| Malcolm Bricklin reveals a few more details of his hydrogen plans
May 30, 2009 at 7:59 pm
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|   Speaking in an interview with Robert Farago from The Truth About Cars, Malcolm Bricklin offered a few more details on his plans to convert existing vehicles from Chrysler and General Motors to hydrogen hybrids. To put it mildly, we remain unconvinced that the technology will work, but Bricklin once again asserts that he's got a working prototype and will show off a functioning vehicle with the technology in about 90 days.  As General Motors' board of directors today held its second day of private deliberations about the fate of the 100-year-old automaker, the result of a critical bond proposal was still being tallied late into the day.  According to the Detroit Free Press, the 14 plants that General Motors is expected to announce for closure on Monday was going to be 16 plants until the UAW got its way on Capitol Hill.  As its stock tumbled to a stunning 75 cents a share, General Motors Corp. tied up several loose ends Friday as it prepares to file for bankruptcy reorganization Monday.  DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U.
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| Want to make your car sound turbocharged? Get the Turbo Whistler!
May 30, 2009 at 7:02 pm
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|   Click above to watch the Turbo Whistler in action Have you ever wanted your car to sound turbocharged without having any of the functional benefits? Yeah, neither have we, but apparently someone thought it was a good idea to make such a product. Speaking in an interview with Robert Farago from The Truth About Cars, Malcolm Bricklin offered a few more details on his plans to convert existing vehicles from Chrysler and General Motors to hydrogen hybrids. As General Motors' board of directors today held its second day of private deliberations about the fate of the 100-year-old automaker, the result of a critical bond proposal was still being tallied late into the day.  Click above to watch the Kia Soul's Euro NCAP crash tests There is no rating yet for the Kia Soul in the U.S., but in Europe the car did the business: the Soul scored five stars on the NCAP frontal offset...  A forum user named "Puttz" at the Temple of VTEC took a picture of a manufacturer-plated CR-V in Dublin, Ohio near Honda's Marysville plant. In addition to a set of wheels that Puttz said were reminiscent of those on an RDX sketch...
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| GM still marching toward bankruptcy
May 30, 2009 at 6:49 pm
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|  As General Motors' board of directors today held its second day of private deliberations about the fate of the 100-year-old automaker, the result of a critical bond proposal was still being tallied late into the day. The developments were shared by people familiar with the efforts who didn't want to be identified. As its stock tumbled to a stunning 75 cents a share, General Motors Corp. tied up several loose ends Friday as it prepares to file for bankruptcy reorganization Monday.  Whether or not General Motors files for bankruptcy protection, the carmaker has made clear that its future plans do not include two brands — Saturn and Hummer — that once seemed to hold immense promise for the company.  General Motors Corp., the industrial behemoth that once defined the American corporation, plans to file for bankruptcy reorganization Monday, the Free Press learned today.
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| Prince of Monaco test drives the all-electric Venturi Volage
May 30, 2009 at 5:12 pm
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|  As you know, Monaco wants to position itself as one of the leading EV countries in the world. Of course, the country's small size helps keep range anxiety in check. HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco enjoyed himself during the Grand Prix de Monaco last weekend when the Venturi Volage was in town. The car, which is the result of Venturi's collaboration with Michelin, is an electric sports car that uses Michelin's Active Wheel. Prince Albert II drove the car along the urban circuit set up for the race.  Click above for a high-res gallery of the Fisker Karma The last time we heard about the goings on at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers it was as part of Fisker's 85 million VC funding announcement.  Ruff and Tuff Electric Vehicles Inc. (RTEV) has spun off its Wheego Electric Cars division. Wheego's first car, the low-speed Whip (pictured), should be available in late July (yes, that's a delay).  About a month ago we first heard about the Electric Car Company in the UK starting sales of its Ev'ie. The Ev'ie is a Citroen C1 converted to full battery electric drive.
