GM offers employee pricing to owners of recalled vehicles

Owners affected by the General Motors ignition switch recall are getting even an better incentive to return to its brands for their next new car. The automaker says that these drivers can now get employee pricing on its models. Previously, GM was only offering them a $500 discount if they bought a new 2013 to 2015 vehicle.

According to GM spokesperson Jim Cain speaking to Autoblog, the company has been offering the incentive to affected owners for about a month. But it purposefully isn't advertising it or disclosing volumes. "We want to give dealers as many tools as they need to satisfy customers," he said. Buyers get employee pricing on 2013 to 2015 models, which is a certain percentage below dealer invoice, and it replaces the previous $500 offer. It will be available throughout the duration of the recall.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the original $500 enticement wasn't enough to bring buyers back to showrooms. Many of the roughly 2.6 million affected vehicles are on their second or third owners, and they might not be able to afford a new car.

GM's recall campaign for the ignition switches began in April. Cain said the effort is going as planned. Delphi is running multiple shifts for replacement parts and may add a second or third production line. The company expects to have a majority of vehicles repaired by October. In the meantime, affected drivers can take advantage of free loaners while their car is serviced.
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Official: Porsche 918 Spyder officially priced from $845K, Weissach package $84K more

Porsche has released official pricing for its entire lineup of 2013 models, which just happens to include the upcoming 918 Spyder hybrid supercar. The 795-horsepower advanced-technology-lab-on-wheels is now officially confirmed to have a starting price of $845,000 in the US, which is the exact amount we were told earlier when we had the opportunity to ride shotgun in some 918 Spyder pre-production test vehicles.

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Coda Sedan Available for $24,995 in California

The Coda Sedan EV usually retails for $38,145, without any intervention from the federal and state governments, yet according to greencarreports.com, Coda Silicon Valley were reportedly offering the all-electric sedan at more than $14,000 off! The company itself is clearly not doing too well, after being forced to fire a significant part of their staff - twice.

The car was available for exactly $24,995, which is a steal for a fully-featured sedan, which also happens to run solely on electricity. However, this massive discount does illustrate the fact that Coda dealers may be having a somewhat difficult time selling the Sedan, but since the manufacturer has yet to release any sales data, it`s hard to tell. However, the offer lasted until last week, and it was available courtesy of Coda Silicon Valley, from Santa Clara, California.

Furthermore, the car`s popularity was undoubtedly dented by the poor two-star safety rating, given by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA, for the car`s frontal crash test.

The Coda Sedan, a car which is shipped in bits over from China, and assembled on US soil, still has to prove itself and gain some popularity - it is the kind of car which needs a 'cult following' of devoted owners, who will not only help Coda by sending in their feedback on how to improve the car, but also nudge the company along by buying their cars, and keeping the cash-flow positive.

Still, with seating for five, an 88-mile single-charge range, the Coda Sedan is still a viable choice for those looking for an EV of any sort.

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BMW Launches M3 Pure Coupe in Australia - $30,000 Cheaper

Despite the fact that the current BMW M3 is approaching the end of its lifecycle, and will be replaced by an all-new turbocharged car, based on the current 3-Series, the Bavarian automaker has decided to launch a special edition of the current car, in Australia.

Called Pure Coupe, the Australia-only special edition starts at 125,000 AUD, which is 30,000 AUD cheaper than the standard M3. How have they achieved this? Well, by removing many non-essential performance features, such as the fancy audio system, the sunroof, the adaptive headlights, heated front seats and the power-folding electric mirrors.

Still, the car gets a leather and cloth combination for the upholstery, while the Novillo leather, usually found on the M3 seats is now limited to just the headrests. Also, despite the fact that it has had some features taken out, it is still well-equipped, with bi-xenon headlights, sat-nab, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, parking sensors and the all-important carbon finer roof.

Scott Croaker, Product Communications Manager at BMW Australia says: "Some of the features that don't relate to performance and dynamics have been dropped to achieve that price point [ . . . ] But certainly, when you look at the make-up of the spec that's been dropped from standard specification, it still doesn't equate to 30 grand. It's a slightly refined list, but overall it's just an incredibly sharp pricing package."

