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| Ford makes statement on GM bankruptcy, hopes for level playing field
June 1, 2009 at 7:58 pm
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|   While all eyes are on General Motors, its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and the additional $30 billion in loans the automaker will receive from the US government, FoMoCo doesn't want the Obama administration to forget the Blue Oval is restructuring without the help of the federal government. And the Blue Oval issued a press release asking for a level playing field going forward.  With GM and Chrysler both now in bankruptcy, a relatively healthy Ford stands to benefit, even its its two struggling Detroit rivals gain the advantages of powerful government backing.  General Motors and Chrysler are knee deep in bankruptcy proceedings, with many plants closed for weeks on end. With Ford's domestic competition embroiled in financial distress, the Blue Oval has a unique opportunity to grab market share.  Just before noon EST, President Obama gave a press conference concerning this morning's General Motors Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The man who made hope cool again tried to put as positive a spin as possible on the automaker's decision to file...  WASHINGTON ? On the eve of a possible General Motors bankruptcy filing, a new poll indicates lagging support nationally for government efforts to save the nation's largest carmaker.
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| Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 6.1.09
June 1, 2009 at 7:51 pm
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Officially, Official: GM files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The die is cast: General Motors has filed for bankruptcy. As expected, the automotive giant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this morning in a New York court, listing $82 billion in assets and $172 billion in debts.  If General Motors has any real hope of emerging from Chapter 11 as a newly-viable automaker, it's going to need stellar products that will allow it to compete on a level playing field in every segment of the market it plays in.  Click above to view Ken Block's Gymkhana Two video after the jump When it comes to driving deity Ken Block, words fail. So we'll keep this brief. Make the jump for the full video of Gymkhana Two...  During Bob Lutz's speech to the Automotive Press Association in Detroit last week, one of his slides included some current and future product plans. Most of what was on the chart was already well known including cars like the Orlando...
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| REPORT: Kia Soul'ster headed for production
June 1, 2009 at 7:41 pm
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|  Kia Soul'ster - Click above for a high-res image gallery One of the reasons automakers build concept vehicles is to gauge the public's reaction to a new design. Apparently, the Kia Soul'ster garnered enough goodwill and interest after its debut at the Detroit Auto Show the Korean automaker is strongly considering putting the canvas-roofed Soul-amino into production. Previously, Kia's Alex Fedorak said the Tonka-mobile was created "in a fashion that was production-capable."  Tesla Roadster - Click above for a high-res image gallery With all of the attention garnered these days at Tesla's Model S sedan, it may be easy to forget all about the fledgling EV-maker's current product, the Roadster.  Toyota Camry Hybrid for Thailand - Click above for a high-res image gallery It may have taken a year to make it happen, but the locally-built Toyota Camry Hybrid is finally ready to go on sale in Thailand.  Hamann Rolls-Royce Phantom – Click above for a high-res image gallery With seemingly ever luxury automaker under the sun going after BMW's coveted balance between sport and luxury...  Ford Fiesta Sedan for the U.S. – Click above for high-res image gallery Ford has already released 100 Euro-market Ford Fiesta hatchbacks into the hands of its Fiesta Movement ambassadors...
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| Orion Twp. fears loss of GM plant
June 1, 2009 at 7:39 pm
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|   Officials, business owners and residents in Orion Township are watching nervously the fate of General Motors' assembly plant there. Not only for the employees who work there but for everything else that depends on them. "We have a $6.2 million operating budget and we'll be lucky to get to $5 million on the revenue side next year," said Orion Township supervisor Matthew Gibb. "Something as simple as the library depends on it." While all eyes are on General Motors, its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and the additional $30 billion in loans the automaker will receive from the US government, FoMoCo... With GM and Chrysler both now in bankruptcy, a relatively healthy Ford stands to benefit, even its its two struggling Detroit rivals gain the advantages of powerful government backing. If General Motors has any real hope of emerging from Chapter 11 as a newly-viable automaker, it's going to need stellar products that will allow it to compete on a level playing field in every segment of the market it plays in.  NEW YORK ? General Motors plans to cut about 3,000 more white collar workers this year in the United States, the company's top executive indicated today. GM CEO Fritz Henderson said GM's U.
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| Ford pulls ahead as GM, Chrysler get 'rinse'
June 1, 2009 at 7:17 pm
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|  With GM and Chrysler both now in bankruptcy, a relatively healthy Ford stands to benefit, even its its two struggling Detroit rivals gain the advantages of powerful government backing. Unlike GM and Chrysler, Ford hasn't taken any money from the government. Two years ago, Ford's Chief Executive Alan Mulally mortgaged every conceivable asset owned by the automaker to the tune of $23 billion to finance its turnaround plan. While all eyes are on General Motors, its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and the additional $30 billion in loans the automaker will receive from the US government, FoMoCo... General Motors and Chrysler are knee deep in bankruptcy proceedings, with many plants closed for weeks on end. With Ford's domestic competition embroiled in financial distress, the Blue Oval has a unique opportunity to grab market share. Just before noon EST, President Obama gave a press conference concerning this morning's General Motors Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The man who made hope cool again tried to put as positive a spin as possible on the automaker's decision to file...  Originally, the plan had called for GM's bondholders, who are collectively owed $27 billion by the automaker, to receive a 10% stake in the new company. Less than 10% agreed to accept those terms...
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| D.C. invested in seeing Detroit succeed
June 1, 2009 at 7:16 pm
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| Ready or not, willing or not, the U.S. government is now in the automotive business. With Monday's bankruptcy filing, General Motors is expected to emerge, in perhaps 60 to 90 days, as a new company in which taxpayers will hold a 60 percent majority stake. The White House also will control a large chunk of Chrysler stock as well, now that a federal bankruptcy judge in New York has approved the sale of the smaller automaker's surviving assets. With GM and Chrysler both now in bankruptcy, a relatively healthy Ford stands to benefit, even its its two struggling Detroit rivals gain the advantages of powerful government backing. If General Motors has any real hope of emerging from Chapter 11 as a newly-viable automaker, it's going to need stellar products that will allow it to compete on a level playing field in every segment of the market it plays in. General Motors and Chrysler are knee deep in bankruptcy proceedings, with many plants closed for weeks on end. With Ford's domestic competition embroiled in financial distress, the Blue Oval has a unique opportunity to grab market share.
