5/19 TechChuck Auto

Please add updates@feedmyinbox.com to your address book to make sure you receive these messages in the future. TechChuck Auto - Auto stories from all around the web! Rumormill: Porsche planning road-going RS Spyder? May 18, 2009 at 8:31 pm 2007 Porsche RS Spyder - Click above for a high-res image gallery L'Automobile, our new favorite purveyors of outlandish stories and Photoshopped speculation, is reporting that Porsche is considering building a road-going version of the RS Spyder to fill the vacuum created by the dearly departed Carrera GT. NISMO renting GT-R engine and transmission computers in Japan Ferrari 250TR sells for record breaking $12.2M at RM Auction Return of the 5.0: Ford Exec confirms 400 hp 'Coyote' V8 coming in 2010 Ur-SHO? Shots of early hi-po Ford Taurus mule discovered First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350 C prove that going topless isn't always freeing Jeremy Clarkson calls Honda Insight "Biblically terrible" REPORT: Mercury Sable reaching the end of the line Thursday Wimmer Takes All: 680hp Porsche 911 GT2 goes up to 221 mph New Corsa ecoFLEX most frugal Vauxhall ever: 59 mpg BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld takes completed-races record from Schumacher More stories ... Rendered Speculation: What if Saab made a Volt? May 18, 2009 at 7:50 pm Every automaker has specific styling cues that it uses to make its designs instantly recognizable. It would seem this is especially true of a car's front fascia, and it's often fun to graft the grille and headlights from one automaker onto a vehicle design from another. For instance, take a look at the Chevy Volt and Opel Ampera, two vehicles that share similar bodywork with the notable exception of the front clip. Rumormill: Porsche planning road-going RS Spyder? Obama to propose 30% cut in auto emissions First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350 C prove that going topless isn't always freeing Rendered Speculation: MINI Speedster, chop the windshield, drop the back seat! General Motors takes cue from Chrysler, registers gmrestructuring.com REPORT: VW cancels merger talks with Porsche There Will be No Customer Access to High Voltage on the Chevy Volt, but it Can Jump Start Another Car Chrysler dealers prepare legal fight As Detroit crumbles, China emerges Spy Shots: Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer caught naked More stories ... Oye Como Va! After nearly 30-year Chinese run, VW's Quantum Santana to expire in 2012? May 18, 2009 at 7:39 pm Although the Volkswagen Quantum never became the institution in the States that its successor, the Passat has, the second-generation model, known as the Santana in China, once again proved that Volkswagen is indeed the "people's car." And now, after being built domestically through a joint-venture with Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive since 1983, word is that the venerable sedan's time is limited. According to new reports, the Santana will leave VW showrooms in 2012, meaning that the Santana will have enjoyed a model run of 29 years in China. New Prius goes on sale today in Japan, Toyota claims 80,000 pre-orders Volkswagen announces new 1.2L TSI and 1.6L TDI engines First Drive: 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost and MKS EcoBoost Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.12.09 Leaked: 2010 Opel Astra gets early web reveal BMW: U.S. Four-Cylinders Possible, Not Yet Certain GM and U of M create new institute for research Turbos, direct injection to be common shortly Future Ford SYNC upgrade could include Pandora streaming May 18, 2009 at 7:38 pm Click the image above to view a video of the new SYNC system after the jump At the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Ford announced that three new features would be included on the next iteration of the SYNC system: traffic data, GPS-guided directions and the ability to snag information from the web through the user's data/GPS/Bluetooth-enabled smartphone to display or read weather conditions, sports scores and other information through the stereo. Going Green: Ford Plants $550M into 2011 Focus Factory Ford spending $550M to switch Michigan Assembly from trucks to small cars/EV Paul Pearson continuing legal fight over electric vehicle conversions May 18, 2009 at 7:32 pm Lola EV - click above for a high-res gallery Last week, Paul Pearson went back to court. It was the fifth time he's been in front of a judge because of a police sting last December over the electric car conversions he was doing in his garage (details here). In short, the situation is wholly confusing, but also quite important for fans of electric vehicles. Chrysler dealers prepare legal fight Investors drop legal fight over Chrysler bankruptcy Group drops fight against Chrysler plan Hajek Motorsports attempts to topple 22-year-old NASCAR speed record in E85 Mustang REPORT: NASCAR seen fretting over ratings drop May 18, 2009 at 6:36 pm According to Nielsen, ratings for NASCAR on Fox are down by an alarming 11.5% so far this year, and while we're sure that many NASCAR haters will suggest that it's just not that interesting watching non-stock "stock cars" turning left over and over again as they circle oval tracks, race organizers and TV ratings researchers believe there's much more to the decline in viewership than that. VIDEO: Professional racers ride TTX01 electric motorcycle prototype, come away impressed Corn ethanol subsidies getting the pro/con debate in Kansas May 18, 2009 at 6:34 pm The debate over corn ethanol, and the federal government's strong support for the biofuel, is being debated across the U.S. Everything from the potential cost for damaged fuel systems to the possible Federal push for E15 is in the news. "Great ethanol scam" can easily cost you $1,000, says BW Canadian E5 mandate to move ahead despite concerns Study: better to burn biomass to power electric cars than to make ethanol Saudis Debate Ban on Women Drivers Congress Close on 'Cash for Clunkers' 50 gallons per mile?!? That's the water cost of corn-based ethanol White House Steps Up Support for Biofuels Speed Camera Operator Is Shot in Arizona New Prius goes on sale today in Japan, Toyota claims 80,000 pre-orders May 18, 2009 at 5:44 pm 2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for a high-res gallery Last week, we heard a report that Toyota had received 75,000 pre-orders for the new third-generation Prius. Today, the day that the new iconic hybrid goes on sale in its home country, Toyota says that the number is actually 80,000. Oye Como Va! After nearly 30-year Chinese run, VW's Quantum Santana to expire in 2012? Jeremy Clarkson calls Honda Insight "Biblically terrible" Toyota Prius points the way to design future: Prius vs. Insight: The Battle Continues AutoblogGreen for 05.18.09 As Detroit crumbles, China emerges REPORT: Toyota already has 75,000 orders for 2010 Prius Electrification of the Automobile Will Evolve Car Design in New Ways British army receives 50 Toyota Priuses for service Officially, official: Toyota will lease 150 plug-in Priuses in Europe starting in late 2009 More stories ... REPORT: Google forced to re-shoot all of Japan's StreetView images May 18, 2009 at 5:41 pm We happen to love Google StreetView for the fun things that can be found using the free service. Ugly Buicks, Porsches testing in Colorado and even a rare split-window Corvette barn find are just a few of the many, many things uncovered by Google's free service, which snaps 360-degree images at eye level using specially equipped cars with roof-mounted cameras... Wedding Crashers: Top Gear interrupts UK nuptials in classic fashion May 18, 2009 at 5:34 pm Top Gear crashes wedding in Edinburgh: Click above to watch the videos after the jump We're reasonably sure that most people would rather their wedding remain limited to invited guests only, but at least some of us would probably make the exception if one (or more) of our favorite celebrities crashed our nuptuals. Gotham Dream Cars announces Legends Dream Car Tour Top Gear Australia 2: Back with a Vengeance Lexus preparing a Prius-based premium subcompact for Europe REPORT: Lexus' A3/1 series-fight coming to Frankfurt with hybrid power Lexus 1-Series: Europe-Only, Hybrid Only? Hot Chicks Wash A Ford Fiesta May 18, 2009 at 5:30 pm You have to watch these hot and wet chicks saucily soaping up their Fiesta Movement Ford Fiesta, getting it squeaky clean. Each time we've watched this video it's gotten us more and more... hungry. [BrittaniLouiseTaylor] BREAKING: Fiesta Movement Agent reports car stolen, Ford tracking it live Ford Fiesta Movement Car Stolen In New York! Ford to offer 100,000 test drives as part of Fiesta Movement Rumormill: Could the Fiat-Chrysler deal yield a North American Ford Ka? AutoblogGreen for 05.05.09 Ford Fiesta "agents" get first mission: some decide to go milk a cow NISMO renting GT-R engine and transmission computers in Japan May 18, 2009 at 4:59 pm Nissan GT-R SpecV - Click above for a high-res image gallery Beginning June 1, NISMO will begin taking pre-orders on a new ECU and Transmission Control Module (TCM) for the standard GT-R and its SpecV sibling. According to Nissan's motorsports arm, the ECU increases maximum boost pressure by 0.1 bar (1.5 psi) to crank-up low-end torque and enhance throttle response. The TCM tweaks supposedly deliver quicker downshifts and the speed limiter on the street (i.e. when not running on a GPS-approved race track) has been raised to 320 km/h – or just one tick shy of 200 mph. Ferrari 250TR sells for record breaking $12.2M at RM Auction May 18, 2009 at 4:58 pm Record-breaking Ferrari 250 TR – Click above for high-res image gallery RM Auctions, in conjunction with Sotheby's, held their third annual Ferrari Leggende e Passione auction this past weekend. The star of the event was a 1957 250 TR chassis #0714TR, one of only 22 "pontoon-fender" Testa Rossas built, and this one was successfully campaigned by privateer owners from 1958 to 1963... Link Love From The Car Connection: Ferrari Goes For Big Bills, Rolls Royce Ghost In The Flesh, And A Flashback To Simpler Times Ferrari Sells for a Record $12.4 Million 1957 Ferrari sells for record $12.1 million at auction: VIDEO: Behind-the-scenes look at Harmony, Toyota's first commercial for the 2010 Prius Amp Rider, the zero-emissions way