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| Chinese-made Coda electric sedan looks to plug in to U.S. market:
June 3, 2009 at 9:43 pm
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|   There's some competition for the Tesla Model S. Santa Monica, Calif.-based Coda Automotive unveiled its first electric car on Wednesday, and it's no golf cart. The Chinese-made, four-door, five-seat sedan has everything from Bluetooth and navigation to an iPod dock and a finished interior. It will sticker for $45,000 when it goes on sale in fall 2010, but Federal and state rebates could lower that to the mid-$30,000 range.  Headquartered in Santa Monica California the new company stated its intentions to mass produce a pure electric sedan. The 4-door 5-passenger unassuming sedan will be powered by lithium ion batteries made by Lishen Co.  SANTA MONICA, California - The first electric sedan you're likely to see in showrooms could come from a company you've never heard of and cost more than you're willing to pay.  click above for a high res gallery of the Code EV sedan Today, Miles EV announced that the full speed electric car that it has been developing for the last several years will bear the new Coda Automotive brand.  Getting to own an electric car can be expensive. The bar looks even higher if you're a group of high school students. Students at the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville, NC decided to use cars to buy a car.  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.
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| VIDEO: The best motorcycle save you'll see all week
June 3, 2009 at 8:58 pm
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|   Raffaele de Rosa's amazing save - Click above to watch the video after the jump Without a doubt, one of the scariest moments in any motorcycle rider's life is the split-second just before a high-side. This kind of accident often takes place after a turn is taken at high speed and the rider attempts to accelerate out of the corner. The rear tire loses enough traction that it slides out of line with the front wheel, then quickly regains its footing, snapping the bike violently upright. Almost always, this results in a nasty spill, making high-sides extremely dangerous.  The guys at Mission Motors have been working like mad preparing for the upcoming TTxGP green motorcycle grand prix and they sent us some video of their sexy bike on the track.  Ever wonder what it's like to get nailed in the privates with a skateboard propelled by an exploding airbag? Wonder no more as this idiot has done it on video. Point and laugh, and hopefully learn.  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.  Impaired driving kills thousands of motorists each year, and ad campaigns and increased police enforcement have done little to stop it from happening. When we say "impaired driving," most think about alcohol.
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| Ford Fusion hybrid, the most patented car in history
June 3, 2009 at 8:52 pm
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|   2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for a high-res image gallery More technology than ever before is being added to modern automobiles, and much of this whiz-bang tech has been created to cut down on fuel consumption and reduce emissions. This being the case, it's not particularly surprising to hear that the new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid holds the title of The Most Patented Car in History. So says Christine Wren, director of business development for The Patent Board, a firm that tracks and analyzes patents across 17 industries globally:  With the EURO-V emissions regulations coming into full effect this year, Mercedes Benz has updated the engine lineup for its big Sprinter vans. The Sprinter uses a range...  One Millionth SYNC: Click above to view the high-res gallery Ford and SYNC have combined to be the peanut butter and jelly of automotive tech combo deals. 80% of the vehicles Ford sells now has the infotainment system...  According to a recent study conducted by JPMorgan, hybrid sales are about to take off. Last year, there were some 480,000 total hybrid vehicles sold around the world, which represents less than one percent of global sales.  The 2010 Honda Insight hybrid is a new car bereft of new ideas. That's peculiar, because the original 2000 Insight was the first gasoline-electric hybrid sold in the United States.
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| Yet Another Electric Car Start-up: Coda Automotive and its "Mainstream" Sedan
June 3, 2009 at 8:13 pm
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|  Headquartered in Santa Monica California the new company stated its intentions to mass produce a pure electric sedan. The 4-door 5-passenger unassuming sedan will be powered by lithium ion batteries made by Lishen Co. of China. The vehicle will have a 333 v 33.8 kwh battery pack composed of 728 prismatic 14.5Ah Li-ion cells. The pack will come with an 8 year 100,000 mile warranty. There's some competition for the Tesla Model S. Santa Monica, Calif.-based Coda Automotive unveiled its first electric car on Wednesday, and it's no golf cart. The Chinese-made... SANTA MONICA, California - The first electric sedan you're likely to see in showrooms could come from a company you've never heard of and cost more than you're willing to pay. click above for a high res gallery of the Code EV sedan Today, Miles EV announced that the full speed electric car that it has been developing for the last several years will bear the new Coda Automotive brand. Getting to own an electric car can be expensive. The bar looks even higher if you're a group of high school students. Students at the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville, NC decided to use cars to buy a car. 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.