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| EPA will push clean diesel grant money in Ohio on Wednesday
June 1, 2009 at 7:06 pm
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|   In a rare move that probably won't attract the level of controversy or public comments that seem to be standard for EPA announcements these days (e.g.: California waiver), administrator Lisa Jackson will be in Ohio on Wednesday to talk about American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 grants for auto manufacturing communities, specifically clean diesel grants.
 Over the past couple of years, Volkswagen has been introducing low CO2-emitting variants of several of its mainstream car models under the BlueMotion banner. The latest...  Toyota RAV-4 - Click above for a full gallery Like other automakers in the European market, Toyota has created a green label to identify its models that produces the least CO2.  Sometime in the next decade, you might be able to enjoy some of the benefits of a diesel without driving one. A technology called HCCI improves fuel economy 15 percent...  When the X3 launched in 2004 there was no Mercedes GLK or Audi Q5. Now that the other Germans have come with the competition, reports are indicate BMW is moving the launch of the 2010 X3 up to make sure it can compete.
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| Spy Shots: 2011 Chevrolet Viva caught at the 'Ring
June 1, 2009 at 6:59 pm
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| If General Motors has any real hope of emerging from Chapter 11 as a newly-viable automaker, it's going to need stellar products that will allow it to compete on a level playing field in every segment of the market it plays in. Of course, that's going to include small cars, and the current Chevy Aveo doesn't stand a chance against newer, more desirable models like the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and the upcoming Ford Fiesta (not to mention possible Fiat-based small cars from Chrysler). During Bob Lutz's speech to the Automotive Press Association in Detroit last week, one of his slides included some current and future product plans. Most of what was on the chart was already well known including cars like the Orlando... Ford Fiesta Sedan for the U.S. – Click above for high-res image gallery Ford has already released 100 Euro-market Ford Fiesta hatchbacks into the hands of its Fiesta Movement ambassadors...  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...  After the Ford Fiesta, the 2010 Ford Transit Connect is the second lust-worthy European Ford to make it Stateside. Can a small, practical cargo van appeal to big, burly...
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| Chairman holds hope for GM shares
June 1, 2009 at 6:46 pm
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| NEW YORK -- A reconstituted General Motors could emerge as a publicly traded company within a year of coming out bankruptcy, the company's chairman said today. GM filed for bankruptcy reorganization today and plans to sell off its good parts to a new GM through the court supervised process. That new GM will have the U.S. government as a majority owner but the Obama administration has said it wants to sell off its stake as soon as it can. While all eyes are on General Motors, its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and the additional $30 billion in loans the automaker will receive from the US government, FoMoCo... With GM and Chrysler both now in bankruptcy, a relatively healthy Ford stands to benefit, even its its two struggling Detroit rivals gain the advantages of powerful government backing.  GM explains "New GM" in new commercial – Click above to watch video after the jump There are lots of places you can find official information about what's happening to General Motors right now. Just before noon EST, President Obama gave a press conference concerning this morning's General Motors Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The man who made hope cool again tried to put as positive a spin as possible on the automaker's decision to file...
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| Workers, towns cast adrift by GM bankruptcy
June 1, 2009 at 6:38 pm
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| DETROIT - Pontiac. Mansfield. Spring Hill. Orion Township. All these places once thrived in the shadow of General Motors plants. But now their futures — and their very identities — are in doubt with the automaker's decision to file for bankruptcy and shut down more than a dozen factories. The closings will cause "a ripple effect, and eventually it's going to ripple ... all over this country," said the Rev. Robert Knox, 53, who worked for GM for 31 years before taking a buyout in 2006. While all eyes are on General Motors, its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and the additional $30 billion in loans the automaker will receive from the US government, FoMoCo... With GM and Chrysler both now in bankruptcy, a relatively healthy Ford stands to benefit, even its its two struggling Detroit rivals gain the advantages of powerful government backing. GM explains "New GM" in new commercial – Click above to watch video after the jump There are lots of places you can find official information about what's happening to General Motors right now. Just before noon EST, President Obama gave a press conference concerning this morning's General Motors Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The man who made hope cool again tried to put as positive a spin as possible on the automaker's decision to file...
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| REPORT: Ford to increase production by 10% in third quarter
June 1, 2009 at 6:07 pm
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| General Motors and Chrysler are knee deep in bankruptcy proceedings, with many plants closed for weeks on end. With Ford's domestic competition embroiled in financial distress, the Blue Oval has a unique opportunity to grab market share. Ford has experienced share growth for six of the past seven months, and it plans a larger assault on sales increases in the third quarter. As such, FoMoCo plans on upping its Q3 production by 10% to capitalize on the situation. Toyota Camry Hybrid for Thailand - Click above for a high-res image gallery It may have taken a year to make it happen, but the locally-built Toyota Camry Hybrid is finally ready to go on sale in Thailand. Hamann Rolls-Royce Phantom – Click above for a high-res image gallery With seemingly ever luxury automaker under the sun going after BMW's coveted balance between sport and luxury... Just before noon EST, President Obama gave a press conference concerning this morning's General Motors Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The man who made hope cool again tried to put as positive a spin as possible on the automaker's decision to file...  Volvo and Vattenfall have just made an announcement that should hurry the Swedish car maker along the hybrid highway. The two companies have partnered to develop a plug-in...
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| Harley Earl's own '63 Corvette Stingray convertible on the auction block
June 1, 2009 at 6:02 pm
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|  Harley Earl's 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible – Click above for a high-res gallery Legendary sportscar marques deserve their own dedicated auctions, and lately they've been getting what they deserve. RM Auction has been running a Ferrari-only event at the Maranello factory for a few years now, while Bonhams has been doing the same with Aston Martin at Newport Pagnell for even longer. Tesla Roadster - Click above for a high-res image gallery With all of the attention garnered these days at Tesla's Model S sedan, it may be easy to forget all about the fledgling EV-maker's current product, the Roadster. Toyota Camry Hybrid for Thailand - Click above for a high-res image gallery It may have taken a year to make it happen, but the locally-built Toyota Camry Hybrid is finally ready to go on sale in Thailand. Hamann Rolls-Royce Phantom – Click above for a high-res image gallery With seemingly ever luxury automaker under the sun going after BMW's coveted balance between sport and luxury... Ford Fiesta Sedan for the U.S. – Click above for high-res image gallery Ford has already released 100 Euro-market Ford Fiesta hatchbacks into the hands of its Fiesta Movement ambassadors...