to cut the green green grass of home GM: Don't forget about the transmission's role in overall efficiency VIDEO: Elon Musk misrepresents Chevy Volt performance, Tesla getting few new orders for Roadster VIDEO: Professional racers ride TTX01 electric motorcycle prototype, come away impressed Video: Driving Miss Ev'ie VIDEO: Rhys Millen drifting the Hyundai Genesis... Sedan More stories ... Daimler to announce "strategic partnership" for EVs tomorrow May 18, 2009 at 4:43 pm Tomorrow morning, May 19, Daimler will be holding an online press conference to make what it calls a major announcement in the EV space. Management board member Dr. Thomas Weber and a key executive of one of the company's suppliers will make an announcement about a strategic investment. While Daimler is not giving any details right now about which company this might be or the nature of the investment, we're told by our sources that the partnership is with Tesla. Volt shows electric can be powerful, sporty VIDEO: World's Fastest Jet Pack vs. Ford Focus RS Mercedes to debut new fuel cell bus at public transport conference in June Zetsche Wants BMW Closer; Benz to Share V-12? Greenlings: Can we build a better battery with lithium? Audi A3 Going Hybrid Wise Choice: The not-so-Smart ForMore SUV that never was Electric Motorsport, Barefoot Motors show off TTXGP entries VIDEO: Teaching the kids opposite lock - Big Wheel drifting May 18, 2009 at 3:59 pm Drifting Big Wheel style: Click above to watch video after the jump Drifting isn't nearly as easy as it looks. It takes keen hand-eye coordination and an almost spiritual connection with one's vehicle. One payoff for drifting is that it looks really cool, especially when it's seen in a slow motion video. Reno 911 crew needs a lot of help with their electric car May 18, 2009 at 3:43 pm Click above and scroll down to watch the video As a fan of the early- to mid-1990's comedy show The State, I've got a bit of a soft spot for Reno 911, which features some of the same comedians. Reno 911 isn't the best show ever, but perfect for late night humor. Lomeneo Smera, new French electric car, on sale for 24,500 euros Electric GreenGT design study fortells the future of LeMans EPA: let's talk about that E15 raise a little longer Beach Boys Didn't Have a Deuce Coupe or a 409 Speculation: Chrysler to cut loose 800 dealers on Thursday New York Ponders Its Electric-Car Future Auto dealers fighting against closures GM: First-gen Volts won't communicate with grid, future versions will Brad Pitt to play Steve McQueen in new biopic? What will the electric car look like? Top designers weigh in: More stories ... Return of the 5.0: Ford Exec confirms 400 hp 'Coyote' V8 coming in 2010 May 18, 2009 at 3:40 pm 2010 Ford Mustang - Click above for a high-res image gallery When the 2010 Ford Mustang debuted, there was a collective groan among the pony car faithful that Ford didn't update the aging 4.6-liter V8 along with the 'Stang's new sheetmetal. So when a few spy shots surfaced in January showing a new aluminum engine nestled under the hood of a Mustang mule, we knew the Blue Oval had something else up its sleeve – and now we have confirmation. Planning On An Accident - Crash More Safely In A 2010 Mustang VIDEO: 2010 Chevy Camaro SS enters Jay Leno's Garage Blind man realizes dream to drive new Ford Mustang Mercury Sable, A Eulogy: Farewell, Furry Friend May 18, 2009 at 3:00 pm As the Ford Taurus returns, the Mercury Sable slips quietly into the night. The last one rolls off the assembly line Thursday. Today we say goodbye. Mercury's always sort of been a lost brands. Adrift in what was once Ford's seemingly ever-changing product strategy, Mercury's always lacked the same level of brand identity found at Lincoln or Ford... Ur-SHO? Shots of early hi-po Ford Taurus mule discovered REPORT: Mercury Sable reaching the end of the line Thursday Ford Pulling The Trigger On The Sable 2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost: First Drive Ford engineers slam basketballs and shopping carts into cars for safety's sake Ford Shows How It's Protecting You... Chrysler reportedly bouncing checks to owners of lemon law vehicles May 18, 2009 at 2:44 pm Going through the process of having a troubled vehicle legally branded as a 'lemon' is difficult enough, but now, according to The Los Angeles Times, Chrysler's bankruptcy is making seeking recompense even harder for affected owners in California. According to the daily paper, settlement checks for Chrysler vehicles that have already been agreed upon as defective are apparently bouncing, costing already irked consumers additional time and money. Unloading Chrysler vehicles Flying the Not-So-Friendly Skies: Chrysler asks court to cancel corporate jet leases Chrysler seeks to eliminate 789 dealers, 42 in Michigan Chrysler aims to close 789 dealerships Group says Chrysler resale value slips 6% in week following bankruptcy filing Utilities ask for Chrysler deposits Utilities want Chrysler to ensure unpaid bills Resale values fall 6% for Chrysler vehicles Chrysler rescue foes disclosed Chrysler rescue foes' ID due More stories ... Obama to propose 30% cut in auto emissions May 18, 2009 at 