Whether or not so-called "sudden acceleration" problems involve issues with floor mats, operator confusion over pedals, or actual vehicle defects, several automakers rank far above others in terms of complaints made to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Toyota has many more complaints racked up than other automakers, [...] 
Geely is already Ford's preferred bidder for Volvo but the Chinese automaker is also keen on acquiring the Saab business from General Motors now that the deal with Swedish consortium Koenigsegg AB is over. [Autocar]
Another day another supercar bites the dust. This time a Pagani Zonda F, which
Ever wondered how car wraps are applied? We'd always assumed it was a little like using one of those children's Colorforms playsets, and it turns out, we were right -- although it takes place on a far more complex, mesmerizing scale. As proof, here's a clip of the'
The 2010 Suzuki Kizashi has been a fairly big hit with auto journalists. Our own Bengt Halvorson gave it an impressive 8.2 rating and favorably compared it to the Ford Fusion, the Mazda6, and the Subaru Legacy, but Suzuki has more upmarket aspirations for the new sedan. Specifically,
There's a lot of market news today, from both the industry and consumer sides. On the new-car front, we have cars that nearly bookend the whole world of automobiles, with the Ford Fiesta priced to start from $13,995 in the U.S., and the Aston Martin Rapide at the
General Motors and Chrysler have been the target of frustration from thousands of dealers that were cut from the companies' networks during last summer's restructurings. The automakers, dealers, and other interested parties have proposed a variety of ways to resolve the matter -- including mediation and congressional intervention'
The MINI Coupe and MINI Roadster concepts generated loads of buzz at the Frankfurt and Los Angeles auto shows, and today, there's cause for even more excitement: rumor has it that production of the two models has been fast-tracked, and that they'll start rolling off the assembly lines'
It's no longer just Toyota that's running with the Big Three in terms of sales. Over the past month, Honda has quietly passed Chrysler as the number-four automaker in the U.S. market.
That places American Honda after Toyota Motor Sales and the new General Motors Company in U.S. sales.
The
At last week's 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show Volkswagen unveiled special Final Edition versions of its New Beetle Coupe and Convertible, signalling that the current model's run is set to come to an end.
That's because Volkswagen's New Beetle (pictured), which has been on sale since 1998, is set
The funky 2011 Ford Fiesta will deliver more than just great looks and class leading fuel economy when it goes on sale in North America next year. The new Fiesta, available in four- and five-door body styles, will also offer excellent value as the car will carry a
Successfully applying technology in a car is harder than it sounds. Just look at the flack BMW has caught for its difficult iDrive system, or the only-recent entry of Lexus into the telematics market. General Motors, as painfully off as it may be at times, has nailed this
Chrysler has launched a new 30-second ad for its 300 sedan, and we have to say: it's pretty impressive. No, the copy's not the best on record, and the theme comes out of left field, but the clip delivers a strong emotional wallop. And best of all: it
The 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show's press days are over and all that's new in the world of cars is known, at least for the moment. We have it all in the links below, but there's more than just shiny concepts to talk about.
General Motors, for instance, put
Just yesterday, we gave Ford high marks for its recent marketing efforts -- specifically, the "Fiesta Movement" campaign and subsequent "Retail Movement" initiative, which aims to educate dealers about social media and grassroots marketing in advance of the Fiesta's U.S. launch next summer. Not content to rest on
The 2009 Los Angeles auto show is over--for the press, at least. In the shadow of continual turmoil at GM, the show fielded a few important new production vehicle introductions, but not a lot more. The lightweight proof? The second press day, where more than half of the
UPDATE: Following this morning's 9 am conference call for GM employees, further details have emerged on the latest shakeup at General Motors.
"I want to give people responsibility and authority deeper in the organization, and then hold them accountable," said chairman of the board Ed Whitacre.
To further that goal,
The 2010 Audi A3 TDI has been dubbed Green Car of the Year, making it the second time in a row that a clean diesel vehicle has taken the honor. (Last year's winner? The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI.) Ron Cogan -- editor of Green Car Journal, which presented
It's no secret that Mitsubishi's sales performance in the U.S. has been floundering in recent years. Sales, in the first nine months alone, are down 47% for Mitsubishi.
While other Japanese automakers like Honda, Toyota and Nissan have experienced increase sales in the past couple of years, Mitsubishi has
Bob Lutz is a controversial guy: a slick salesman/cheerleader who can get the public riled up about a new car, but also the kind of hothead who's been known to speak before considering the consequences -- like that time he called global warming "a total crock of" hooey.