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| Next Tesla sportscar to have back seat, AWD, rear seats and storage
June 1, 2009 at 6:00 pm
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| Tesla Roadster - Click above for a high-res image gallery With all of the attention garnered these days at Tesla's Model S sedan, it may be easy to forget all about the fledgling EV-maker's current product, the Roadster. As cool as the Tesla Roadster may be – which is to say, very, very cool – it's not a particularly useful vehicle for the vast majority of the population. After all, it's got just two cramped seats and hardly any storage space to speak of. Toyota Camry Hybrid for Thailand - Click above for a high-res image gallery It may have taken a year to make it happen, but the locally-built Toyota Camry Hybrid is finally ready to go on sale in Thailand. Hamann Rolls-Royce Phantom – Click above for a high-res image gallery With seemingly ever luxury automaker under the sun going after BMW's coveted balance between sport and luxury... Ford Fiesta Sedan for the U.S. – Click above for high-res image gallery Ford has already released 100 Euro-market Ford Fiesta hatchbacks into the hands of its Fiesta Movement ambassadors...  Dino Roso design study– Click above for a high-res image gallery Good or bad, everybody's got an opinion on the styling of contemporary Ferrari offerings –...
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| Fifteen Mind-Bendingly Awesome Used Tire Sculptures
June 1, 2009 at 5:30 pm
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|   Ever wonder what becomes of your used tires once they've served their intended purpose and been replaced? If your tires are lucky, they end up like one of these 15 fantastic pieces of used tire artwork. If General Motors has any real hope of emerging from Chapter 11 as a newly-viable automaker, it's going to need stellar products that will allow it to compete on a level playing field in every segment of the market it plays in. Tesla Roadster - Click above for a high-res image gallery With all of the attention garnered these days at Tesla's Model S sedan, it may be easy to forget all about the fledgling EV-maker's current product, the Roadster. General Motors and Chrysler are knee deep in bankruptcy proceedings, with many plants closed for weeks on end. With Ford's domestic competition embroiled in financial distress, the Blue Oval has a unique opportunity to grab market share.  This may be the most natural progression from the car world to art: Rinspeed, the master of the offbeat concept, is launching an auto-themed collection of contemporary prints.
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| Bing: RenCen incentives now in flux
June 1, 2009 at 5:07 pm
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| Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said today that a tax incentive plan that he and Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano proposed last week to convince General Motors Corp. to keep its headquarters in the Renaissance Center is in flux. As Warren Mayor Jim Fouts offered a package of incentives last week to lure GM to relocating its headquarters to his city, Bing and Ficano proposed making the Renaissance Center a renaissance zone, exempting GM from several taxes such as city income and utility taxes, most city and county property taxes, plus state income taxes or business taxes.  MACKINAC ISLAND ? Wayne County officials and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing have cooked up a plan to grant Renaissance Zone status to General Motors Corp.'s headquarters in the Renaissance Center...  Calling it an unprecedented proposal, Warren Mayor Jim Fouts offered General Motors Corp. long-term tax incentives Thursday to move its headquarters from the Renaissance Center in Detroit to the GM Tech Center in Warren.  Warren Mayor Jim Fouts plans to officially offer tax incentives and other perks to General Motors on Thursday if it moves its headquarters from the Renaissance Center in Detroit to the GM Tech Center in Warren.
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| New York trash trucks start testing Bosch Rexroth hydraulic hybrid
June 1, 2009 at 5:00 pm
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|  The New York sanitation department has just started a year-long evaluation of a hydrostatic regenerative braking (HRB) system on garbage trucks. The system provided by Bosch Rexroth is a hydraulic launch assist system. This is basically a hydraulic mild hybrid system. During braking, a hydraulic pump is driven off the gearbox to pressurize an accumulator. When the vehicle accelerates, the hydraulic pressure is used to drive a hydraulic motor that provides a mechanical assist to the transmission. While all eyes are on General Motors, its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and the additional $30 billion in loans the automaker will receive from the US government, FoMoCo... Kia Soul'ster - Click above for a high-res image gallery One of the reasons automakers build concept vehicles is to gauge the public's reaction to a new design. Apparently... Officials, business owners and residents in Orion Township are watching nervously the fate of General Motors' assembly plant there. Not only for the employees who work there but for everything else that depends on them.  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.
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| Rendered Speculation: Lamborghini Murcielago successor not coming until 2012
June 1, 2009 at 4:59 pm
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|  Lamborghini supercars tend to have a relatively long lifespan. The Countach stayed in production for sixteen years from its introduction in 1974 until the Diablo replaced it in 1990, which in turn anchored Sant'Agata's line-up for eleven years until the Murcielago was introduced in 2001. Now eight years in production, the steel-bodied Raging Bull has grown pretty long in the tooth, even if it can still hold its own against its contemporary competition.  2010 Chevy Spark - Click above for a hi-res image gallery General Motors has issued a cryptic press release suggesting it plans to retool an existing plant here in the United States to build a new small car. MACKINAC ISLAND ? Wayne County officials and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing have cooked up a plan to grant Renaissance Zone status to General Motors Corp.'s headquarters in the Renaissance Center...  We've known for several months now that Peugeot would be selling a re-badged version of the Mitsubishi iMiEV in Europe in a couple of years. What we haven't seen is the car itself.  There has been all manner of speculation leading to this point, but the Temple of VTEC says it has heard from a source who claims the Honda Crosstour will be arrive in the U.
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| Can't Get Rid of Your Old Junker?