2:43 pm WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama will lay out plans Tuesday to cut greenhouse gas emissions from new cars and trucks by 30% through 2016, while ending a dispute between the auto industry and California over state-level emissions laws. The announcement fills in a cornerstone of Obama's vowed reworking of the U... GM concedes U.S. can have influential role UAW OKs Chrysler-Fiat labor peace GM speeding up payments to suppliers UAW won't strike Chrysler through 2015 Spy shots: Bentley gets ready to run the 'Ring in the E85 Continental Supersports Canadian E5 mandate to move ahead despite concerns Could Britain once again be a leader in green car technology? : Electric Focus is called spark for Ford's revival Media outlet: Ethanol's minor impact on food prices ignored by media Ford VP wants Wayne plant most efficient More stories ... Toyota releases new EX-grade second-gen Prius in Japan May 18, 2009 at 2:08 pm Sometime in early 2008, about when it became clear that Honda was planning to price its then upcoming Insight hybrid very aggressively, rumors began to circulate that following the release of the redesigned third-gen Prius, Toyota might continue selling a de-contented second-generation version in order to compete. Ultimately, Toyota confirmed that plan, although the decision was made to offer the old Prius only in Japan. That model, now labeled as the Prius EX, goes on sale in its home market, mostly to fleet customers, starting June 8. REPORT: Toyota already has 75,000 orders for 2010 Prius Report: Toyota received 75,000 Prius pre-orders Nissan to build EVs at its Oppama assembly plant in Japan Seat Ibiza Bocanegra unveiled in Barcelona George Will recycles "Prius loses money" untruth Could a lithium sulfer be the next big battery breakthrough? May 18, 2009 at 2:04 pm Sulfur crystal from Agrigento, Sicily, Italy The main obstacle to the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is often said to be the current range limitations of battery technology. What if the energy density of batteries, and therefore the range of EVs, could be increased by 500 percent? Although we've not heard much about it for some time, a couple recent developments have led us to ponder the possibilities of energy storage with a lithium sulfur (Li-S) battery. Elektromotive unveils billing system chargepoint for EVs at EVS24 conference Greenlings: Can we build a better battery with lithium? Rumormill: Mooted Mini Speedster could be beaten to market by Mini Coupe May 18, 2009 at 1:58 pm We've already heard widespread rumors about a forthcoming speedster variant of the cheeky little Mini, but the Cooper crazy folks over at MotoringFile have reason to believe that the racy roadster will be beaten to market by a "notch-back coupe version of the car." Rendered Rumormill: Mini Speedster coming to Frankfurt? BMW Opens the Bidding at $24 Billion? Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.13.09 First Drive: 2009 BMW Z4 grows up at cost of its groove 2009 BMW Z4: First Drive REPORT: Obama to announce new CAFE standards tomorrow, require 34 mpg standard May 18, 2009 at 1:57 pm According to reports from both the New York Times and Politico, the Obama Administration plans to announce new CAFE regulations tomorrow that will finally reconcile both federal and state standards. The plan is expected to combine California's strict emission rules with the federal rule, raising the national fleet mileage to around 42 mpg for cars and approximately 26 mpg for light trucks by 2016 – an increase over the current standards of 27.5 mpg for cars and 24 mpg for trucks. Cummins not ready to give up on light duty diesel regardless of Chrysler's fate Government Improves Roof-Crush Standards Planning On An Accident - Crash More Safely In A 2010 Mustang May 18, 2009 at 1:56 pm Roger Keeney Blind Unleashed contest winner To go along with our recent posts that help dispel myths of driving a pony car (Driven: 2010 Mustang V-6, and Mustang: Everyday Car?) , results distributed by Ford today document how well the 2010 Ford Mustang crashes into things. According to new federal front and side-impact barrier tests, the 2010 Mustang scored the highest rating possible, 5 stars, on the four barrier tests (one result each for the driver and front passenger)... VIDEO: 2010 Chevy Camaro SS enters Jay Leno's Garage Blind man realizes dream to drive new Ford Mustang Blind Man Wins Chance To Drive 2010 Mustang MARK PHELAN: Sleek and sporty, the restyled 2010 Mustang is a head-turner 2010 Ford Mustang V-6: An Everyday Car? Driven: 2010 Ford Mustang V-6 Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.7.09 VIDEO: Consumer Reports previews muscle car comparo Hajek Motorsports attempts to topple 22-year-old NASCAR speed record in E85 Mustang Link Love From The Car Connection: Audi D7 Concept, 600,000-Mile Mustang, And Nicholas Cage Movie Driver Ruins Ferrari And Dinner More stories ... New York Driving Course Goes Online May 18, 2009 at 1:07 pm Starting Monday, New York drivers have the option of taking defensive-driving courses over the Internet to qualify for auto insurance discounts and point reductions on their driving records. The