As overall auto sales have slumped, Subaru has been one of the few bright spots in the auto industry this year, with many year-over-year sales increases to report; in fact, through November of this calendar year, Subaru has already sold as many vehicles as it did in all
As shoppers remain worried about the day-to-day economics of driving, Hyundai is looking like one of the best-prepared automakers.
The automaker has a new focus, for its new and upcoming products, of keeping weight and engine size down, and it shows both in the new 2010 Tucson introduced at
One month ago, a popular rumor suggested that Jeep would soon be the only Chrysler brand sold overseas. Now, a contradictory bit of gossip says that Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne may ditch the Lancia nameplate and sell those vehicles in Europe as Chryslers. There's also talk of potential
It's no secret that Ford's "Fiesta Movement" campaign has been a huge success. Though some critics found it slightly cloying and trendy, the programĀ made great use of web resources like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter to generate brand awareness. Now the company is asking dealerships to join the
We've mentioned Shai Agassi and his game-changing EV startup, Better Place, several times on TCC. Now comes word that he's brokered an intriguingĀ deal to install charging and battery-changing infrastructure across Denmark, and the Danish government has agreed to nix the 200% new car tax (yes, you read'
Strategic partnerships are key elements in most successful business plans, and that goes double during trying economic times like these. We've seen countless alliances in the auto industry in recent years, and the next couple to hook up may be Mitsubishi Motors and PSA Peugeot-Citroen; said a Mitsubishi'
The 2009 Mazda6 was, by almost all accounts, an excellent product arriving at an inopportune time--when auto sales temporarily ground to a halt and the market itself underwent a massive recalibration.
Mazda had initially offered the Mazda6 in a dizzying array of build combinations, but that proved a little
In his latest video clip for the song "On to the Next One", rapper Jay-Z has picked the new 2011 Jaguar XJ as his personal ride.
Considering rappers have long been known to pimp out their videos with auto exotica, it's not surprising to see Jay-Z pick the XJ
Whether it was an odd coincidence or a calculated move, the 2011 Ford Fiesta and 2011 Mazda2 were both introduced at the LA Auto Show, on the same day.
What makes it significant is that they're closely related. While we've heard varying figures, it's fair to say that they
After seeing the three Mazda2 models that Mazda was showing at its LA auto show stand--one plain, one with a tuner look and snowboards mounted on top, the other with a strong motorsports tone--we couldn't help but wonder whether Mazda is planning to go a little Scion with'
Mitsubishi today announced a new partnership with electronics retailing giant Best Buy, to place four vehicles initially with Best Buy's Geek Squad computer-tech team.
Through the agreement, the companies hope to study real-life vehicle range and any issues that might arise in a hard-use fleet environment. The new arrangement
It's not quite the glamorous Staples Center--home to the Grammys and a certain celebrity endpoint this year--but just next door to the tabernacle of music sits the Los Angeles Convention Center. The convention center's the next roosting spot for the car world, as the industry sets down next
Here at TCC, we've seen some interesting production news over the past few months -- for example, Ford intends to make the U.S. its export base, and Honda will export the American-made 2010 Civic . (Honda might also move Fit production stateside.) Now, Daimler has announced plans to'
When the Saab sale to Koenigsegg fell through last week, a variety of sources lay the blame at GM's feet -- specifically, the way those feet were dragging. That same snail's pace approach to business may be partly responsible for Fritz Henderson's abrupt dismissal yesterday. But if a
If, as they say, "flat is the new up", then auto sales were way up last month. The U.S. saw 746,928 car and truck sales in November 2009 -- a statistical dead-heat with the 746,789 sold in November 2008. Of course, not every automaker stayed flat: Ford sales
Happy with your nav system? So are a lot of Lincoln MKS and Ford Flex owners. The Clarion-supplied navigation systems in those vehicles have the most satisfied customers. Also ranking high are the systems in the Acura TL (Pioneer), Ford F-150 (Clarion), and Porsche 911 (Harman/Becker).
Toyota's Denso-supplied nav
At 4:45 pm this afternoon, General Motors Chairman of the Board Ed Whitacre announced that the Board of Directors had accepted the resignation of chief executive officer Fritz Henderson.
Whitacre will serve as the acting CEO until a successor is hired. Henderson had been on the job less than
Yesterday's Facebook unveiling of the 2011 Audi A8 caused a buzz in the auto media, but we're not entirely sure that Audi's gamble paid off. At the moment, there aren't any photos or video of the sedan on the A8 fan page and just 61 comments -- only
It's hard to believe that in this economic climate there are in fact two different teams gunning for the world land speed record. The latest is the Aussie Invader team from Australia, which is working on a new rocket-powered car capable of accelerating from to 1,000 mph in
Ford has been on a winning streak lately, improving vehicle quality, buffing its brand perception, and growing the company's market share. Now Ford has something new to brag about, thanks to a successful pilot program aimed to raise awareness about Ford's Sync telematics system. The program was also
Oh, the humanity. Designed by Alberto Lou at Foilacar for a customer in Dubai who obviously has very clear ideas about what he wants, this 2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo makes a statement that you can't possibly miss.