June 1, 2009 at 4:40 pm
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|   Just because you have no more use for your old ride doesn't mean someone can't make good use of it. No two ways about it, Americans are holding on to their cars longer. According to a recent study by automotive industry analyst R. L. Polk & Co., the average life span for a motor vehicle in the United States is now 112.8 months. That means cars are staying on the road more than 12 months longer than a decade ago.  A madman Ford nut is hand-building an incredible Hummer H1 replica on the bones of a junker Ford F-150. The full scope of this fabrication fest can only be appreciated in the huge gallery below.  Japanese automakers on Wednesday praised President Barack Obama's new rules to push green vehicles and transform the U.S. auto industry -- a shift that likely puts Japan's manufacturers at an advantage.  2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI No, we won't all be driving golf carts. We won't all have to drive a truncated 2009 Toyota Yaris either. Relax and chill, folks. Let's do a little reality-based projecting on what 2016 might look like.
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| Surprise, Prius so popular Toyota will increase production rate to 500,000 a year
June 1, 2009 at 4:14 pm
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|  2010 Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery Either Toyota intentionally downplayed initial numbers or the sluggish economy is not affecting Prius sales as much as the company feared. Whatever the reason, Toyota apparently realized it wasn't building enough Priuses and will increase production to meet demand. When Toyota introduced the car to the U.S. media in March, company officials said that they were predicting sales of 100,000 units in 2009.  Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Toyota Prius File this one under slightly sketchy (AFS Trinity style). A Florida Toyota dealer is taking a Prius on what he calls an "epic" 1,100-mile trip to Washington, D.  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...  Toyota Prius - Click above for a high-res image gallery Toyota Prius fans in the UK have a little something to celebrate today. Prices for the upcoming third-generation...  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.  There are some who believe that the Holy Grail of fuel-saving technology could potentially be diesel-electric hybrids, and the idea certainly isn't without merit. After all...
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| Toyota Camry Hybrid gets nip/tuck for ASEAN market intro
June 1, 2009 at 4:10 pm
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| Toyota Camry Hybrid for Thailand - Click above for a high-res image gallery It may have taken a year to make it happen, but the locally-built Toyota Camry Hybrid is finally ready to go on sale in Thailand. This new version of the Camry Hybrid is the first of its kind (not assembled in Japan) and features unique new front and rear fascias that are derived from the Australian Aurion. Our take? The front grille is vaguely reminiscent of the three-bar chrome schnoz used by Ford in America, although it also reminds somewhat of the Venza, as well. Tesla Roadster - Click above for a high-res image gallery With all of the attention garnered these days at Tesla's Model S sedan, it may be easy to forget all about the fledgling EV-maker's current product, the Roadster. 2010 Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery Either Toyota intentionally downplayed initial numbers or the sluggish economy is not affecting Prius sales as much as the company feared. Hamann Rolls-Royce Phantom – Click above for a high-res image gallery With seemingly ever luxury automaker under the sun going after BMW's coveted balance between sport and luxury... Ford Fiesta Sedan for the U.S. – Click above for high-res image gallery Ford has already released 100 Euro-market Ford Fiesta hatchbacks into the hands of its Fiesta Movement ambassadors...
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| New U.S.-built GM small car could be Aveo replacement called Viva
June 1, 2009 at 1:43 pm
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| During Bob Lutz's speech to the Automotive Press Association in Detroit last week, one of his slides included some current and future product plans. Most of what was on the chart was already well known including cars like the Orlando, Cruze and Spark. Motor Trend's Todd Lassa noticed a new addition to the list which may well fit in with last week's announcement that GM will build a new small car in the U.S.  To be sure, GM's financial health has been weak for years; mountains of debt, dependence on high profit margin trucks and SUVs, losing money on every small car sold, and paying unsustainably high legacy costs to retired autoworkers.  This is shaping up to be a great year for cars. The irony is almost unbearable. Automakers around the world are in crisis mode, hanging on by their fingernails and by...  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...  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...
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| President Obama addresses nation on GM bankruptcy
June 1, 2009 at 1:14 pm
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| Just before noon EST, President Obama gave a press conference concerning this morning's General Motors Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The man who made hope cool again tried to put as positive a spin as possible on the automaker's decision to file, claiming a "viable, achievable plan" is in place that will make the "New GM" a competitive, profitable business going forward. He highlighted specific points of the plan including GM's intention to produce a larger share of its vehicles in the U.  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.  Yesterday, General Motors and its bondholders had officially called it quits, and GM was headed for a certain and certain-to-be-rocky bankruptcy. Today, according to a company filing...  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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| CEO: GM will be strong, healthy
June 1, 2009 at 1:13 pm
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|  GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson said today in a televised address that General Motors has embarked on "a defining moment in the history of General Motors." He called the bankruptcy that GM filed today "a fast-track plan to form a leaner ... more cost-competitive" company. "This new GM will be built from the strongest parts of our business," he said, "including our best brands ... and products."  Just back in off a plane from LA, we made it to the GM Building here in midtown Manhattan in their world financial headquarters, blogging live from the center of the automotive...  General Motors Corp. will pare 2,100 dealers from its business, and has until July 10 to complete the remix of its assets in bankruptcy court paid for by the Obama administration, according to filings today.  At 6:00 AM EST this morning, it was official: General Motors filed for bankruptcy. The pundits, editorialists, arm-chair quarterbacks and newly-minted auto analysts began having their say late last night.  WASHINGTON ? With a few keystrokes Monday morning, General Motors Corp. will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York, launching a complicated, multibillion-dollar...
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| Spy Shots: Ford Fiesta Sedan for U.S. caught testing
June 1, 2009 at 12:47 pm
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| Ford Fiesta Sedan for the U.S. – Click above for high-res image gallery Ford has already released 100 Euro-market Ford Fiesta hatchbacks into the hands of its Fiesta Movement ambassadors, but the actual production model being developed for the U.S. will have some differences, as these spy shots indicate. For one, the U.S. will have a sedan model in addition to the two- and four-door hatchback. Dino Roso design study– Click above for a high-res image gallery Good or bad, everybody's got an opinion on the styling of contemporary Ferrari offerings –...  Pattner receives the keys in Ingolstadt – Click above for a high-res image gallery There are road trips and there are road trips. This one is a fine example of the latter.  GTbyCitroen – Click above for a high-res image gallery When Citroen collaborated with the people behind Sony Playstation's hit Gran Turismo game franchise on the...  Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport – Click above for a high-res image gallery The marque's faithful (read: the obscenely wealthy) have been waiting a long time for a convertible Bugatti.