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| Piaggio MP3 Hybrid officially in production
June 3, 2009 at 7:51 pm
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|  Piaggio MP3 Hybrid - Click above for a high-res image gallery As expected, Piaggio has apparently begun production of the three-wheeled MP3 Hybrid. Currently, the bike is only available in Europe with a price of under €10,000 ($14,125), but we've been hearing rumors that it would make the trip across the pond and into America at some point in the relatively near future. According to Motociclismo, Roberto Colaninno, the President and CEO of Piaggio, delivered the first MP3 Hybrid to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi last week. 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for a high-res image gallery More technology than ever before is being added to modern automobiles, and much of this whiz-bang tech has been created to cut down on fuel consumption and reduce emissions.  Nissan 370Z – Click above for a high-res image gallery While Nissan has been trying to master the Nürburgring in its flagship GT-R supercar, it was the one-rung-down...  Carver One for taxi duty - Click above for a high-res image gallery We don't often hear about the Carver One here in the United States, probably because it's not actually available for sale in this country.  Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery There's something kind of lighthearted about a giant, lightweight green quote bubble being held aloft by a little blue fork lift.
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| Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 6.3.09
June 3, 2009 at 7:48 pm
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|  Review: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V offers supercar performance, everyday drivability
When Cadillac's engineers were tasked with creating the second generation CTS-V, they made a pact to blow the competition out of the water. In doing so, they've created a world-beating super sedan and one of the best vehicles GM has ever produced.  Mustang X-1 and Challenger Vapor – Click either for high-res image gallery We're all about the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, but they need some help in the form of new recruits, and that's where good old fashioned recruiting comes in.  2011 BMW 1 Series - Click above for a high-res image gallery The BMW 1 Series is due for a thorough overhaul, and judging by these recent spy shots, the entry-level Bimmer is on track to be released late next year.  2009 Cadillac CTS-V – Click above for high-res image gallery Despite recent products to the contrary, when much of America thinks "Cadillac," a lot of people still recall the land yachts of the '70s and '80s.  General Motors makes more than a few world-class automobiles. As true as that statement may be, that alone wasn't enough to stall the automaker's steady decline –...
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| Hyundai gives KDM facelifted Accent - is the U.S. next?
June 3, 2009 at 7:42 pm
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|  2010 Hyundai Verna Transform/Accent - Click above for an image gallery Hyundai's released a handful of images of the redesigned Verna Transform, or, as it's known in markets outside of Korea, the Accent. This 2010 model receives a thoroughly redesigned front fascia that's strikingly similar to the recently released Subaru Legacy, with a deep air dam, oversized front grille, foglights, and sculpted bumper that accentuates the pointed and drawn headlamps. 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for a high-res image gallery More technology than ever before is being added to modern automobiles, and much of this whiz-bang tech has been created to cut down on fuel consumption and reduce emissions. Piaggio MP3 Hybrid - Click above for a high-res image gallery As expected, Piaggio has apparently begun production of the three-wheeled MP3 Hybrid. Currently, the bike is only available in Europe with a price of under €10... Nissan 370Z – Click above for a high-res image gallery While Nissan has been trying to master the Nürburgring in its flagship GT-R supercar, it was the one-rung-down... Carver One for taxi duty - Click above for a high-res image gallery We don't often hear about the Carver One here in the United States, probably because it's not actually available for sale in this country.