Unless you're looking down from a satellite. Or perhaps even then.
But say
Lots of companies pay lip service to "going green", but Element Hotels is putting its money where its mouth is. The Element chain is a 2008 addition to Starwood's sprawling family of hotels and resorts, offering customers a "no-compromise, eco-chic experience". Part of that experience will soon be
Concept cars don't always get the respect they deserve. Though some -- like the Cadillac Converj -- demonstrate production-ready designs, others seem like kooky high-fashion getups from the runways: so conceptual, so out there, they're more fit for sci-fi flicks than car conventions. And thus, it seems entirely
Over the past year, the little Mitsubishi MiEV electric minicar has been making the rounds in the U.S. and abroad, with test fleets in the works in a number of countries. And although Mitsubishi hasn't yet announced how the MiEV might be sold or leased to the public'
The 2011 Audi A8 is out, and we have official photos and details on the brand new flagship sedan. Even with a welter of technology and advanced design principles at work, the question of beauty wasn't lost in the presentation of the A8, nestled as it was among'
A number of luxury vehicles--and a few other tech-focused models like the 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Ford Taurus--now offer features designed to warn you when you stray from your lane, whether due to inattention or drowsiness, or might not notice what's in your blind spot. But typically
Speaking of Audi and advertising, the company plans to unveil the 2011 Audi A8 today at at 6:30pm ET -- not just for a select group of journalists, but for all the A8's Facebook fans. The timing of the live event might seem curious, since it comes after
In economic times like these, most companies are looking to trim expenses. Many start by scaling back their marketing budgets -- which, as anyone who's taken Marketing 101 can tell you, is a pretty bad idea. Audi, however, has gone in the other direction, with a 20% increase
One of the strangest cars set to appear at this week's 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show has undoubtedly got to be the Capstone Turbine CMT-380. The hybrid supercar concept packs a jet turbine engine and advanced hybrid system and offers performance levels that could make Ferrari blush. [Motor
Spanning the range from mean to green, today's news at High Gear Media has a bit of something for everyone. Over at GreenCarReports, we have an interview with Tony Posawatz, vehicle line director of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. He answers five pointed questions and gives us an idea
For several years Lexus has offered an Advanced Parking Guidance System (APGS; also called Intelligent Parking Assist) option on its Lexus LS 460 and Lexus LS 600h, and the same system is offered in the 2010 Toyota Prius.
The Lexus/Toyota system was, and still is, the first and only
Last week, when we reported on the Koenigsegg Group's failed attempt to purchase Saab from GM, we mentioned that a member of that group -- Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation (BAIC) -- might make its own bid for the troubled Swedish brand. That was an educated guess, based largely
Nissan developed self-healing paint to protect vehicles from the surface damage caused by parking lots, home garages, and the like. Known as "Scratch Shield", it's appeared on a handful of vehicles in the U.S. like the 2009 Infiniti G37, but now the paint's making the leap to objects
The affordable large car segment is starting to get just a little overcrowded, and in a time where customers all around the world are downsizing to smaller midsize models, performance, fuel-economy and overall value is now more important than ever.
South Korea's entrants in this field have been winning
An all-new engine promises to make the base V-6 Ford Mustang a lot more exciting for 2011.
Today (and in advance of the LA Auto Show pressers), Ford officially announced that a new all-aluminum 3.7-liter DOHC V-6 will power the 2011 Ford Mustang, producing an impressive 305 horsepower and
• What is it? A global compact sedan refined for America
• The basics: Naturally aspirated and turbocharged four-cylinder engines
• On sale: Q3 2010, with a public showing at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show
• Price: $19,000 (est.)
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze compact car promises to redefine fuel efficiency for
Mazda may be a little late to the table when it comes to electric vehicle technology but the automaker is determined to catch up and has since announced that it will start trials of a new electric drive system in its compact Mazda2 hatchback.
As we all know, the
Would you buy a K-Car?
It's probably not what you might think. So-called kei cars (or K-cars) are popular in Japan because of their tax exemptions and parking advantages.