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| Volvo and Vattenfall team up to develop plug-in hybrid
June 1, 2009 at 12:39 pm
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| Volvo and Vattenfall have just made an announcement that should hurry the Swedish car maker along the hybrid highway. The two companies have partnered to develop a plug-in diesel hybrid that should begin series production in 2012 with the first 3 demonstration vehicles to be completed this summer. Volvo, of course, will supply the cars while the energy giant will bring charging units and the actual carbon-free electricity to the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) equation. Other hybrids being baked by the Ford-owned brand include a "micro-hybrid" for 2011 as well as the ReCharge concept.  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.  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...
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| Exxon CEO: "Alternative" just means finding new ways to burn fossil fuels
June 1, 2009 at 12:33 pm
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|  Here's a good one. How would you define alternative energy? Solar power? Wind turbines? Recycling waste grease into biodiesel? Well, if you're Rex Tillerson, the CEO of Exxon, then "alternative" energy has a very special meaning. The Dallas Morning News heard Tillerson say the following during the company's annual shareholder meeting last week: GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson said today in a televised address that General Motors has embarked on "a defining moment in the history of General Motors." He called the bankruptcy that GM filed today "a fast-track plan to form a leaner . Volvo and Vattenfall have just made an announcement that should hurry the Swedish car maker along the hybrid highway. The two companies have partnered to develop a plug-in... Ford Fiesta Sedan for the U.S. – Click above for high-res image gallery Ford has already released 100 Euro-market Ford Fiesta hatchbacks into the hands of its Fiesta Movement ambassadors...  Click above to watch the video after the break It's a classic case of old versus new, classic versus current, father versus son. A 1968 Chevy Camaro RS/SS lines up against a 2010 Camaro with the same options packages.
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| VIDEO: 2010 Camaro RS/SS drag races its 1968 counterpart... on a bridge?!
June 1, 2009 at 12:30 pm
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| Click above to watch the video after the break It's a classic case of old versus new, classic versus current, father versus son. A 1968 Chevy Camaro RS/SS lines up against a 2010 Camaro with the same options packages. According to the comments on YouTube, the '68 is anything but stock, with a 406 cubic inch small-block V8 mated with a five-speed manual Tremec transmission and a 3.73:1 posi rear end. GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson said today in a televised address that General Motors has embarked on "a defining moment in the history of General Motors." He called the bankruptcy that GM filed today "a fast-track plan to form a leaner . Volvo and Vattenfall have just made an announcement that should hurry the Swedish car maker along the hybrid highway. The two companies have partnered to develop a plug-in... Here's a good one. How would you define alternative energy? Solar power? Wind turbines? Recycling waste grease into biodiesel? Well, if you're Rex Tillerson, the CEO of Exxon, then "alternative" energy has a very special meaning. Ford Fiesta Sedan for the U.S. – Click above for high-res image gallery Ford has already released 100 Euro-market Ford Fiesta hatchbacks into the hands of its Fiesta Movement ambassadors...
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| Obama: GM plan 'full of promise'
June 1, 2009 at 12:28 pm
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| WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama today hailed the government-led bankruptcy and restructuring of General Motors Corp. as "the end of the old GM and the beginning of a new GM," even as he warned of its cost in taxpayer money and jobs. Combined with the approval of Chrysler to be sold to Fiat, Obama said, the strategy of quick bankruptcies would result in stronger automakers who could compete on a global stage, and lead the world in developing fuel-efficient vehicles. Just before noon EST, President Obama gave a press conference concerning this morning's General Motors Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The man who made hope cool again tried to put as positive a spin as possible on the automaker's decision to file...  WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will announce on Monday the bankruptcy of General Motors Corp., launching a complicated, $59-billion effort to prevent the century-old juggernaut of American manufacturing from collapse.  We are bearing witness to a catastrophic rupture of the car industry as we know it. Not only in terms of the economic machinery upon which it is run, but more so upon the fuel its creations will use.  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...
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| Live From New York, It's The Bankruptcy Of GM!
June 1, 2009 at 12:01 pm
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| Just back in off a plane from LA, we made it to the GM Building here in midtown Manhattan in their world financial headquarters, blogging live from the center of the automotive punditverse watching President Obama announce the bankruptcy of the General. Follow along at the Carpocalypse tag. Jeez, we go away for a week and come back to GM bankruptcy. Who woulda thunk it? Well, us for instance. Anyway, we're gonna listen to Obama right now, with GM CEO Fritz Henderson speaking momentarily here in New York once the White House press conference is over. So, GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson said today in a televised address that General Motors has embarked on "a defining moment in the history of General Motors." He called the bankruptcy that GM filed today "a fast-track plan to form a leaner . At 6:00 AM EST this morning, it was official: General Motors filed for bankruptcy. The pundits, editorialists, arm-chair quarterbacks and newly-minted auto analysts began having their say late last night. WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will announce on Monday the bankruptcy of General Motors Corp., launching a complicated, $59-billion effort to prevent the century-old juggernaut of American manufacturing from collapse. 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...
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| REPORT: 2010 Corvette Grand Sport to start at $55,720?
June 1, 2009 at 11:37 am
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|  If the introduction of the ZR1 into the Corvette lineup has made the base model look a bit dull, the Grand Sport package more than fills the aesthetic gap between the models...
 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.  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.  It's an epidemic folks: new muscle cars seem to be afflicted with difficult-to-balance wheels. First, it was the Camaro, then the Mustang, and now we can add the Challenger to the list.
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| Amsterdam gets the first Coulomb EV charging stations in Europe
June 1, 2009 at 11:33 am
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|  The Dutch city of Amsterdam is the first European city to install networked charging stations provided by Coulomb Technologies. The first 45 Chargepoint stations (neé Smartlet) are being installed as part of a two-year demonstration project. Amsterdam plans to have 200 of the Chargepoints by 2012 with the goal of supporting up to 10,000 plug-in vehicles in the city by 2015.  The Japanese market has never been particularly fond of diesel cars, but Subaru is getting ready to try anyway. Subaru launched its first diesel boxer engine in Europe in 2008 and so far has sold over 30,000 examples.  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... We've known for several months now that Peugeot would be selling a re-badged version of the Mitsubishi iMiEV in Europe in a couple of years. What we haven't seen is the car itself. 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...
