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Leftlane News: Review: Yokohama dB Super E-spec

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:00:21 -0500

Number of comments: 14
Every so often innovation in the automotive industry arrives in the oddest of ways – in this case, it came from discarded orange peels. Yokohama can now lay claim to starting a new trend – orange is the new green. Leftlane was recently extended an invitation to experience [...]

AutoblogGreen: Ricardo and Qinetiq announce reduced-cost lithium-ion battery

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:57:00 -0500

Filed under: EV/Plug-in

Ricardo and Qinetiq announced a new technology to produce cheaper lithium-ion batteries this week. Called Red Lion, the key to their claimed achievement is a new chemistry inside the cells. Instead of using cobalt cells, Red Lion batteries use iron sulphide which have [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: GERMANY: VW Group sales up 19.1% in November; tough year ahead

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:36:00 -0500

The Volkswagen Group reported its strongest growth in global vehicles deliveries so far this year in November - an increase of 19.1% to 531,300 from the 446,000 vehicles it delivered in November 20008. This takes the group's sales for the first 11 months of the years to 5.85m, an increase [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: JAPAN: Minister sees Suzuki-VW benefits

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:32:00 -0500

Japanese industry minister Masayuki Naoshima on Friday said the just announced tie-up between Suzuki Motor and Volkswagen would be beneficial to the auto industry in Japan. [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: SOUTH KOREA: Court postpones Ssangyong fate decision

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:29:00 -0500

A court decision on the future of debt-burdened SUV specialist Ssangyong Motor was on Friday delayed until 17 December after a revised rescue package failed to win approval from creditors. The court will decide on whether to approve the plan or liquidate Ssangyong. [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: China to offer higher subsidy for car trade-in

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:23:00 -0500

Shanghai, December 11 (Gasgoo.com) The Chinese government will offer higher subsidies to car owners who trade in their old vehicles for new clean models, CCTV.com reported today. [...]

Leftlane News: GM CEO: Automaker could repay government loans early

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:13:17 -0500

Number of comments: 35
General Motors has said that it will begin making quarterly payments on the loans it took from the United States Treasury later this month, and now the automaker’s acting CEO, Ed Whitacre, says the company may pay the balance of its loans earlier than next June. “We’ve thought about it. We’ll [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: GERMANY: Mercedes sees 60% China growth

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:11:00 -0500

Mercedes-Benz sales in China are expected to grow over 60% year-on-year in China with demand for the flagship E-class and S-Class limousines expected to be a key driver of future sales. [...]

The Truth About Cars: Review: Porsche 997 Turbo By TPC

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:52:16 -0500

Number of comments: 8
The fastest car I have ever driven is, without a doubt, the Switzer P800 variant of Porsche’s 911 GT2, as reviewed here. The folks at TPC have a roughly similar tuning package that retains the Porsche variable-geometry turbochargers, claimed to produce 775 horsepower and rather amusingly called the “775 Blitzkrieg”. [...]

Wheels: Harley-Davidson Recalling 111,000 Motorcycles

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:45:04 -0500

Harley-Davidson discovered in its own crash-testing that fuel tanks on three models could leak in an accident. Other recalls this week involve Subaru, Isuzu and Honda. [...]

The Truth About Cars: Oh Tannenbaum: The Crash Test

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:12:47 -0500

Number of comments: 9
From our “Gosh, the Germans take things so seriously” file, comes this video from Germany’s ADAC auto club in which a crash test facility is used to determine the best way of securing a Christmas tree to your car. Sachlich! [...]

Autoblog: 1964 Shelby Cobra 427 prototype to be auctioned by RM in January

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:59:00 -0500

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Auctions

1964 Shelby Cobra 427 Prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery
January is just a short few weeks away, and along with the Detroit Auto Show, that means classic car auctions to us automotive types. The [...]

