Corporation	VC	7.97	+0.12 (+1.53%)
XM Satellite Radio Hold.	XMSR	11.36	-0.34 (-2.91%)