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| Dino Roso design study takes another stab at reviving Ferrari's classic 246 GT
June 1, 2009 at 11:28 am
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| Dino Roso design study– Click above for a high-res image gallery Good or bad, everybody's got an opinion on the styling of contemporary Ferrari offerings – a fact that could go a long way toward explaining why everybody and their cousin wants to have a go at designing the Italian stallions themselves. The latest to join the fold is Paolo Roso, an apparently aspiring automotive designer. His project? The Dino Roso, a project that aims to reinterpret the classic 1967 Dino 246 GT in a radically different form. Ford Fiesta Sedan for the U.S. – Click above for high-res image gallery Ford has already released 100 Euro-market Ford Fiesta hatchbacks into the hands of its Fiesta Movement ambassadors... Pattner receives the keys in Ingolstadt – Click above for a high-res image gallery There are road trips and there are road trips. This one is a fine example of the latter. GTbyCitroen – Click above for a high-res image gallery When Citroen collaborated with the people behind Sony Playstation's hit Gran Turismo game franchise on the... Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport – Click above for a high-res image gallery The marque's faithful (read: the obscenely wealthy) have been waiting a long time for a convertible Bugatti.
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| New GM to dissolve 2,100 dealers
June 1, 2009 at 11:26 am
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| General Motors Corp. will pare 2,100 dealers from its business, and has until July 10 to complete the remix of its assets in bankruptcy court paid for by the Obama administration, according to filings today. In an affidavit, GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson also reveals that the company looked for investments from foreign governments and considered selling OnStar, but was unable to do either as the economy collapsed last year, leaving the Obama administration plan as the only choice. GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson said today in a televised address that General Motors has embarked on "a defining moment in the history of General Motors." He called the bankruptcy that GM filed today "a fast-track plan to form a leaner . Just back in off a plane from LA, we made it to the GM Building here in midtown Manhattan in their world financial headquarters, blogging live from the center of the automotive... At 6:00 AM EST this morning, it was official: General Motors filed for bankruptcy. The pundits, editorialists, arm-chair quarterbacks and newly-minted auto analysts began having their say late last night.
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| Critics attack government role
June 1, 2009 at 11:12 am
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| WASHINGTON ? As General Motors filed for bankruptcy this morning, critics were already lining up to blast President Barack Obama for taking what they believe is too great a role in running an iconic American company. Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele put out a Web ad and issued a statement saying, "No matter how much the president spins GM's bankruptcy as good for the economy, it is nothing more than another government grab of a private company and another handout to the union cronies who helped bankroll his presidential campaign." GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson said today in a televised address that General Motors has embarked on "a defining moment in the history of General Motors." He called the bankruptcy that GM filed today "a fast-track plan to form a leaner . General Motors Corp. will pare 2,100 dealers from its business, and has until July 10 to complete the remix of its assets in bankruptcy court paid for by the Obama administration, according to filings today. At 6:00 AM EST this morning, it was official: General Motors filed for bankruptcy. The pundits, editorialists, arm-chair quarterbacks and newly-minted auto analysts began having their say late last night.  The die is cast: General Motors has filed for bankruptcy. As expected, the automotive giant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this morning in a New York court, listing $82 billion in assets and $172 billion in debts.
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| Silicon infused electrodes could double lithium ion current capacity
June 1, 2009 at 10:42 am
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|  Dow Corning Toray has developed a new process for infusing carbon electrodes with silicon to help increase the current capacity of lithium ion batteries. While researchers have been working with silicon for some time, the results have been limited. The problem has been evenly distributing the silicon within the graphite material. Dow's new process involves burning a silicon-based polymer material in the presence of the graphite which disperses smaller silicon particles through more of the carbon.  Click above for a hi-res gallery of the 2010 Subaru Legacy The 5th-generation Subaru Legacy has officially begun production, with the first car rolling off the Lafayette...  Which is better? A national fleet fuel economy standard (think CAFE) of 42.2 mpg or 35.5. mpg? The former, right? Well, 42.2 is exactly what China has put in place and, from that one number, they seem to be beating the U.  Renault Twingo - Click above for a complete gallery A few French media outlets are toying with the possibility that Renault could build a microcar to compete with the smart fortwo...  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.
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| Early obits attempt to analyze, make sense of General Motors bankruptcy
June 1, 2009 at 10:41 am
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| At 6:00 AM EST this morning, it was official: General Motors filed for bankruptcy. The pundits, editorialists, arm-chair quarterbacks and newly-minted auto analysts began having their say late last night. Over the coming days, weeks and months, GM's Chapter 11 filing will provide endless editorial fodder for scribes of all stripes and creeds, and the last 12 hours is a good indication of what's to come. GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson said today in a televised address that General Motors has embarked on "a defining moment in the history of General Motors." He called the bankruptcy that GM filed today "a fast-track plan to form a leaner . To be sure, GM's financial health has been weak for years; mountains of debt, dependence on high profit margin trucks and SUVs, losing money on every small car sold, and paying unsustainably high legacy costs to retired autoworkers.  General Motors' bankruptcy endgame appears to be at hand, with word coming out that the automaker will indeed file for Chapter 11 protection early on Monday morning, which in turn is expected to trigger $30.
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| Three For Three: Guiness Record Driver aims to pilot Audi A3 across three continents in three days
June 1, 2009 at 10:39 am
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| Pattner receives the keys in Ingolstadt – Click above for a high-res image gallery There are road trips and there are road trips. This one is a fine example of the latter. With an endless roster of driving records under his belt, German auto journalist Gerhard Plattner is gearing up to drive on three continents in just three days, in the process setting yet another world record. His weapon of choice? An Audi A3 1.9 TDI, which the German automaker enthusiastically handed over just the other day. Ford Fiesta Sedan for the U.S. – Click above for high-res image gallery Ford has already released 100 Euro-market Ford Fiesta hatchbacks into the hands of its Fiesta Movement ambassadors... Dino Roso design study– Click above for a high-res image gallery Good or bad, everybody's got an opinion on the styling of contemporary Ferrari offerings –... GTbyCitroen – Click above for a high-res image gallery When Citroen collaborated with the people behind Sony Playstation's hit Gran Turismo game franchise on the... Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport – Click above for a high-res image gallery The marque's faithful (read: the obscenely wealthy) have been waiting a long time for a convertible Bugatti.