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| VIDEO: Kia Soul aces Euro NCAP crash tests
May 30, 2009 at 5:07 pm
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| Click above to watch the Kia Soul's Euro NCAP crash tests There is no rating yet for the Kia Soul in the U.S., but in Europe the car did the business: the Soul scored five stars on the NCAP frontal offset, side impact and pole crash tests, doing no worse than "marginal" in just two areas. In the frontal offset test the windshield doesn't crack and there is only minor cosmetic damage aft of the front door's front shut line. It's a big result for a little car, and if it has the reliability to match it should do very, very well. Thanks for the tip, GenGT!  Europe's crash testing authority, Euro NCAP, has published a series of new tests that includes the latest small and fuel efficient models offered there. The top scorers in the small car segment...  Hyundai Genesis Coupe navigation system prototype – Click above for high-res image gallery When Hyundai's sparkling Genesis Coupe debuted earlier this year, we...  According to Reuters, Chevrolet's Aveo replacement has been postponed until January 2011 due to the well-publicized financial troubles at General Motors and its Korean subsidiary, Daewoo.  Click above to watch crash test videos after the jump The 2010 Ford Mustang is quicker and more refined than the model it replaces, and it has also been upgraded in ways you can't see or feel – unless you're in an accident.
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| Spy Shots: 2010 Honda CR-V spotted?
May 30, 2009 at 4:28 pm
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| A forum user named "Puttz" at the Temple of VTEC took a picture of a manufacturer-plated CR-V in Dublin, Ohio near Honda's Marysville plant. In addition to a set of wheels that Puttz said were reminiscent of those on an RDX sketch, the grille is bigger and wearing a lot more chrome work. On the left is the spy shot, on the right is the 2009 CR-V. As another forum user noted, the 2-piece center section is somewhat of a return to the previous generation CR-V.  BMW will be launching its first two production hybrid vehicles late this year and some spy shots of the first one have turned up in Germany. The 755iH, as the name implies, is a gas electric version of the recently launched 7-Series sedan.  Honda CrossTour - Click above for an image gallery VWVortex forum member GoVdubSPEEDGo was vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park when he came across a duo of Honda wagon/crossover mules.  Fresh pics of what looks to be the next generation BMW 1 Series have been snapped in Germany. If it is the rumored 2011/2012 model, it adheres to the trend of nearly every new car, as it appears to be simultaneously bigger and brawnier all over.
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| Tata adds diesel engine and 3-door version to the Nano
May 30, 2009 at 2:43 pm
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|  Tata Nano - Click above for a high res image gallery
After 203,000 firm orders, Indian automaker Tata found out that most buyers had opted for the more expensive variants of the Nano: only 20 percent of orders have been placed for the base model...  BMW Roadsters - Click above for a high-res image gallery We generally think of BMW as the maker of some of the world's best sports sedans, but its put out some impressive roadsters over the years.  Mac Motorcycles Pea Shooter - Click above for a high-res image gallery "What underpins Mac Motorcycles' philosophy is the belief that the riding experience and the stories...  Audi R8 V12 TDI concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery Rumors in the European press that Audi would bring an all-electric R8 supercar (or an extended range...  Brammo Enertia TTR race bike - Click above for a high-res image gallery Best Buy has hopped on as an official sponsor of the Brammo Enertia race team, which will be campaigning...
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| REPORT: Two plants saved from closing under new GM/UAW agreement
May 30, 2009 at 2:13 pm
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| According to the Detroit Free Press, the 14 plants that General Motors is expected to announce for closure on Monday was going to be 16 plants until the UAW got its way on Capitol Hill. The union charged GM with closing factories, but instead of a commensurate reduction in production, GM was moving some of the manufacturing elsewhere, specifically China and Mexico. Speaking in an interview with Robert Farago from The Truth About Cars, Malcolm Bricklin offered a few more details on his plans to convert existing vehicles from Chrysler and General Motors to hydrogen hybrids. As General Motors' board of directors today held its second day of private deliberations about the fate of the 100-year-old automaker, the result of a critical bond proposal was still being tallied late into the day. As its stock tumbled to a stunning 75 cents a share, General Motors Corp. tied up several loose ends Friday as it prepares to file for bankruptcy reorganization Monday. DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U.
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| VIDEO: Corvette Gran Sport launch control tested... in dealer lot
May 30, 2009 at 12:34 pm
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|  Click above to watch the Corvette Grand Sport launch control The Corvette Grand Sport features a launch control so simple your little sister could use it while she puts on her mascara at the light. It is also blisteringly effective and makes a whole lot of the right noises, as you can see in this video of a demo run in a dealership parking lot. How's that for a test drive? Follow the jump to check it out. (Note: no warranties were voided in the making of this video.)  If you're going to steal from enthusiasts on a forum don't repeatedly post on said forum. A Canadian member of TSXClub posted stolen bodywork only to have it show up on another member's car.  A cache of over 50 vintage cars, mostly British, have gone up for sale from a mysterious southern California collector who's decided to liquidate. Abandon hope all ye who enter here.  Click above and scroll down to watch the video While Dave Letterman struggles to correctly describe the Chevrolet Volt, rival late-night host Jay Leno takes a bit more care to get things right in his test drive of the Aptera 2e.  Yesterday morning we finally hopped into a Chevy Volt mule with outgoing GM product czar Bob Lutz for a spin around the Warren Tech Center. What's it feel like? It's utterly unremarkable and appliance-like.
