New Hyundai Santa Fe goes butch with Andy Torbet

Hyundai has roped in extreme adventurer and TV presenter Andy Torbet as a Hyundai Brand Ambassador to demonstrate the rugged side of the new Santa Fe. In fact, Hyundai has gone about as far from fluffy stuff as it can by getting extreme adventurer, and sometime TV presenter, Andy Torbet on board as a brand ambassador for Hyundai, and throwing him a new Santa Fe to tackle his rugged adventures. Andy is busy writing a book about extreme adventures in the UK and is travelling round the country to the UK’s most remote spots, so Hyundai found this a great opportunity to get him in the new Santa Fe as he tackles stuff like rock climbing and exploring flooded mines (and not doubt lots of other butchness too).

Chrysler, VW lead February sales gains

U.S. auto sales led by Chrysler Group surged 16 percent in February, giving the industry its strongest showing in four years in a fresh sign that the recovery is gaining more traction. Total light vehicle sales rose to 1.15 million units as the seasonally adjusted sales annual rate hit 15.1 million.

Changan Raeton

Changan is predominantly active in the small car market, but the mid-sizes Raeton is aimed at entering the official and private vehicle markets, measuring in at a length of 4,920mm, a width of 1,825mm, while the car stands at 1,500mm tall riding on a wheelbase of 2,800mm. The development was based on the automaker's CD1-platform and was completed in its Turin-based European Design Centre, under the direction of Luciano D'Ambrosio and Chen Zheng. As early as the 2009 Shanghai auto show, Changan unveiled its CD101 concept car in attempt to explore the future design of the mid-size sedan.