five-year pilot program, approved by the State Department of Motor Vehicles, is called Internet/Alternate Delivery Method Point and Insurance Reduction Program, or I-PIRP for short... VIDEO: When the Safety Car... isn't May 18, 2009 at 1:01 pm Safety car crash video: Click above to watch video after the jump The main job of a safety car in racing is to slow the pace of the race during a crash or help bring cars to a stop in the event that debris needs to be removed from the track. The safety car is usually provided by an OEM sponsor that pays for the right to slap flashing lights on the hood, and in the case of last weekend's FIA WTTC race in Pau, France, the safety car was the Chevy Cruze. Unfortunately for BMW driver Franz Engstler, this Cruze wasn't exactly the safest safety car. Officially Official: 2010 Opel Astra revealed ahead of Frankfurt debut Ordoñez becomes first racer to make transition from virtual world to racetrack podium Fritz: Chevy will be competitive, top-quality brand in two years Ten Steps To Creating The Perfect Man Cave May 18, 2009 at 1:00 pm The man cave. A mythical masculine lair filled with automotive goodies and toys designed to make a man happy. Here's how to create your very own man cave in ten easy steps. Some may call it a garage. Some may even call it a workshop. But we know what it's really all about. It's about you and creating your very own secret lair designed to help you relax around your very own, hard-earned collection of man toys. Take a walk below through our ten steps to creating the perfect man cave, then give us your pictures of your own man cave in the comments below. First Crashed Corvette ZR1 Hits EBay For Only $97,500 Ur-SHO? Shots of early hi-po Ford Taurus mule discovered May 18, 2009 at 12:57 pm Ford Taurus SHO Prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery So the story goes that back in the mid 1980s, Ford inked a deal with Yamaha for a V6 engine to be used in a Fiero competitor. The car went nowhere, but Ford found a place for the engine: Under the hood of the legendary 1989 Taurus SHO... Ford Pulling The Trigger On The Sable 2009 Subaru Forester: Unsupervised Off-Road Mayhem 2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost: First Drive Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.14.09 Ford engineers slam basketballs and shopping carts into cars for safety's sake Ford Shows How It's Protecting You... Nissan's Audacious Claim: Our EV Will Cost No More Than a Regular Compact Car Spy Shots: 2011 Toyota Sienna performs platform shuffle Quick Drive: Nissan EV-02 prototype What Will the Volt’s Generator Mode Feel Like? More stories ... Idling vs. shutting the engine down: how many seconds make a difference? May 18, 2009 at 12:57 pm It's easy to calculate that a car with the engine running but not moving is getting zero mpg. New technologies allow some cars to take control of the on/off switch from the driver when stopped. Whatever their name - stop-start, micro hybrid - automatic systems that shut down a vehicle's engine when the car is at rest help boost efficiency... Spotted in the wild: Fiat 500 on the street in Michigan Topless tourer: The roof comes off the Lexus IS: Driven: 2009 Hyundai Sonata Fiat preparing 500 Giardiniera softroader? 2010 Opel Astra: The Saturn That Never Was? VIDEO: Audi drives R8 straight into the heart of Ferrari country Spy Shots: Is this the next-generation Ford Ranger? And if so, will we get it? GM?s Henderson offers a ray of hope for Sky, Solstice: Fiat's partnership with Chrysler could bring the Ford Ka to America REPORT: BMW dropping a cylinder for next-gen 1- and 3-Series More stories ... Lexus supercar spied testing at the N?rburgring: May 18, 2009 at 12:53 pm Lexus is hard at work testing a supercar at the N?rburgring. This appears to be a speedster based on the LF-A concepts shown at the Detroit auto show in 2005 and 2007. The LF-1 name also has been floated. The future of the project has been murky, but this is the second time in a little more than six months that we have seen one turning laps, and Lexus is prepping two LF-A prototypes to run at the 24 Hours of the N?rburgring. Wimmer Takes All: 680hp Porsche 911 GT2 goes up to 221 mph Spy Shots: Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer caught naked Lexus IS C gets the F-Sport treatment Spy Shots: Oh-So-Good Saab 9-5 rear end and interior spotted Driven: 2010 Lexus IS C Topless tourer: The roof comes off the Lexus IS: Veritas RS III to officially debut at London Salon Privé Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.14.09 Spy Shots: 2012 Volkswagen Passat Spy Shots: Could this be the face of BMW's Project i? More stories ... Want to take an electric vehicle conversion class online? May 18, 2009 at 12:23 pm Converting a liquid-fueled vehicle to electric drive is nothing new, but, if you've never done it before, then everything can be fresh and totally overwhelming. For those of you interested in trying a conversion project, the fine folks at Electric Cars Are For Girls are here to help. Volt shows electric can be powerful, sporty NYC will survey residents on electric cars Electrification of the Automobile Will Evolve Car Design in