In this segment created more by regulation more than demand, they're limited to about 134 inches in length (more than two'
Just last week, General Motors announced plans to speed up repayment of billions in loans from the U.S. government. Technically, the company's fast-track, $1 billion-per-quarter payback schedule doesn't kick in until December, but GM is getting a head start on things by returning $140 million right now. The'
If you're one of the 33.2 million Americans planning to drive to grandma's, the in-laws, or the local outlet mall this Thanksgiving/Black Friday holiday, be prepared for three things: lots of traffic, lewd postprandial stories from Uncle Ted, and unpleasant numbers at the pump. Gas prices have ticked
The next-generation version of the Suzuki Swift, due out next year, isn't quite a sure thing for the U.S. market; but we've been told it's been engineered this time with federal regulations in mind. If the 2011 Suzuki Swift does come to these shores, it would take on
General Motors fans were dealt a major blow yesterday when another of the company's brand sales collapsed -- this time, the sale of Swedish marque Saab to Koenigsegg Group AB. A member of the Swedish government says that GM will continue to seek out a buyer for the
Since at least 2007, advocates for the blind have been concerned about the lack of noise from hybrids running in electric mode. The imminent arrival of all-electric cars like the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the 2012 Nissan Leaf has only raised their level of alarm.
Now General Motors has
As millions of people travel to New York to celebrate the start of the holiday season, Jeep will take over the city's famous Times Square on Thanksgiving Day with videos on the electronic billboards on the NASDAQ and Reuters buildings at 43rd Street and Broadway and 43rd Street
Mercedes Benz today announced the availability of a new display technology that allows driver and passenger to see two totally separate programs from the same screen, at the same time.
The technology has been around for a while but it's only now making its North American debut, which is
While the all-new 2010 Kizashi sedan is earning Suzuki some well-deserved attention, we can't forget that SUVs are what Suzuki has really built its name on in the U.S.Ā Vehicles like the Samurai, Sidekick, and Vitara forged a path for Suzuki as the producer of sturdy, compact, off-road-capable,'
Two adjacent Southern California cities have been competing for the factory where Tesla Motors will build its all-electric 2012 Model S luxury sports sedan. Now, a pair of local papers have scooped the automotive press and broken the news: Downey beats Long Beach.
Downey Mayor Mario Guerra told the
Although combustion engines will remain a part of the car mix for several decades to come, it seems pretty clear that electrics are the way of the future. And while many will be sad to see gas engines go the way of their fuel source (i.e. the dinosaur),
Back in June, Mitsubishi unveiled the production version of its i-MiEV battery electric vehicle. The curious-looking five-door hatch went on sale in Japan six weeks later at a retail cost of „3 million ($33,800). It runs off a 16 kWh lithium ion battery, which powers an electric motor
Do you avoid drinking out of clear plastic water bottles, using antiperspirants with aluminum, or cooking in non-stick pans? Use a water purifier and ionizer everywhere you go, always buy organic, mind your cold-water fish list, and have your tap water checked yearly?
If so, we've found either a'
Vehicle history provider Carfax has partnered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to introduce a new Clunker Check service.
The simple Carfax query page allows you, merely by entering the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the suspect vehicle to check whether it was written off for salvage as
Readers of a certain age will recall a time when America's roadways were clogged with Gremlins, Rabbits, and other fuel-efficient minicars. That historical moment was caused by spiking fuel prices in the 1970s (remember when Jimmy Carter told everyone to put on a snappy cardigan?), which rear-ended a
The stylish and delicate-looking front and rear bumper areas of most new vehicles are, just as they appear, damage-prone and expensive to fix, even from minor parking-lot-speed impacts. However the new 2010 Subaru Legacy fares well; in the latest round of bumper evaluations from the Insurance Institute for
Results from field tests of the MINI E have finally come in, and sadly, the EV didn't exactly pass with flying colors. Aside from braking, handling, and other problems that our own John Voelcker discovered during his time behind the wheel, BMW learned that the biggest threat to'
Halloween is done and Thanksgiving is looming, so that can only mean one thing: just two more months until the 2010 Detroit auto show! This year's gathering will see a new display area for up to 20 electric vehicles -- many of which come from smaller companies like
General Motors may be looking to expand its (formerly) shrinking U.S. network, but the soon-to-be owner of GM's orphaned Saab is sticking with a leaner, meaner game plan: Koenigsegg intends to nix 81 Saab dealers from the company's current network, leaving just 137 outlets in the U.S. Of
Smart traffic lights may be the next wave of the war against fuel consumption, as countless gallons of fuel are wasted at a standstill every day. BMW is leading the charge on that front, hoping to add some sophistication to the 40-year-old lights system we have now.