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| UK paper gets to drive prototype BMW X1 xDrive 23d
June 1, 2009 at 9:57 am
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|  BMW will unveiling the latest edition to its sport activity vehicle lineup this fall, probably at the Frankfurt Motor Show. While the new X1 isn't ready to be shown publicly just yet, the Munich automaker did let a writer from the Times of London take one for a preview drive in Spain. The X1 is slightly smaller than the Land Rover Freelander and will compete with the likes of the VW Tiguan and the upcoming Audi Q3. 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. 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.  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...  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.
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| Officially, Official: GM files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
June 1, 2009 at 9:49 am
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| The die is cast: General Motors has filed for bankruptcy. As expected, the automotive giant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this morning in a New York court, listing $82 billion in assets and $172 billion in debts. As we told you earlier, the century-old company will gain extensive assistance from the U... General Motors Corp. will pare 2,100 dealers from its business, and has until July 10 to complete the remix of its assets in bankruptcy court paid for by the Obama administration, according to filings today.  NEW YORK ? General Motors Corp., which for much of its 100-year life was the world's largest automaker and the pinnacle of corporate America, today filed for bankruptcy... General Motors' bankruptcy endgame appears to be at hand, with word coming out that the automaker will indeed file for Chapter 11 protection early on Monday morning, which in turn is expected to trigger $30. 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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| VIDEO: Just because it has AWD, that doesn't make it an off-roader
June 1, 2009 at 9:44 am
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|  Click the image above to view the video after the jump Just because a vehicle has a high riding stance and all-wheel drive, that doesn't qualify it as an off-roader. That's why when BMW introduced the X5 it was labeled as a "Sports Activity Vehicle" not an SUV. BMW designed the X5 knowing full well that the majority of largely suburban SUV buyers never even think about going off-road. Unfortunately, it appears that one driver, who evidently rented this X5 in Istanbul, never got that message. 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.  Ford Fiesta Rally Racer – Click above for high-res image gallery For the Ford Fiesta's next trick on it's Get to Know America Tour, the smallest of Blue Oval autos is getting a serious overhaul and going mountain climbing. There has been all manner of speculation leading to this point, but the Temple of VTEC says it has heard from a source who claims the Honda Crosstour will be arrive in the U.
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| AutoblogGreen for 06.01.09
June 1, 2009 at 6:00 am
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|  Does keeping the Chevy Volt alive make sense for Government Motors?
An interesting question for U.S. taxpayers: should we fund development for a money-losing car? Click to vote in our poll. The Japanese market has never been particularly fond of diesel cars, but Subaru is getting ready to try anyway. Subaru launched its first diesel boxer engine in Europe in 2008 and so far has sold over 30,000 examples. 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.  Toyota's 1/x hybrid concept, whose bioplastic exterior contains seaweed, has the same interior space as a Prius, but weighs only 926 pounds — about one-third the weight of a Prius — and aims to double its fuel efficiency.  The ** 2010 Honda Insight hybrid looks as aerodynamically slick and technically advanced as Toyota's 51-m.p.g. 2010 Prius, but falls far short. In fact, the new Insight...
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| Judge OKs sale of most Chrysler assets to Fiat
June 1, 2009 at 5:40 am
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| NEW YORK ? A federal bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of most of Chrysler's assets to Fiat, clearing the way for the American automaker to exit court protection shortly. Judge Arthur Gonzalez said in a court filing Sunday that he approved the sale, the major piece of a plan orchestrated by a federal auto task force.  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.  Devon Motor Works GTX rendering - Click above for an image gallery According to court documents filed by Chrysler, there is but one lone official offer for the firm's Dodge Viper automotive business...  The plan for GM bankruptcy would also give the automaker just short of $30 billion in additional aid. That $30 billion figure is a starting point for the government negotiations...
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| REPORT: GM to declare bankruptcy before markets open, chief restructuring officer named
May 31, 2009 at 11:39 pm
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| General Motors' bankruptcy endgame appears to be at hand, with word coming out that the automaker will indeed file for Chapter 11 protection early on Monday morning, which in turn is expected to trigger $30.1 billion in U.S. government loans. That funding will arrive on the heels of the $19.4 billion GM has already received since late last year, and Canada is expected to chip in an additional $9.5 billion. In exchange for that $30.1 billion in financing, Capitol Hill will receive a 60% share of GM, while Canada's investment will reportedly net it a 12% stake. WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will announce on Monday the bankruptcy of General Motors Corp., launching a complicated, $59-billion effort to prevent the century-old juggernaut of American manufacturing from collapse.  General Motors will declare bankruptcy Monday morning at around 6:00 am, before the markets open. Additionally, the Obama Administration has put turnaround expert Al Koch in charge of turning the company around. WASHINGTON ? With a few keystrokes Monday morning, General Motors Corp. will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York, launching a complicated, multibillion-dollar...
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| TOM WALSH: A last-ditch attempt for GM to avoid chaos
May 31, 2009 at 10:30 pm
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| Born amid chaos at the dawn of the automobile age 100 years ago, General Motors Corp. today makes a last-ditch attempt to avoid crumbling back into total chaos. At stake as GM files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy are the jobs of 235,000 GM employees, plus pensions and health care benefits for 493,000 U.S. retirees. MACKINAC ISLAND ? Wayne County officials and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing have cooked up a plan to grant Renaissance Zone status to General Motors Corp.'s headquarters in the Renaissance Center...  MACKINAC ISLAND -- Gasoline prices may have moderated from last year's $4-a-gallon heights, but the United States still faces a dangerous reckoning unless it ends its reliance on importing foreign oil from its enemies...  The Obama administration made a new proposal today to General Motors Corp. bondholders carrying $27.2 billion of the company's debt, offering them 10% of a reformulated...