New Ways Tom Hanks, electric vehicle enthusiast, loves his RAV4 EV Better Place's Battery Swap Station Green GT offers glimpse of possible future product direction Nissan teams up with AeroVironment to charge electric cars in D.C. Electric Cars Are Coming! Hydrogen...Maybe Not So Much Is Farming for Electricity More Efficient? Shell CEO: electric cars are old news, biofuels are the future More stories ... First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350 C prove that going topless isn't always freeing May 18, 2009 at 12:05 pm 2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350C – Click above for high-res image gallery When Lexus researched the target demographic for its IS 250C and IS 350C, respondents were asked what they wanted to do with – and in – their convertibles. British army receives 50 Toyota Priuses for service Driven: 2009 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG First Drive: 2009 BMW Z4 grows up at cost of its groove Link Love From The Car Connection: Reading Behind The Wheel, Music For Hipsters, And GM Targets The Zune Generation Ford awarded Green Choice Award from Natural Health magazine Link Love From The Car Connection: Mitsubishi Marketing Mayhem, Ford Worships Idol, And Hello, Ferrari Heaven First Drive: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe First Drive: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class still a solid bet with excellent returns REPORT: Mercury Sable reaching the end of the line Thursday May 18, 2009 at 11:29 am 2008 Mercury Sable – Click above for high-res image gallery Mercury's born-again Sable sedan is dead again – or, more accurately, it will be come so on Thursday. According to The Detroit News, Ford's gussied-up Taurus (itself a gussied-up Five Hundred) will expire later this week, leaving Mercury with just four models: the Milan, Mariner, Mountaineer, and Grand Marquis. Ur-SHO? Shots of early hi-po Ford Taurus mule discovered First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350 C prove that going topless isn't always freeing Jeremy Clarkson calls Honda Insight "Biblically terrible" Wimmer Takes All: 680hp Porsche 911 GT2 goes up to 221 mph Ford Pulling The Trigger On The Sable New Corsa ecoFLEX most frugal Vauxhall ever: 59 mpg BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld takes completed-races record from Schumacher Honda starts making Civic GX in Indiana Racing Skull: Ferrari F430 Calavera by Unique Sportscars and Novitec Rosso Lomeneo Smera, new French electric car, on sale for 24,500 euros More stories ... Jeremy Clarkson calls Honda Insight "Biblically terrible" May 18, 2009 at 11:29 am 2010 Honda Insight - Click above for a high-res image gallery Though the Honda Insight has been in the public eye for less than a year, the inexpensive hybrid has already attracted its fair share of attention. The Insight is seen as the big competitor to the Toyota Prius, and the five-door has been viewed by many as a step toward making the world a more ecologically friendly place. That's all well and good, but if you listen to Jeremy Clarkson, the Insight is a royal hunk of junk. Toyota Prius points the way to design future: Prius vs. Insight: The Battle Continues REPORT: Toyota already has 75,000 orders for 2010 Prius Electrification of the Automobile Will Evolve Car Design in New Ways British army receives 50 Toyota Priuses for service Officially, official: Toyota will lease 150 plug-in Priuses in Europe starting in late 2009 Bikes vs. cars race ends in decisive two-wheeled victory Report: Toyota received 75,000 Prius pre-orders Toyota launches "Build Your Prius" minisite Honda Insight Is Best Seller in Japan More stories ... Motorsports Links: Tony Stewart Wins All-Star Race May 18, 2009 at 11:28 am Nascar: Tony Stewart won his first race as a team owner on Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Too bad it was in the non-points paying All-Star event. Nevertheless Stewart, who left Joe Gibbs Racing after 10 seasons to start Stewart-Haas Racing, said the win was an important step for the team. Nascar Driver Fails Drug Test NASCAR's Mayfield reportedly suspended for substance abuse, says prescription meds to blame Motorsports Links: Kyle Busch Sweeps at Richmond Honda tapped to supply racing bike engines for new Moto2 series Are GM, UAW close to concessions agreement... or are they at odds over China? May 18, 2009 at 11:22 am Depending on who you choose to listen to, General Motors and the United Auto Workers are either close to forging an important concessions deal, or they're still squabbling over GM's plans to sell imported vehicles to U.S. consumers. GM and the UAW are in talks trying to slash $1 billion in annual labor costs, with reports stating that the plan would give the union a 39% stake in GM to help fund the Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association (VEBA) health care trust... UAW contests GM restructuring Geely denies interest in Volvo and Saab, but you can still bet on who will buy the 'Born From Jets' brand G.M. Could Sell Chinese Cars in the U. S. Chrysler bankruptcy lawyers reportedly ask to be paid up-front Southeast car parts suppliers feel Detroit's pain