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| Nissan reportedly preparing Nürburgring edition 370Z for the European market
June 3, 2009 at 7:34 pm
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| Nissan 370Z – Click above for a high-res image gallery While Nissan has been trying to master the Nürburgring in its flagship GT-R supercar, it was the one-rung-down 370Z which the Japanese automaker fielded at the track's 24-hour race last month. To commemorate the occasion, Nissan is reportedly preparing to drop a special commemorative edition of its 370Z on the European market. 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for a high-res image gallery More technology than ever before is being added to modern automobiles, and much of this whiz-bang tech has been created to cut down on fuel consumption and reduce emissions. Piaggio MP3 Hybrid - Click above for a high-res image gallery As expected, Piaggio has apparently begun production of the three-wheeled MP3 Hybrid. Currently, the bike is only available in Europe with a price of under €10... Carver One for taxi duty - Click above for a high-res image gallery We don't often hear about the Carver One here in the United States, probably because it's not actually available for sale in this country. Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery There's something kind of lighthearted about a giant, lightweight green quote bubble being held aloft by a little blue fork lift.
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| And Then There Were Two: GM reportedly whittles down to a pair of Saab suitors
June 3, 2009 at 7:30 pm
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|  When General Motors first put Swedish automaker Saab on the auction block, it was reported that there were nearly 20 interested parties...
 With last year's round of bank bailouts, John Stewart's comedic cup overfloweth with material. Now, with General Motors' bankruptcy official, Stewart takes aim at the late, great automaker in the segment "BiGMess.  According to Australia's Drive, Holden boss Mark Reuss has confirmed that General Motors' Australian outpost will produce a hatchback version of the Cruze sedan that it shares with Chevrolet.  With a little help from Fiat and the U.S. government, among others, it seems Chrysler and GM are both on a pathway to solvency — or are they? On June 1, President Barack... General Motors makes more than a few world-class automobiles. As true as that statement may be, that alone wasn't enough to stall the automaker's steady decline –...
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| Indiana pensioners delay Fiat's purchase of Chrysler
June 3, 2009 at 7:22 pm
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|  Three Indiana pension funds will delay the closing of Fiat's purchase of Chrysler at least into next week and possibly past the critical June 15 deadline after which the Italian automaker Fiat can abandon the deal. "Indiana retirees and taxpayers have suffered losses because of unprecedented and illegal acts of the federal government," said Richard Mourdock, Indiana Treasurer.  After search and rescue workers found only debris from Air France 447, reports increasingly doubt the possibility that there will be any survivors from the Rio-to-Paris flight that went missing Sunday over the Atlantic. With a little help from Fiat and the U.S. government, among others, it seems Chrysler and GM are both on a pathway to solvency — or are they? On June 1, President Barack...  Hallelujah! The first child born of the Fiat-Chrysler marriage arrives in just 18 months when the Italian automaker brings the awesome 500 to the United States. Better yet...
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| GM: We'll air finances anyway
June 3, 2009 at 7:19 pm
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| Even as a private company, General Motors will regularly disclose its financial conditions, the automaker announced today. Earlier this week, GM had indicated the reconstituted automaker would be giving out less information to the public. GM filed for bankruptcy reorganization Monday as part of a plan to sell off the company's good assets to create a new GM that will be private. As part of the plan, the U.S. Treasury will become the majority shareholder with about a 60% stake. With a little help from Fiat and the U.S. government, among others, it seems Chrysler and GM are both on a pathway to solvency — or are they? On June 1, President Barack...  General Motors' bankruptcy filing is only a few days old, but the struggling automaker already seems to be pressing ahead full steam. The General has already announced 14 plant closings...  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.