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| VIDEO: Orange County Choppers builds custom motorcycle powered by natural gas
May 30, 2009 at 11:43 am
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|  Orange County Choppers natural gas-powered motorcycle - Click above to watch a video after the break Just about two years ago, the crew from Orange County Choppers built a custom motorcycle powered by E85. That bike was paid for by the Iowa Farm Bureau, which obviously has a vested interest in promoting the use of corn-based alcohol fuel. Speaking in an interview with Robert Farago from The Truth About Cars, Malcolm Bricklin offered a few more details on his plans to convert existing vehicles from Chrysler and General Motors to hydrogen hybrids. Click above to watch the Turbo Whistler in action Have you ever wanted your car to sound turbocharged without having any of the functional benefits? Yeah, neither have we, but apparently someone thought it was a good idea to make such a product. As General Motors' board of directors today held its second day of private deliberations about the fate of the 100-year-old automaker, the result of a critical bond proposal was still being tallied late into the day. Click above to watch the Kia Soul's Euro NCAP crash tests There is no rating yet for the Kia Soul in the U.S., but in Europe the car did the business: the Soul scored five stars on the NCAP frontal offset...
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| Kerfuffle? What kerfuffle? All Formula 1 teams reportedly sign on for 2010
May 30, 2009 at 11:29 am
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|  At least for now, disaster seems to have been averted as all ten teams currently taking part in the 2009 Formula 1 championship have signed conditional agreements to take part in the series in 2010. These reportedly hinge on the Formula One Teams Association's ability to reach a mutually-agreeable compromise to the contentious budget cap negotiations currently taking place between the FIA and the teams themselves.  Ferrari turbocharged V8 engine patent drawing - Click above to enlarge Last week, we learned that Ferrari was taking a long, hard look at hybrid drivetrains as a way...  After failing to convince bondholders to restructure General Motors Corp.'s debt, the automaker's board of directors is to meet at the end of the week to decide the company's fate.
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| Bad Drivers Must Smell The Boot Of Mistress WTF!
May 30, 2009 at 10:30 am
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|   You've seen the Burning Man Penalty from the Goin' For Broken 24 Hours of LeMons at Reno-Fernley Raceway last weekend, but that was just one of many innovations in the LeMons Correctional System. When the superhero-themed World Talent Force (WTF) Civic blew up early in the race (as Honda LeMons cars are wont to do), these two team members were sort of at loose ends once they put their helmets and Nomex away. Naturally, they decided to spend the rest of the weekend in official WTF costume. Speaking in an interview with Robert Farago from The Truth About Cars, Malcolm Bricklin offered a few more details on his plans to convert existing vehicles from Chrysler and General Motors to hydrogen hybrids. Click above to watch the Turbo Whistler in action Have you ever wanted your car to sound turbocharged without having any of the functional benefits? Yeah, neither have we, but apparently someone thought it was a good idea to make such a product. As General Motors' board of directors today held its second day of private deliberations about the fate of the 100-year-old automaker, the result of a critical bond proposal was still being tallied late into the day. Click above to watch the Kia Soul's Euro NCAP crash tests There is no rating yet for the Kia Soul in the U.S., but in Europe the car did the business: the Soul scored five stars on the NCAP frontal offset...
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| Crazy Kiwis: Buy a new Mitsubishi Triton, get a free goat with purchase
May 30, 2009 at 9:49 am
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|  New Zealand Mitsubishi wants you to buy a Triton ute, and to lure you into doing it they're using goats -- because really, who can resist a goat? Said Mitsu's New Zealand sales and marketing manager, Peter Wilkins, "three years of drought has severely depleted sheep and beef populations, so what better time to float the goat?''  Toyota's third-generation Prius couldn't come at a better time for the automaker. Sales of just about every one of the company's models are down, and the Aishi, Japan-based automaker lost $7.  Ford Motor Co., surprised by the popularity of theAWD versions of its Ford Five Hundred, Freestyle, and the Mercury Montego, forecasts sales of such equipped vehiclesfrom automakers to reach 500...  Christian Pearce, illustrator extraordinaire, sees no limits when it comes to his hot rod art, proving that even the touchscreen-enabled Nintendo DS and the homebrew app, Colors can be a deadly combo for imaginative creation.  Currently the CAFE standard is 27.5 mpg for cars and 24 mpg for light trucks. For many years California has pushed for automakers to adhere to its own state standards which are much stricter.