Ford stock down 13% after share offering TOM WALSH: GM likely to keep HQ in Detroit 6 GM execs dump more than 200,000 shares Ford to sell up to 300 million shares, boost retiree health fund GM Tosses Lifesaver at Saturn Sky, Pontiac Solstice More stories ... REPORT: VW cancels merger talks with Porsche May 18, 2009 at 8:40 am According both automakers, the Porsche-Volkswagen merger has been stalled after VW's management determined Porsche "is lacking several fundamental conditions for the discussions." According to a VW spokesperson, the rift stems from Porsche's inability to demonstrate how the two companies would be integrated, but neither automaker has elaborated on why the talks have stopped... EVs Won't Be Affordable To Middle Class, Says VW's Jacoby REPORT: VW logs 13,000 orders for new Polo ahead of launch Volkswagen to debut four new models in Frankfurt? Porsche and Piech companies to own about half of post-merger VW? Driven: 2009 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Porsche and VW Move Closer to Merger Porsche and VW uniting 10 brands under one roof Audi working on A3 Hybrid with TwinDrive Volkswagen On The Offensive; Out To Prove That Diesel Is Awesome VW's Stefan Jacoby doubts mainstream affordability of EVs in the next decade May 18, 2009 at 8:37 am It sounds like executives from the Volkswagen Group are speaking with one voice on the subject of plug in vehicles. While both Volkswagen and its premium brand Audi are working on various combinations of hybrid, plug-in and even fuel cell technology, it doesn't necessarily follow that these technologies will be readily available anytime soon. VW of America CEO Stefan Jacoby spoke to a group of media in Seattle last week where he told the gathering that its unlikely that plug-in vehicles will go mainstream within the next decade. EVs Won't Be Affordable To Middle Class, Says VW's Jacoby Elektromotive unveils billing system chargepoint for EVs at EVS24 conference Nissan to build EVs at its Oppama assembly plant in Japan Sneak Peek: A look at the new Metro Buddy VW Plants Seed in U.S. Soil Renault-Nissan goes to Singapore with newest electric car partnership 550 Think City electric cars coming to Spain Reader question: Why not electrify the highways? Indian electric vehicle companies request Federal Government help Link Love From The Car Connection: Ferrari Goes For Big Bills, Rolls Royce Ghost In The Flesh, And A Flashback To Simpler Times May 18, 2009 at 8:36 am 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Rolls Royce Ghost in the wild Big spender -- Well, someone out there still has money: a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa has sold at auction for a whopping ?9,020,000 ($12,135,000). No word on who the winner was, but we're pretty sure it wasn't us. At least we hope it wasn't. [Autogespot] Link Love From The Car Connection: George Harrison-Themed MINI, Recycle Your Bentley, And Does Glenn Beck Know How Effin' Funny He Is? Link Love From The Car Connection: Bentley Continental Supersports Spotted, Fast & Furious Nissan Stolen, And Seniors Have Their Moments Link Love From The Car Connection: Reading Behind The Wheel, Music For Hipsters, And GM Targets The Zune Generation China's Hautai reportedly readying Bentley Continental knockoff Link Love From The Car Connection: MINI Es Arrive, Beetle Up For Bid, And Making Your Car Look Like A Golf Ball Won't Help Link Love From The Car Connection: Win A One-Off Corvette, Danica Patrick's Moustache, And Jesse James Is Still Kicking Link Love From The Car Connection: Mitsubishi Marketing Mayhem, Ford Worships Idol, And Hello, Ferrari Heaven Link Love From The Car Connection: Audi D7 Concept, 600,000-Mile Mustang, And Nicholas Cage Movie Driver Ruins Ferrari And Dinner Link Love From The Car Connection: Tricked Out Ford Mustang, A New Popemobile, And 90+ Minutes Of Rally Crashes BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld takes completed-races record from Schumacher May 18, 2009 at 8:33 am Nick Heidfeld at the launch of the BMW Sauber F1.09 – Click above for a high-res image gallery Nick Heidfeld and the BMW Sauber F1 team he drives for may not be having the best season thus far, but one thing you can give them credit for is consistency. $12 Million Ferrari Breaks Auction World Record May 18, 2009 at 8:15 am RM Auctions and Sotheby's made history yesterday, selling a 1957 Ferrari 250 TR for $12,156,252 (€9,020,000), a new world record for most expensive car to be sold at auction. As we told you earlier this year, with only 21 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa with the Scaglietti designed pontoon fender body, chassis no... Link Love From The Car Connection: Ferrari Goes For Big Bills, Rolls Royce Ghost In The Flesh, And A Flashback To Simpler Times Ferrari Sells for a Record $12.4 Million 1957 Ferrari sells for record $12.1 million at auction: GM bankruptcy could be painful May 18, 2009 at 7:41 am GM's vast scale and complex network of partners make the ramifications of a bankruptcy highly unpredictable, especially given the uncertainty about the global economic conditions that pushed the auto industry to the breaking point in the first place. "The