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| Obama sets a new course for GM
May 31, 2009 at 10:19 pm
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| WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will announce on Monday the bankruptcy of General Motors Corp., launching a complicated, $59-billion effort to prevent the century-old juggernaut of American manufacturing from collapse. •PDF: White House fact sheet on the new GM. Backed by its unions, large bondholders, and the governments of the United States, Canada and Ontario, GM will file in New York a painful plan to cleave itself into a lean, government-owned automaker pared down to compete in a sputtering U.S. market. General Motors will declare bankruptcy Monday morning at around 6:00 am, before the markets open. Additionally, the Obama Administration has put turnaround expert Al Koch in charge of turning the company around. WASHINGTON ? With a few keystrokes Monday morning, General Motors Corp. will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York, launching a complicated, multibillion-dollar...  DETROIT - General Motors Corp. was making final preparations Sunday for its bankruptcy protection announcement after bondholders accepted a sweetened deal, smoothing the way for the company's reorganization.  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.
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| Our 'Christine' Was a Chevy. What's Your G.M. Memory?
May 31, 2009 at 9:48 pm
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|   Given that General Motors has made some 450 million cars and trucks in the United States in the last 100 years, there are surely at least 450 million stories inspired by them: memorable trips and ill-timed breakdowns, romances kindled and crimes consummated, new models that turned to junk and oldies that truly became goodies.  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 Volkswagen Group sold more than a million cars in China last year (more than three times its United States sales), so it wasn't surprising that when VW decided to add another battery collaborator, it chose the fast-moving Chinese company BYD.  John Schnatter's 1972 Chevrolet Camaro – Click above for high-res image gallery It's inconceivable that in 1984 there was any young man in America under 30 that did not love both pizza and the Camaro Z-28.  We're familiar with the Camaro brake weights issue, so when we saw tons of wheel-balancing weights on the Camaro Indy pace car, we thought it strange. Turns out the 2010 Mustang is just as bad.
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| GM To Declare Bankruptcy Monday, Chief Restructuring Official Named
May 31, 2009 at 9:15 pm
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| General Motors will declare bankruptcy Monday morning at around 6:00 am, before the markets open. Additionally, the Obama Administration has put turnaround expert Al Koch in charge of turning the company around. Fritz Henderson will remain as the GM chief. Al Koch is managing director of AlixPartners, a business consulting company involved in restructuring. He was placed in charge of K-Mart, the largest retail bankruptcy in U.S. History, and successfully guided the company out of the bankruptcy. General Motors' bankruptcy endgame appears to be at hand, with word coming out that the automaker will indeed file for Chapter 11 protection early on Monday morning, which in turn is expected to trigger $30. WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will announce on Monday the bankruptcy of General Motors Corp., launching a complicated, $59-billion effort to prevent the century-old juggernaut of American manufacturing from collapse. WASHINGTON ? With a few keystrokes Monday morning, General Motors Corp. will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York, launching a complicated, multibillion-dollar... WASHINGTON ? On the eve of a possible General Motors bankruptcy filing, a new poll indicates lagging support nationally for government efforts to save the nation's largest carmaker.
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| GM's chance to get the company right
May 31, 2009 at 8:18 pm
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| WASHINGTON ? With a few keystrokes Monday morning, General Motors Corp. will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York, launching a complicated, multibillion-dollar effort by the Obama administration to prevent the century-old corporate giant from collapse. Backed by its unions, the U.S. and Canadian governments and large bondholders, GM will detail a painful plan to cleave itself into a lean, government-owned automaker pared down to compete in a sputtering U. WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will announce on Monday the bankruptcy of General Motors Corp., launching a complicated, $59-billion effort to prevent the century-old juggernaut of American manufacturing from collapse. General Motors will declare bankruptcy Monday morning at around 6:00 am, before the markets open. Additionally, the Obama Administration has put turnaround expert Al Koch in charge of turning the company around.  NEW YORK ? A majority of General Motors bondholders, who are owed a total of $27.2 billion, have agreed to a deal to swap debt for an ownership stake in the reconstituted company, the Free Press learned this morning.
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| One lucky Hoosier gets ethanol, wins the lottery
May 31, 2009 at 7:54 pm
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|  Don't say ethanol never paid off for anyone. Summitville, Indiana resident Pamela Smith stopped off to buy E85 earlier this month and dropped a few bucks into the Indiana lottery. Luck was with her, and she won the $2.5 million Hoosier Lotto jackpot. "I was looking for Ethanol gas," Smith in a statement. "I actually went inside the gas station to thank the manager for carrying Ethanol because it's so hard to find. It was an impulse buy for me to purchase one dollar of Lotto and one dollar of Powerball." General Motors' bankruptcy endgame appears to be at hand, with word coming out that the automaker will indeed file for Chapter 11 protection early on Monday morning, which in turn is expected to trigger $30. WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will announce on Monday the bankruptcy of General Motors Corp., launching a complicated, $59-billion effort to prevent the century-old juggernaut of American manufacturing from collapse. General Motors will declare bankruptcy Monday morning at around 6:00 am, before the markets open. Additionally, the Obama Administration has put turnaround expert Al Koch in charge of turning the company around.
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| PSA: If you're going to impersonate the police, you might not want to call for backup
May 31, 2009 at 7:42 pm
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|  The dispatcher had no idea who was interloping on the Ontario, Ohio police frequency. The mystery caller called himself Fred and requested a marked unit. When pressed to identify what department the call was coming from, a shaky answer of "Um, auxiliary patrol" came modulating weakly back. The exchange failed to pass the smell test, so Fred Heitzman indeed got his requested marked car -- it came for him. Heitzman, you see, allegedly has a habit of playing police officer without anything more than a strobed-up car. General Motors' bankruptcy endgame appears to be at hand, with word coming out that the automaker will indeed file for Chapter 11 protection early on Monday morning, which in turn is expected to trigger $30. WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will announce on Monday the bankruptcy of General Motors Corp., launching a complicated, $59-billion effort to prevent the century-old juggernaut of American manufacturing from collapse. General Motors will declare bankruptcy Monday morning at around 6:00 am, before the markets open. Additionally, the Obama Administration has put turnaround expert Al Koch in charge of turning the company around.
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