Speaking of
Mazda's CX-9 can be more than a little deceiving. Get caught up in the driving experience--as you actually can in the somewhat nimble-feeling CX-9--and you might actually think you're driving a tall but reasonably compact wagon.
That is, until you look back from the front seat at the spacious'
To many, the new 2010 BMW 5-Series GT is the answer to a question nobody asked. Part crossover, part wagon, and part sedan--and in the 550i, part sports car--the 5-Series GT attempts to be all things to all people but never really hits its mark. [Motor Authority]
Alfa Romeo
Creeping along from red light to red light on your way from a major sports event or concert, or stopped by every red light on the way home late at night, on empty roads, you've probably wondered why traffic lights in the U.S. aren't a little more adaptable.
The
In America, we tend to think of Renault as that wacky French outfit responsible for the Le Car craze of the 1970s and 80s. But in fact, the company has been doing some very interesting work on the EV front, thanks largely to its partnership with Nissan. In
We're not entirely sure that this Chinese print ad for the Volkswagen GTI is for real -- and if it is, we're even less sure what it might be saying. The copy along the bottom translates as "It will go fast". That could mean "It will go so"
When Chrysler and GM underwent restructuring earlier this year, they took the opportunity to thin out their dealer networks. As you might recall, that resulted in substantial consternation among dealers, lobbying groups, and elected officials. But while threats of litigation and offers of mediation still hang in the
Introduced as a 2004 model, the Touareg sport utility vehicle was Volkswagen's first foray into SUVs, and its most expensive vehicle at the time. Now VW will unveil a redesigned, second-generation 2011 Volkswagen Touareg at January's Detroit Auto Show.
The Touareg shares a basic platform with the high performance
Christian Kandlbauer was an 18-year-old Austrian auto mechanic when he lost both his arms in an electrical accident. Thanks to German companies Paravan and Otto Bock, however, Kandlbauer was recently outfitted with thought-controlled prosthetic arms, which have given him the ability to do many things he never thought
Apart from her music, we don't have anything against Taylor Swift. In fact, we felt pretty bad about that whole VMA thing with Kanye and Beyonce and the Henny and the internet meme that just wouldn't die. However, after seeing Taylor on Saturday Night Live last weekend, we're'
Ferrari is looking at turbocharging for its future powertrains but until the company's engine designers can eliminate turbo lag, we won't be seeing any in production. In fact, Ferrari has ruled out nothing in terms of technology as it works to keep high-performance a priority while accommodating strict'
Obviously you have to replace license plates now and then. Among other reasons, the reflective material wears off. And besides, that way cops can tell if a car hasn't been re-registered in, ohhh, several years.
Like many states, New York is grappling with major budget deficits. Now it has'
Attention, shoppers: new cars are more affordable today than they've been in over five years. According to Comerica Bank's Auto Affordability Index, it now takes the average family 21.9 weeks of income to pay off an average-priced vehicle. Sadly, that's not because household income has risen, but because'
For a very long time in this country, about 20% of all sales came in the form of trucks.
Not what the industry calls "trucks" (i.e., SUVs), but actual pickups. That figure always astonished me; we simply don't have that many contractors, painters and plumbers and there are fewer'
One of the world's biggest consumer electronics trade shows, the 2010 International CES, is just a couple of months away and in its lead up, organizers have named the 2010 Ford Taurus the official car of the event.
As the official car of CES, the Ford Taurus will be
There are lots of things you could say about Mercedes-Benz's new ad for the E-Class Estate. The first thoughts to cross our minds were, "Wow, that's a nice slot-car track" and "Wow, that voiceover is a great example of German efficiency -- but not in the good way".
Last week, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne unveiled the company's five-year recovery plan. This week, we've received details about Chrysler's electric vehicle program, which has been given a fairly extreme makeover and a new direction.
Most notably, Chrysler's EV development initiative -- known as ENVI -- has been "absorbed into'"
It feels like summer just ended, but another round of mini-vacations lies just around the corner. Holiday road trips aren't usually as fun as the summertime variety, since they typically involve moms, dads, and eggnog-scented aunts, but a few precautions will make them slightly more enjoyable. We suggest'
Chrysler will be borrowing Fiat's powertrain technology to help make its future vehicles more fuel-efficient, including Mutliair valve technology and dual-clutch transmissions. [Detroit Free Press]
On November 8, 1989 Infiniti first opened up for business. Since its inception, Infiniti's goal has been to establish a new concept of ..
Back in the 18th century, British philosopher Jeremy Bentham came up with a nifty way to keep prisoners in line: as long as the incarcerated thought they were being watched, they behaved, even if they couldn't see the guards. The same "big brother" philosophy has been used ad'