The Truth About Cars: California Cities Skirt Law With Administrative Speeding Tickets

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:18:58 -0500

Number of comments: 6
A number of local jurisdictions in California have quietly turned to administrative citations for speeding tickets as a means of circumventing state law. The legislature had set down a very specific set of procedures for issuing and adjudicating traffic violations, including a split of the revenue for each ticket between [...]

Leftlane News: Toyota boosts RAV4 production, now running overtime at all NA plants

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:55:38 -0500

Number of comments: 26
Toyota has announced it will increase production at its Woodstock, Ontario crossover plant. The production boost at the Woodstock plant means Toyota is now running overtime at all of its North American plants. The Woodstock factory produces the Toyota RAV4. Toyota made the decision to up the RAV4’s production at the [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: US: GM executive shake-out continues

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:01:00 -0500

The head of GM's Buick and GMC brands resigned after only nine days on the job in a continuing shake-up of the automaker's executive ranks under chairman and new chief executive Ed Whitacre. [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: NETHERLANDS/SWEDEN: Spyker still interested in Saab

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:33:00 -0500

Dutch sports car maker Spyker Cars is still interested in buying Saab from General Motors and is not aware of any deadline imposed on the process, a spokesman has said. [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: FRANCE: Renault stays in F1 for 2010 - report

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:05:00 -0500

The Renault name remain in Formula 1 motor racing next year, according to BBC Sport. But the French company's F1 team will have a new owner while Renault keeps a 25% stake, said the broadcaster on Friday, quoting unnamed sources. [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: AUSTRALIA: Toyota Camry Hybrid production starts

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:30:00 -0500

After the usual long build-up - anouncement of additional model, announcement of final testing, announcement of start of pre-production - Toyota Australia has finally unveiled the production Camry Hybrid, billed as the country's most fuel-efficient locally built car, at an event at its Altona manufacturing plant in Melbourne, Victoria state. [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: New incentives launched to ensure 2010 auto boom

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:31:00 -0500

Shanghai, December 11 (Gasgoo.com) The Chinese government has launched a raft of new incentives for extending this year's auto boom further into 2010 and even beyond, media reported. One of the new policies is a 7.5% tax on purchases of cars with an engine of 1.6 liters and below. [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: Volkswagen, Suzuki plan to make small car for India

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:39:00 -0500

Germany's Volkswagen and Suzuki Motor plan to develop a new small car that would cost between $4,300 and $5,400 for the Indian market, following this week's tie-up between the firms, the Economic Times reported on Friday. [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: Shanghai says no free license plate for green cars

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:21:00 -0500

Shanghai, December 11 (Gasgoo.com) This week Shanghai's economic planning body has denied earlier media reports that the city was trying to boost sales of cleaner energy cars by offering free license plates to go with these vehicles, CCTV.com said. [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: Changan Ford recalls Volvo S40 cars on pump flaw

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:57:00 -0500

Shanghai, December 11 (Gasgoo.com) Changan Ford Mazda, Ford Motor's passenger car joint venture in China, is recalling 11,112 Volvo S40 sedans because of an oil pump flaw, Dow Jones reported today, citing China's quality regulator. [...]

AutoblogGreen: Mercedes-Benz delivers hydrogen, pure electric vehicles in two-pronged strategy

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:56:00 -0500

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hydrogen, Mercedes Benz, SMART

Mercedes-Benz F-Cell and Smart Ed - Click above for high-res image gallery
If there's one under-the-radar trend that is slowly bubbling to the top of the green car space, it's the intentional blending (by some) [...]

The Truth About Cars: VW And Suzuki Planning The Nano-Swatter?

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:53:15 -0500

Number of comments: 9
Das Autohaus [sub] has it from India’s Economic Times that VW and Suzuki are planning a low-priced mini-car which could give Tata’s Nano some problems. The car is supposed to replace the Suzuki Alto, at a price of between $4350 and $5850 – twice the price of the Nano. For the [...]

Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle: Corvette Market Magazine Holding 3rd Annual Scottsdale Seminar in 2010

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:36:00 -0500

Keith Martin and his panel of Corvette experts will return to Scottsdale this January to discuss the topics essential to understanding today's collectible Corvette market. The seminar will be held Thursday, January 21 at the Barrett-Jackson Auction. [More] [...]

Jalopnik: Is Your Toilet Saying "Zuul?" [LOLCars]

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:30:00 -0500

Number of comments: 55
If you're going to operate a plumbing business, might as well have some fun with the advertising. This was spotted on the back of a Mercedes Sprinter. We're assuming the Sewage Engineering Consultant... [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: JAPAN: Toyota to boost battery JV stake - report

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:24:00 -0500

Toyota Motor plans to buy new shares in its 'PEVE' joint venture with Panasonic to provide additional funds to boost production capacity for automotive batteries, sources said on Friday. [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: US: Private equity to control Dura

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:20:00 -0500

Private equity firm Patriarch Partners is to take a controlling stake in US auto parts supplier Dura Automotive Systems by investing up to US$125m in the company, a report on Friday said. [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: CZECH REPUBLIC: Skoda to cut output in '10

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:14:00 -0500

Volkswagen unit Skoda Auto will cut production of its smaller cars starting in 2010, the Czech carmaker's union said in a weekly newsletter. [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: SWEDEN: Volvo shutting US truck plant

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:08:00 -0500

World number two truck maker Volvo said on Friday it would close its plant in Asheville, North Carolina, as it sought to scale back excess capacity in the face of the downturn. [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: US: Automakers included in government pay and perks limits

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:06:00 -0500

A US government-appointed "pay czar" on Friday extended limits on pay and perks at four bailed-out US companies - including an automaker - to a second tier of executives. [...]

Inside Line Automotive News: Toyota Confirms EFC Concept for Delhi Show

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:01:00 -0500

Japanese automaker will unveil concept of upcoming Entry Family Car for emerging markets. [...]

Jalopnik: Ten Most Optimistic Car Names Of All Time [Car Names]

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Number of comments: 121
There are laws preventing automakers from making outrageous and false promises about their vehicles — but these laws don't apply to car names. With the help of our readers we've identified the... [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: RUSSIA: AvtoVAZ gets Sberbank bridge loan

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:56:00 -0500

Avtovaz, Russia's largest car maker, has secured a RUB7bn (US$228.6m) bridge loan from state-controlled Sberbank, a company spokesman told Reuters on Friday. [...]

Inside Line Automotive News: Mercedes C-Class Production Comes to U.S.

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:52:00 -0500

Daimler's board and labor council have agreed to build the next-generation C-Class in both the U.S. and in Bremen, Germany, starting in 2014. The E- and S-Class stay in Germany, and the company promises to lay anyone off at its massive main plant in Sindelfingen before the [...]

AutoblogGreen: Tesla employees going on 2,700-mile road trip from LA to Detroit

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:51:00 -0500

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors

Tesla Roadster #750 - click above for high res image gallery
Tesla has now delivered some 900 examples of its electric Roadster, and some employees will take unit #750 on a road trip. Tesla will be back at the [...]

TCC Confidential: Spyker Poised To Be Favored Bidder For Saab

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:44:00 -0500

A small development in the ongoing saga of Saab could mean big things for hopeful bidder Spyker. GM has apparently stipulated that bidders for Saab should be interested in keeping production in Sweden. BAIC -- previously thought to have dibs on the brand -- hasn't been especially forthcoming' [...]

Inside Line Automotive News: Chinese Bidders Eye Saab's Carcass

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:41:00 -0500

Chinese media reports say Shanghai Auto, Beijing Auto and Geely are all interested in a piece of GM's moribund Swedish brand. [...]

The Truth About Cars: The GM Executive Experience

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:31:23 -0500

Number of comments: 14
Want to know what it’s like to tumble from the top of the Renaissance Center? Check it out. [...]