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| GM Agrees to Build 160,000 New Small Cars in the US Instead of Asia and We Brace for Monday
May 30, 2009 at 9:19 am
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|   In the first announcement, the company stated it intends to bring the production of a new small car to a currently shuttered US assembly plant. GM would not say what car they intend to build there but have already discussed plans to introduce the Chevy Spark in 2011. The diminutive high-efficiency compact was supposed to be built in Asia and imported to the US, but the new plan to bring its production to the US is a concession to the UAW for agreeing exchange debt for equity. As General Motors' board of directors today held its second day of private deliberations about the fate of the 100-year-old automaker, the result of a critical bond proposal was still being tallied late into the day. As its stock tumbled to a stunning 75 cents a share, General Motors Corp. tied up several loose ends Friday as it prepares to file for bankruptcy reorganization Monday.  Click above for a high res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt With bankruptcy for GM pretty much certain for next week, the Wall Street Journal has taken a look at whether... DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U.
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| Spy Shots: 2010 BMW 755iH spotted in the wild
May 30, 2009 at 9:07 am
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| BMW will be launching its first two production hybrid vehicles late this year and some spy shots of the first one have turned up in Germany. The 755iH, as the name implies, is a gas electric version of the recently launched 7-Series sedan. While the upcoming X6 uses the two-mode hybrid system, the 755 pairs up BMW's 4.4-liter twin turbo V8 with the mild hybrid system developed with Daimler. A forum user named "Puttz" at the Temple of VTEC took a picture of a manufacturer-plated CR-V in Dublin, Ohio near Honda's Marysville plant. In addition to a set of wheels that Puttz said were reminiscent of those on an RDX sketch... Honda CrossTour - Click above for an image gallery VWVortex forum member GoVdubSPEEDGo was vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park when he came across a duo of Honda wagon/crossover mules.  click above for a high res gallery of Lohner-Porsche EVs and hybrids This year's "Professor Ferdinand Porsche Award" has gone to Dipl. Eng. Michael Keller from Temic Automotive Electric Motors GmbH, Berlin, and Prof.  The bubble of anonymity surrounding BYD outside of its home in China might be about to burst. Last week, we learned that Volkswagen had signed a memorandum of understanding...
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| Racing Heroes Immortalized in Book
May 30, 2009 at 8:00 am
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|   Everywhere I looked in the last week or so I have seen an article about the newest Kindle or some other electronic reader. I'll admit that I have little experience with the devices … and less interest in them. I enjoy reaching for a hardcover volume on my bookshelf and looking up what I need to verify, or just revisiting an old print friend.  When it comes to horsepower, it's always tempting to declare that some new beast of a car has edged over the brink of excess. On the topic of the Bugatti Veyron, Pierre Henri-Raphanel...  California's lead in setting stricter mileage standards for automobiles helped President Obama formulate the new 35.5 mpg requirement for 2016. Since California's voice is so strong in the debate...  2010 Chevy Camaro - Click above for high-res gallery One of the few bright spots at General Motors is the new 2010 Chevy Camaro, which is being ordered in sufficient numbers...  Porsche Design Motorsport Collection – Click above for a high-res image gallery When they're not styling phones, cologne, toasters, special-edition automobiles and such...
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| Aston Martin at Full Throttle
May 30, 2009 at 7:00 am
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|  For the past two years Audi and Peugeot have dominated the top class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Audi winning both races and Peugeot finishing second. But when the green flag drops in two weeks, there will be a newcomer blasting through the French countryside: Aston Martin. Since David Richards took over as chairman of Aston Martin two years ago, he has pushed hard to revitalize the British brand's racing heritage, which goes back to 1923, when two cars competed in the French Grand Prix.  It looks like GT and Le Mans prototype racing may be just the beginning for Aston Martin. Following an agreement this week with F1 promotions boss, Bernie Ecclestone, Aston Martin could be jumping into the Formula One ranks in 2012. Fresh pics of what looks to be the next generation BMW 1 Series have been snapped in Germany. If it is the rumored 2011/2012 model, it adheres to the trend of nearly every new car, as it appears to be simultaneously bigger and brawnier all over.  Earlier this month, the new Aston Martin One-77 won the award for best concept car at the recent Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este on the shore of Lake Como in Italy.  BMW's interpretation of a gran turismo may differ from the traditional - think Aston Martin, Jaguar and Maserati - but judging by the specs released by BMW (and leaked onto the Web two days ahead of schedule)...
