Honda to Build Fit Hatch, Sedan and Crossover Models at New Mexican Plant

It’s no secret that Honda plans to introduce the new generation of the Fit (sold as the Jazz in Europe) sub-compact next year and by 2015, two more variants based on the same underpinnings, including a small sedan and a crossover model, which we believe to be based on the Urban SUV Concept that was announced earlier today in advance of its Detroit Motor Show debut. Read more »

Mexican Presidential Guard Motorcyclist Overlooks Speed Bump and Goes Flying Into the Air

Seems we spoke a few days too soon when we said that Laurent Cochet, a.k.a. Lolo, a French journalist with the Moto Journal magazine, made the biggest motorcycle fail of the year when he hit a metal post with his Yamaha FJR 1300 and fell face first into a boat.

We now have a new and much stronger candidate for that award, and he comes to us from Mexico. An unnamed police motorcyclist was travelling in front a presidential motorcade in Mexico City when he overlooked the speed bump on the road. Huge mistake…

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Mazda to Build a Toyota-Branded Sub-Compact Based on the Mazda2 in Mexico for North America

Toyota is preparing a new sub-compact model for the U.S., Canada and Mexico that will be based on the Mazda2, with manufacturing to take place at Mazda’s plant in Mexico. The factory is currently under construction and is scheduled to become operational within the fiscal year ending March 2014.

The two companies made the announcement today stating that the as-of-yet, unnamed model will begin production around the summer of 2015 at a pace of 50,000 units per year and will be sold through Toyota dealerships in North America.

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VW Favoring Mexico Plant for North American Golf Mk7, Expected to go on Sale at the End of 2014

One of the reasons why Volkswagen hasn't officially mentioned anything about the North American availability of the new, seventh generation Golf that was presented at the Paris Motor Show last week, is because it hasn't reached a final decision on where it will produce the compact hatchback for the local market.

Nevertheless, that may change soon as VW CEO Martin Winterkorn told German magazine Automobilwoche, a sister publication of Autonews, that the company is leaning towards its factory in Puebla, Mexico, for the North American production of the new Golf. The same plant also builds the Jetta saloon.

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Mercedes and Renault-Nissan to Develop New 4-Cylinder Turbo Engine, Share Auto Transmission

On the sidelines of the ongoing 2012 Paris Auto Show, partners Daimler, owner of the Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands, and the Renault-Nissan Alliance, confirmed plans to collaborate on two more powertrain projects, including a petrol engine and an automatic transmission.

The first project is a jointly developed 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine family. The direct-injection petrol unit is said to deliver significant improvement in fuel economy as well as low emissions.

The two automakers will jointly manufacture the new engines that will debut in Daimler, Renault and Nissan vehicles in 2016.

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Renault Releases Updated 2013 Fluence in Mexico, European Model to Follow

The Renault brand has lifted the covers off the facelifted version of the Fluence compact sedan in Mexico, a move that suggests the French carmaker may introduce the European model as early as this week's Paris Motor Show. Read more »

Audi Selects Location for New Mexican Plant, will Build Next Q5 SUV from 2016

Following a decision to erect its first North American, automotive assembly plant in Mexico earlier this year, and after looking at and evaluating a dozen or so locations in the country, Audi announced today that it has chosen San José Chiapa, in the State of Puebla in Central Mexico as the site for its factory. Read more »