Jalopnik: What's The Worst Car Of The Decade? [Question Of The Day]

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:30:00 -0500

Number of comments: 387
The end of the decade only comes once every, umm... every eight years or something. To better appreciate an era of serious highs and lows we wanna know: what's the worst car of the decade? We're...' [...]

The Truth About Cars: Ed Whitacre Is Talking To Someone

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:24:01 -0500

Number of comments: 17
GM’s New Chairman and CEO, Ed Whitacre may not be talking to the press about his plans for the state-owned automaker, but he’s talking to someone. Reuters reports that Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford, has already had a chat with GM’s chairman and CEO, Ed Whitacre. Mulally didn’t disclose what [...]

Leftlane News: Dodge launches racing-spec Viper SRT10 ACR-X [Video]

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:07:33 -0500

Number of comments: 18
As if the Viper ACR wasn’t enough of a bare-bones performance machine, Dodge announced this week the launch of the special edition Viper SRT10 ACR-X. Designed to compete in the newly minted Viper Cup spec series, the ACR-X is reserved for track use only. Based on the already capable [...]

AutoblogGreen: REPORT: 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata to get SKY-G power

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:04:00 -0500

Filed under: MPG, Mazda, Lightweight

Mazda MX-5 Miata Superlight Concept -- Click above for high-res image gallery
Big changes for the Miata? As a blog that's gone on record as adoring the current iteration of Mazda's quintessential sportscar, that notion is [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: THE WEEK THAT WAS: Another seven days of GM headlines

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Hey, ho, another week in which General Motors continued to dominate the news and just-auto readers clicked avidly on each breaking headline. Top of the pops: the first of the chairman and new CEO Ed Whitacre-instigated changes to the top level of management. [...]

Straightline: Loeb, Raikkonen and Coulthard in 908 HDi at Le Mans?

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:46:39 -0500

Yes, there's a rumor that Sebastian Loeb, Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard will drive a Red Bull-sponsored Peugeot 908 HDi at Le Mans in June 2010. No confirmation of any kind but, as usual, Twitter is hopping.

Twitter, Axis [...]

The Truth About Cars: Volvo Unions Call For Geely Investigation

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:44:23 -0500

Number of comments: 12
Corresponding with news that Ford and Geely are close to closing the Volvo deal, Volvo’s unions have expressed skepticism towards Geely, even going so far as to ask that the company be investigated. An ownership company based in tax havens, a history of trademark theft, and minimal transparancy have all [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: World's fastest express train makes debut in China

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:39:00 -0500

The world's fastest express train made its debut in China on Wednesday. It runs at a speed of over 380 kilometers per hour. China now also boasts the world's longest express railway which runs for 1,000 kilometers. With an investment of more than 110 billion yuan ($16. [...]

Inside Line Automotive News: New Nissan Platform To Launch for Upcoming Global Compact Car

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:32:00 -0500

New platform will revolutionize the way compact cars are made, Nissan claims. [...]

Jalopnik: Toy Cars On Toy Tokyo Streets In Epic Stop-Motion Action Movie [Toy Cars]

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:30:00 -0500

Number of comments: 38
This stop-motion movie's plot is harder to figure out than a Michael Bay flick, but luckily the toy-car-on-toy-car action is even more epic. Who knew toy soldiers were such good drivers? We're still...' [...]

Green Car Congress: Researchers Develop Unifying Model Framework Describing the Atmospheric Evolution of Organic Aerosols; Better Insight into Climate and Air Quality

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:25:54 -0500

Number of comments: 0
Organic aerosols from different sources undergo chemical processing and mix with each other as well as with inorganic aerosols. This leads to a convergence in their chemical and optical properties and in their ability to nucleate cloud droplets. Credit: M. O. Andreae Science 326, 1493-1494 (2009) [...]