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| GM tying up loose ends for bankruptcy
May 30, 2009 at 2:19 am
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| As its stock tumbled to a stunning 75 cents a share, General Motors Corp. tied up several loose ends Friday as it prepares to file for bankruptcy reorganization Monday. The Detroit automaker locked in a labor deal with the UAW that the union says will save GM as much as $1.3 billion a year. Germany's finance minister said a plan was approved for Canadian auto supplier Magna to move ahead with a rescue of GM's European Opel division. As General Motors' board of directors today held its second day of private deliberations about the fate of the 100-year-old automaker, the result of a critical bond proposal was still being tallied late into the day. In the first announcement, the company stated it intends to bring the production of a new small car to a currently shuttered US assembly plant. GM would not say what... Click above for a high res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt With bankruptcy for GM pretty much certain for next week, the Wall Street Journal has taken a look at whether... DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U.
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| Delphi talks with GM, U.S. on Chapter 11 exit
May 30, 2009 at 2:10 am
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| Troy-based supplier Delphi Corp. continues talks with its lenders General Motors Corp. and the U.S. Treasury on a deal that would bring the supplier out of bankruptcy. But the supplier issued a warning Friday evening that if a deal can't be reached by Monday, or if the company can't get an extension, that it could default on its loans. As General Motors' board of directors today held its second day of private deliberations about the fate of the 100-year-old automaker, the result of a critical bond proposal was still being tallied late into the day. As its stock tumbled to a stunning 75 cents a share, General Motors Corp. tied up several loose ends Friday as it prepares to file for bankruptcy reorganization Monday. DETROIT - With an almost certain bankruptcy filing days away, General Motors is beginning its reinvention, planning to retool one factory to make its smallest vehicles ever in the U.  On top of the 1,124 General Motors dealers that will be closed next year, the ailing automaker is reportedly going to announce another round of dealer closings on Monday when its bankruptcy declaration is expected.
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| Ford supports financing of Visteon in bankruptcy
May 30, 2009 at 1:29 am
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| WILMINGTON, Del. -- A Delaware bankruptcy judge approved several first-day motions Friday in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case of automobile parts supplier Visteon Corp. Visteon, the top supplier to and a former subsidiary of Ford Motor Co., filed for bankruptcy protection Thursday, citing declining liquidity, impending debt payments and the economic turmoil in the automotive industry. Whether or not General Motors files for bankruptcy protection, the carmaker has made clear that its future plans do not include two brands — Saturn and Hummer — that once seemed to hold immense promise for the company.  Chrysler's outgoing Chairman Bob Nardelli said the sale of Chrysler assets to Fiat could close as early as today, citing the company's lawyers, but attorneys for three Indiana pension funds fought in bankruptcy court to delay it.  According to Bloomberg, citing persons familiar with the matter, the 77 year old company plans to file for bankruptcy protection on Monday June 1. That same day will...
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| Judge to rule Monday on Chrysler-Fiat
May 30, 2009 at 1:28 am
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| Lawyers for Chrysler, dealers it is trying to terminate, the UAW and three Indiana pension funds presented closing arguments Friday for and against Chrysler's life-saving partnership with Fiat. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Arthur Gonzalez is to approve or reject the deal Monday. Gonzalez's approval would provide powerful legal momentum for the new Chrysler. Chrysler's surviving operations would likely emerge from bankruptcy by mid- to late-June, less than 60 days after its April 30 filing under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy law. Chrysler's outgoing Chairman Bob Nardelli said the sale of Chrysler assets to Fiat could close as early as today, citing the company's lawyers, but attorneys for three Indiana pension funds fought in bankruptcy court to delay it.  A story in the New York Times shines a light on some reasons for the Committee of Chrysler Affected Dealers to challenge the car company's bankruptcy efforts. The element...  According to The Detroit Free Press, the U.S. Treasury has dumped another $7.5 billion into GMAC's coffers just two weeks after the bank was told by federal regulators that it needed billions in order to survive.  The U.S. Treasury continued to mold Detroit's auto industry Wednesday, appointing C. Robert Kidder as chairman of the restructured Chrysler Group LLC, the new name being used for the Auburn Hills automaker.
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