biggest difference is scale: GM is a much larger company," said Stephanie Brinley, senior manager of product analysis for the consultancy AutoPacific. Tale of 2 cities' auto anxiety Inside autos: Heads will roll at Toyota, analyst says Headlines from Ford, Chrysler, GM: Ford assumes Visteon credit line TOM WALSH: No escaping mournful dealer-closing notices UAW contests GM restructuring Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.15.09 Toyota's drastic overhaul to reportedly replace 40% of management Bob Lutz to Appear on Late Night With David Letterman and Rebuke False Volt Claims GM Is The New Starbucks, To Cut 2,300 Dealerships By 2010 Bob Lutz to take on Letterman next week to refute Volt claims More stories ... Ferrari Sells for a Record $12.4 Million May 18, 2009 at 7:25 am MARANELLO, Italy - A black 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sold here Sunday for $12,402,500, setting a new record for the highest sale price at a public auction. "The car set a new auction world record as the most expensive motor car ever to be sold at auction," said Amy Christie, a spokeswoman for RM Auctions, which conducted the third annual Ferrari Leggenda e Passione sale. 1957 Ferrari sells for record $12.1 million at auction: There Will be No Customer Access to High Voltage on the Chevy Volt, but it Can Jump Start Another Car May 18, 2009 at 6:49 am People ask if they will be able to access that energy to power their home during a blackout, or for camping, by attaching an inverter to the Volt. "This capability won't be available on gen 1," says Volt spokesperson Rob Peterson, "At this point, our priority is getting the vehicle right and delivering on time. This type of functionality would likely be considered for future gen vehicles." Bob Lutz to take on Letterman next week to refute Volt claims GM: First-gen Volts won't communicate with grid, future versions will Electric Entertainment: Sarah Spiegel records Chevy Volt Jingle Chevy Volt Jingle VIDEO: Elon Musk misrepresents Chevy Volt performance, Tesla getting few new orders for Roadster Ducati 848: First Ride... Through A Shopping Mall Revved up : What's hot and what's not in autos Song remains the same: GM loses billions, Volt still on track GM trying to sell Opel, but will keep Ampera Plug-in Saturn Vue not dead, will be revived (sorta) by 2011 More stories ... AutoblogGreen for 05.18.09 May 18, 2009 at 6:34 am Officially, official: Toyota will lease 150 plug-in Priuses in Europe starting in late 2009 Slowly, Toyota is making the treehuggers' wet dream a reality. Tom Hanks, electric vehicle enthusiast, loves his RAV4 EV Officially, official: Toyota will lease 150 plug-in Priuses in Europe starting in late 2009 Report: Toyota received 75,000 Prius pre-orders AutoblogGreen for 05.15.09 World bemand for battery materials will hit $22.8 billion by 2012 AutoblogGreen for 05.08.09 AutoblogGreen for 05.07.09 Ronn Motors' H2GO systems getting ready for field trials in semi trucks AutoblogGreen for 05.06.09 Reader question: Why not electrify the highways? More stories ... Chrysler dealers prepare legal fight May 18, 2009 at 6:17 am WASHINGTON ? Chrysler dealers will soon launch their legal opposition to the company's plan to cut 789 dealerships in less than a month, arguing the company has asked for too much freedom from state laws protecting dealer agreements. Michael Bernstein, an attorney with Arnold & Porter who represents the Chrysler National Dealer Council, said the dealers may offer a number of objections to the plan in U.S. bankruptcy court, and that the case will enter some uncharted legal territory. Mapping the Carnage: Laying out Chrysler's dealer closings nationwide G.M. Said to Seek About 1,100 Dealer Closures Chrysler seeks to eliminate 789 dealers, 42 in Michigan Fiat's partnership with Chrysler could bring the Ford Ka to America Investors drop legal fight over Chrysler bankruptcy Group drops fight against Chrysler plan As Detroit crumbles, China emerges May 18, 2009 at 4:14 am America's auto titans are dismantling their global empires. But across the Pacific, it's as if the global economic forces that have pummeled Detroit never struck. Chinese auto sales are up, and this year China is projected to displace Japan as the world's largest car producer. Now, the auto world is buzzing that China's auto industry may try to pick up the pieces of Detroit -- at a bargain. Tale of 2 cities' auto anxiety May 18, 2009 at 3:05 am After five years of retirement, 72-year-old Charles Martin is hunting for a job because he lost a fortune on General Motors Corp. stock that now is worth less than it was during the Great Depression. Bustling lunch crowds stopped coming into David's Mini Mart in Sterling Heights after the nearby Chrysler Assembly Plant idled. Chrysler dealers prepare legal fight Electric vehicle manufacturers need to be honest about range estimates Let's Make a Deal: Automakers reportedly reach agreement with lawmakers on carbon cap legislation 550 Think City electric cars coming to Spain At Witz' End - Range Anxiety Q&A   This email was sent to xfeedr@gmail.com.  Create Your Account Don't want to receive this feed any longer? Unsubscribe here.