Straightline: F1 to Adopt New Point System for 2010 Season

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:23:36 -0500

With 13 teams on the grid for the 2010 Formula 1 season, the F1 Commission has proposed a new scoring system that would see the top 10 finishers awarded points, rather the top 8 as in the 2009 season. The FIA World [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: Geely and Taiwan's Yulon team up for electric cars

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:23:00 -0500

Geely Automobile Holdings said it has teamed up with Taiwan's Yulon Motor Co to produce and sell electric cars in Taiwan. [...]

TCC Confidential: China To Subsidize Green Rides For Consumers, Public Transit

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:22:00 -0500

China is in a curious position. Its auto market is very big, and it's positioned to get much, much bigger, but the Chinese government doesn't want the country's automakers to move down the traditional path of combustion-engine vehicles. Rather, it wants to grow an indigenous green vehicle industry. Some' [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: China overtakes U.S. as world's biggest auto market

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:50:00 -0500

China has overtaken the U.S. as the world's biggest market for automobiles, the first time any other country has bought more vehicles than the nation that produced Henry Ford, the Cadillac and the minivan. [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: China car policy dents HK auto stocks; outlook firm

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:43:00 -0500

Beijing's tweaking of its car purchase incentives surprised many as lacking in generosity, but analysts expect pent-up demand in smaller cities to keep the world's biggest car market growing by double digits next year. China said on Wednesday it would raise the sales tax rate on small cars to 7. [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: Toyota to unveil new compact car for India

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:33:00 -0500

Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it will unveil a concept model of its new compact car designed for the Indian market at an automobile show in New Delhi next month. [...]

Jalopnik: Gavin Green Bids Farewell To Saab [Carpocalypse]

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:30:00 -0500

Number of comments: 44
Is CAR columnist Gavin Green greatly exaggerating rumors of Saab's demise? Maybe. Maybe not. Regardless, he's written a rational eulogy for a brand that used to be quirky, but lately (other than the... [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: GM needs to decide on Saab buyer this week

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:23:00 -0500

GM will need to decide this week whether to sell its loss-making Swedish car unit Saab, daily Svenska Dagbladet quoted the Nordic government's car czar saying on Thursday. General Motors Co. [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: Kia U.S. unit to seek $300M from first Kimchi bonds

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:13:00 -0500

Kia Motors Corp.'s U.S. unit plans to raise $300 million from its first sale of kimchi bonds to provide working capital for a new factory, according to two people familiar with the matter. Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia Inc. will sell three-year bonds on Dec. [...]

Green Car Congress: Google Unveils Faster, Cheaper Mechanism To Track Worldwide Deforestation Online; Support for Land Use Change Measurement, Verification and Reporting

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:11:55 -0500

Number of comments: 4

by Jack Rosebro

Progressive deforestation in Rondonia, Brazil as seen in satellite imagery; from left, 1975, 1989, and 2001. Sources: USGS Landsat images via Google Earth. Click to enlarge.

Through its philanthropic arm, Google.org, Google introduced an online suite of beta software that leverages cloud computing [...]

Automotive News - China automotive sales and production, suppliers and OEM in Chinese market, China's homegrown players and their expansions overseas.: GM's Opel reorganization plan may slip into January

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:10:00 -0500

General Motors Co. said it's unlikely to complete a reorganization plan for the Adam Opel GmbH division by the end of this year because further talks are needed with workers and governments. [...]

AutoblogGreen: Ireland announces vehicle scrappage plan, EV tax break and carbon tax

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:02:00 -0500

Filed under: Legislation and Policy, Europe/EU

Irish Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has announced a cash-for-clunkers program for the Republic that will start next year. The plan, announced during the presentation of the 2010 budget, is set to help Irish motorists get rid of cars more than [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: US: Ford's Mulally confirms talks with GM's Whitacre

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:39:00 -0500

Ford chief executive Alan Mulally has said in a CNBC TV interview on Thursday that he had talked this week with General Motors' chairman and chief executive Ed Whitacre.' [...]