They are also offering discounts on the various 'packs' available for the M3. For instance, the Competition Package will cost 1,800 AUD (600 AUD savings), the Dynamic Damper Control now costs 2,700 AUD (700 AUD).

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2014 Subaru Forester priced from $21,995*

Subaru has officially announced that its all-new 2014 Forester will carry a base MSRP of $21,995 when it hits dealerships early this year, (*not including $895 in destination fees). This represents an increase of $700 over the outgoing 2013 model.

That new price will net buyers the base 2.5i model equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. Subaru will also sell the 2.5i engine in Premium, Limited and Touring trims, though the automaker has not released specific price points for those models. These models are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. Subaru says that with its standard all-wheel drive, the Forester 2.5i will be good for fuel economy numbers of 24/32 miles per gallon (city/highway) when equipped with the company's continuously variable transmission. Manual models see those numbers drop to 22/29 mpg.

The more powerful Forester 2.0XT will only be offered in Premium and Touring trims, starting at $27,995 (not including destination). These models are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four, sending 250 hp and 258 lb-ft to all four wheels. Fuel economy doesn't suffer terribly with this more powerful engine, as only the CVT is offered. Subaru quotes figures of 23/28 mpg here.

Upmarket Forester models are available with the company's new Eyesight driver assistance system and Starlink infotainment technology. Other new features available for the 2014 Forester include Hill Descent Control on CVT-equipped models, a rearview camera, power liftgate, navigation with smartphone integration and a 440-watt Harmon/Kardon premium audio system.

SUBARU ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR ALL-NEW 2014 FORESTER

- Pricing for the popular Subaru Forester starts at $21,995
- All-wheel drive Forester priced below competitive front-wheel drive vehicles
- 2014 Forester also available with new Subaru Eyesight and STARLINK technology

Cherry Hill, N.J., - Subaru of America, Inc. today announced pricing for the all-new 2014 Forester. The 2014 Forester 2.5i model will be available in base, Premium, Limited and top-line Touring versions. Pricing for the Forester begins at $21,995 for the base model 2.5i with a six-speed manual transmission. The turbocharged Forester 2.0XT will be offered in the Premium and Touring versions, with the Premium trim offered at $27,995. These prices all reflect MSRP before the $825 destination charge.

As with all previous Forester models, the 2014 version comes standard with Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, a distinction from competitive models that come with front-wheel drive as standard and offer all-wheel drive as an extra-cost option. The 2014 Forester will lead the segment in all-wheel drive fuel economy, with the 2.5i model achieving manufacturer's fuel economy estimates of 24 mpg city / 32 mpg highway / 27 mpg combined. Those figures also compare well with competitors that feature front-wheel drive.

The all-new 2014 Forester is available with Subaru Eyesight driver assistance system and all-new STARLINK cabin technology. High-line 2014 Forester models equipped with the CVT also feature new Hill Descent Control and a new X-Mode control feature, which provides extra control in certain driving conditions. Other new amenities and conveniences include rear vision camera, color multi-function display, power rear gate with automatic close and Keyless Access and Start. The available navigation system features smartphone integration with the driver-friendly Aha® audio application. The top-line Touring models come standard with a navigation system and 440-watt harman/kardon® audio system.

The new Subaru Forester will build on the sales success of the previous generation, which helped the Subaru brand to achieve four consecutive annual sales records. The 2014 Forester is expected to sell in even greater numbers than the outgoing model.

News Source: Subaru

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Dodge Dart GT Gets Mild Sporty Tweaks

Dodge has just announced the sportiest addition to the Dart range, yet it is nowhere near as sporty as we would have liked. Still, the GT is the model to have, if you want the sportiest Dart around. It gets sporty stiffened suspension, with frequency-sensing dampers, 18-inch rims, unique to the GT, as well as black accents on the grille and around the headlights and exhaust tips.

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Citroen DS3 Cabrio Starts at €17,790 in Germany

The soft-top version of the pretty Citroen DS3 has just received its official price tag, in Germany, where it costs from €17,790. It features a similar system to the one used on the Fiat 500C, and it is not actually a convertible, per se, as all of the pillars are still in place and the same as on the regular model.

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