Jalopnik: Chris Harris Hits 100 MPH In 7.9 Seconds While Drinking Coke [LOLCars]

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:30:00 -0500

Number of comments: 63
The 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo can hit 100 MPH in under eight seconds yet is apparently so boring you can drink coke while doing so. We miss Porsches that would kill you as soon as look at you. [EVO] [...]

Autoblog: TAG Heuer re-issues the Silverstone Chronograph, renews McLaren sponsorship

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:29:00 -0500

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc.

TAG Heuer Silverstone Chonograph - Click above to view high-res image gallery
Between the Carrera and the Monaco, TAG Heuer has plenty to offer anyone in the market for a classic driver's watch. But if you're having some trouble deciding' [...]

AutoblogGreen: VIDEO: Toyota commercials ensure long line of happy Prius customers

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:04:00 -0500

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Green Daily

Cash loves Prius - Click above to watch the video after the break
There's no question that Toyota's recent advertising campaign for the Prius has its followers and its detractors. While it's the haters that seem to [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: FRANCE: Faurecia agrees new Chinese venture

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:01:00 -0500

Faurecia has signed of an agreement with Changchun municipality and auto supplier Xuyang Group, in which it holds a majority stake, and said the move would accelerate its development in China. [...]

Jalopnik: The Spirit of Dodge’s Past Tries to Haunt Up $3,100! [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe]

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Number of comments: 170
Cheerleaders have spirit, yes they do, they have spirit, how ‘bout you? Today, Nice Price or Crack Pipe is shaking our pom-poms for a Dodge Spirit, to see if it's anything to cheer about. Good lord... [...]

Wheels: Think Restarts Production in Finland

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:30:30 -0500

Number of comments: 8
Now partly owned by the battery maker Ener1An, Think is an electric-car company that's actually building cars. [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: POLAND: Car production up 32%

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:26:00 -0500

r production in Poland was up 31.8% in November from the same month a year ago, the second consecutive month of rising output. In October, production was up 16.9%. Research agency Samar said that Fiat and GM factories in the country produced some 84,000 vehicles in November. [...]

Alternate Route: Here Come Da Judge

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:12:59 -0500

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- More than 2,000 General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group dealerships could fight forced closings in arbitration under a bill passed Thursday by the U.S. House.

While I do agree that GM has waaaaaay too many dealerships, it never quite made sense that [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: JAPAN: Panasonic acquires over half of Sanyo

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:41:00 -0500

Panasonic has acquired a 50.19% stake in rival Sanyo Electric for JPY403.78bn, completing a tender offer that would create one of the world's largest consumer electronics conglomerates with a strong grip on solar and battery markets. [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: US: AAM prices public offer stock

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:28:00 -0500

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings (AAM) has priced the 14,000,000 shares of common stock it is selling through a public offering at US$7.20 each for total gross proceeds of approximately US$100.8m. [...]

Daily automotive news and comment: US: Fears over glut of small cars

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:15:00 -0500

The US market could face an over-supply of smaller, fuel efficient cars next year at a time when petrol prices remain stable, an industry forecasting firm said this week. [...]

Green Car Congress: High Gear Media and Tesla Motors Announce Automotive Writing Contest; Win a Tour Road Test of the 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:59:37 -0500

Number of comments: 0

High Gear Media, the publisher of 75 targeted consumer automotive websites, and Tesla Motors are launching an automotive writing contest to win a tour and test drive of the 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport in California.

The contest is open to anyone who uses one of High Gear Media’s automotive [...]

Inside Line Automotive News: The Return of the Nissan 240SX

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:31:00 -0500

Nissan resurrects its entry-level performance car. [...]

Green Car Congress: Forecast: Global Natural Gas Vehicle Fleet to Reach 17 Million by 2015

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:30:13 -0500

Number of comments: 2

A new report from Pike Research forecasts that the global natural gas vehicle (NGV) sector is poised for a new period of growth. The cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that the number of NGVs on the road worldwide will grow to 17 million vehicles by 2015, up from 9.7 [...]

Autoblog: VIDEO: More super-slow-mo from the world of motorsport

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:29:00 -0500

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos

Click above to watch the video after the jump

We love racing. There are tons of different variations of fast vehicles in motion, and all provide a vast array of stimulation to our eyes and [...]

Inside Line Automotive News: Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell Bound for U.S. in Spring

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:16:00 -0500

null [...]

Autoblog: Triumph releases 2010 Thruxton SE, we like what we see

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:28:00 -0500

Filed under: Motorcycle

2010 Triumph Thruxton SE - Click above for high-res image gallery
As far as we're concerned, there will always be a market for sporty vintage-styled machinery like the Triumph Thruxton. After all, not everyone needs 150 horsepower and 200 mile-per-hour top speeds to' [...]

TCC Confidential: Toyota To Unveil Economy Car Concept In India This January

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:10:00 -0500

While most of our attention this January will be focused on the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, we'll also be keeping an eye on India and the near-simultaneous New Delhi Auto Show. Our interest has been piqued by Toyota's announcement that it'll be unveiling a new [...]

TCC Confidential: 50 mpg MX-5, Tesla Road Trip And Renault Return: Today At High Gear Media

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:00:00 -0500

You say a 50-70 mpg sports car can't be done? Well, if the latest rumors are true, Mazda begs to differ. By dropping a high-efficiency SKY-G direct-injection gasoline engine into the next-gen Mazda MX-5, they plan to put a rear-driven sports car on the road with 50+ mpg.' [...]

Jalopnik: The Calendar For Your Heavy Equipment Hard-On [Engine Porn]

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Number of comments: 27
Marcus Mumbach, of German website Bauforum24, "Das Portal fur Bau und Baumaschinen," ("Bau" means construction — you can probably figure out the rest), has helped complete the site's first... [...]

TCC Confidential: Preview Drive: 2011 Nissan LEAF EV Prototype

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:55:00 -0500

High Gear Media has at last driven the 2011 Nissan LEAF electric car. Okay, admittedly it's a stretch to say that we actually drove the LEAF, but we did take a quick spin in a vehicle that demonstrates, according to Nissan, how the LEAF will perform and feel behind [...]

Autoblog: REPORT: Detroit Three call Japan's cash-for-clunkers program unfair

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:32:00 -0500

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Japan

The U.S. Car Allowance Rebate System (a.k.a. 'cash-for-clunkers') program was a short-term boon for automakers participating in our market. Sales went up, inventory went down and nearly 700,000 vehicles that would likely have otherwise ended up [...]

Jalopnik: First-Gen Honda Civic Stalks GM's DC Office, Taunts Staff By Running For 30-Plus Years [Down On The Street Bonus Edition]

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:00:00 -0500

Number of comments: 79
Quick announcement: Will the owner of the rust-on-white first-gen Honda Civic parked outside GM's Washington DC office please stop stalking the office staff and remove your vehicle from out front.... [...]

Autoblog: 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata to get SKY-G power, 50+ mpg?

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:56:00 -0500

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Mazda, Rumormill

Mazda MX-5 Miata Superlight Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Are big changes ahead for the Miata? As a blog that's gone on record as adoring the current iteration (and all previous [...]

Green Car Congress: Hybrid Snowplow Debuts in Colorado

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:37:17 -0500

Number of comments: 2

Jefferson County (Colorado) Commissioners unveiled what they believe to be the first hybrid snowplow in the US. The plow, a modified 2009 International Model 7300 Hybrid, could be in service by next week.

Jefferson County will learn more about the truck’s energy efficiency as a snowplow as it begins [...]

TCC Confidential: Detroit Cries Foul On Japan's Cash-For-Clunkers Program

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:37:00 -0500

As congress planned the controversial Cash-for-Clunkers program over the spring and summer of this year, there was some discussion of limiting new car subsidies to American brands; that provision was dropped, however, following outcries from other countries and from thousands of employees who work at foreign-brand factories and [...]

Autoblog: REPORT: Red Bull to place Raikkonen, Loeb and Coulthard in Peugeot 908 HDi at Le Mans

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:29:00 -0500

Filed under: Motorsports, Peugeot

Peugeot 908 HDi - Click above for high-res image gallery
Motorsports of late have been gripped by the crossover of racing drivers from one discipline to another, but one of the most established migrations in motor racing has always [...]

Green Car Congress: Toyota Begins Production of Camry Hybrid in Australia

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:28:36 -0500

Number of comments: 1

Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited (TMCA) has begun production of the Camry Hybrid in Australia; the line-off ceremony was attended by Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

TMCA intends to produce the Camry Hybrid at its Altona Plant at a pace of 10,000 units annually, 300 of which are to be [...]

Jalopnik: MINI Off-Road "Moke" Concept Coming To Detroit [Detroit Auto Show]

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Number of comments: 35
MotoringFile's reporting we'll see MINI's next concept car, a more-butch-than-the-crossover-concept R60-based "Moke" concept that may foreshadow a coming production version, unveiled at next month's... [...]

Autoblog: PSA: Cardboard is probably not the best replacement material for your rig's windshield

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:59:00 -0500

Filed under: China, Etc.

Many years ago, some jerk smashed in the rear quarter panel of yours truly's 1985 Pontiac Parisienne Safari with a hockey stick. How do we know they used a hockey stick? Because we found the hockey stick in [...]

Autoblog: Eyes on the Road: Recon Instruments show off heads-up goggles

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:59:00 -0500

Filed under: Technology, Motorcycle

Keeping your eyes on the road is of the utmost importance no matter what kind of vehicle you are piloting. To that end, automakers all over the world have experimented with heads-up displays that show such vital information as [...]

Green Car Congress: Launch of the European COCATE CO2 Transport Project for Medium-Size Emitters

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:30:00 -0500

Number of comments: 0

The European research project COCATE, just being signed and starting in January 2010, tackles the problems of rolling out a shared transportation infrastructure capable of connecting geological storage sites with various medium size CO2-emitting industrial facilities located within a close geographical proximity. This three-year project has a total budget [...]

Autoblog: AutoblogGreen for 12.11.09

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:53:00 -0500

#saleschart { border: 0px solid #333; border-collapse: collapse; } #saleschart td { padding: 7px; border-bottom: 0px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; margin: 0; line-height: 1.3em; font-size: 100%;} #saleschart th.bottomrow { border-right: 1px solid #333; } #saleschart tr.features1 { border-top: 1px solid #333; } #saleschart td.bottomrow2 [...]

Green Car Congress: Controlled Power Technologies Packages Its Switched Reluctance Systems in ‘RegEnBoost’ System for Enhanced Support for Downsizing

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:44:00 -0500

Number of comments: 7
The three components of the RegEnBoost system. Click to enlarge.

Controlled Power Technologies (CPT) is packaging its three complementary switched reluctance machine-based systems—a fast-acting electric supercharger known as VTES (or variable torque enhancement system) (earlier post), a highly efficient liquid cooled integrated starter generator (ISG) [...]

Green Car Congress: US House Passes Tax Extenders Bill

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:26:00 -0500

Number of comments: 0

The US House of Representatives has passed the “Tax Extenders” Bill (HR4213) by a vote of 241 - 181. the bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2010 certain expiring provisions for individual and business taxpayers.

The energy conservation and production provisions so extended include:

Tax credits for [...]

Green Car Congress: Alaska Senator Introduces Bill to Study Feasibility of an Arctic Deep Water Port

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:07:00 -0500

Number of comments: 3

US Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), recently introduced legislation authorizing a study to determine the feasibility of building a deep water port in the Arctic.

The Arctic Deep Water Sea Port Act would direct the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to conduct the study in [...]