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| Mazda Europe PR Director Neil Warrior among the victims of Air France 447
June 3, 2009 at 6:24 pm
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| After search and rescue workers found only debris from Air France 447, reports increasingly doubt the possibility that there will be any survivors from the Rio-to-Paris flight that went missing Sunday over the Atlantic. Among the lives believed to be lost is Neil Stuart Warrior, director of public relations for Mazda's European division. Piaggio MP3 Hybrid - Click above for a high-res image gallery As expected, Piaggio has apparently begun production of the three-wheeled MP3 Hybrid. Currently, the bike is only available in Europe with a price of under €10...  The Fiat 500 is coming to America, and it appears to be on a fast track. Richard Gadeselli, a Fiat spokesman at the automaker's headquarters in Turin, Italy, sent an...  As previously reported, Ford's Australian arm is currently developing a new global small truck platform that will underpin the next Ford Ranger here in the United States.  The Chevrolet Volt program could be compared to a World War II bomber flying through heavy flak over occupied Europe. Somehow, against the odds, it keeps flying. And despite declaring bankruptcy on Monday...
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| Ford gets Inventor of the Year award for engine block coating system
June 3, 2009 at 6:24 pm
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|  For decades, automakers have been trying to reduce the mass of major engine components. For the most part casting cylinder blocks and heads in aluminum rather than the traditional iron has been considered the preferred approach. The problem is that aluminum is not as tough as iron and when you have pistons reciprocating several thousand times per minute, it tends to wear away quickly. The most common solution to the wear problem has been the use of iron or steel cylinder liners, but they adds weight and cost.  A vote could come today on a bill designed to offer credits of up to $4,500 for consumers to trade-in gas-guzzling older vehicles. The so-called "cash for clunkers" legislation is designed to stimulate auto sales...  The Hyundai Assurance program may well go down as the most innovative and perhaps successful marketing campaign of 2009. The program was so perfect for our economic times that General Motors and Ford eventually followed suit with very similar offers.  Lost in the bevy of numbers that is the Autoblog monthly sales report is the fact that Volvo just isn't selling very many cars in the U.S. any more. The Swedish automaker only sold 5577 units in May...  Parsing the sales numbers from May, the boys at Cars.com put together this month's list of the top ten best selling cars. They found lower gas prices increase U.S. sales of trucks and SUVs.
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| Unknown Carmaker Could Build First Production EV
June 3, 2009 at 6:07 pm
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|  SANTA MONICA, California - The first electric sedan you're likely to see in showrooms could come from a company you've never heard of and cost more than you're willing to pay. Coda Automotive unveiled the Coda Wednesday and promised to begin selling by this time next year. The four-door, five-passenger mid-size car features pedestrian styling, a range of 90 to 120 miles and a whopping $45,000 price tag. It will be available only in California to start, but the company plans to roll it out nationally by 2012. Headquartered in Santa Monica California the new company stated its intentions to mass produce a pure electric sedan. The 4-door 5-passenger unassuming sedan will be powered by lithium ion batteries made by Lishen Co. click above for a high res gallery of the Code EV sedan Today, Miles EV announced that the full speed electric car that it has been developing for the last several years will bear the new Coda Automotive brand.  After a long hiatus, American consumers appear ready to return to auto showrooms to buy new cars, experts say, although not in the large numbers seen in past years. A rise in new U. Hallelujah! The first child born of the Fiat-Chrysler marriage arrives in just 18 months when the Italian automaker brings the awesome 500 to the United States. Better yet...
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| Vancouver 2009: Hydrogen Road Trip vehicles finish 1,700-mile trip
June 3, 2009 at 6:06 pm
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|  The Hydrogen Road Tour came to a successful conclusion here in Vancouver today after crossing through three states and two countries and making stops in 28 cities since starting in Chula Vista, California nine days ago. The Premier of British Columbia, the Honourable Gordon Campbell (pictured) said that the twelve H2 vehicles that made the 1,700-mile trip made an "incredible trek." He continued: Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery There's something kind of lighthearted about a giant, lightweight green quote bubble being held aloft by a little blue fork lift.  GMC Sierra 1500 hydrogen truck - Click above for a high-res image gallery One of the few vehicles on display at the Hydrogen + Fuel Cells 2009 conference here in Vancouver is a modified GMC Sierra 1500 pickup truck.  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.  Say cheese! Unless you happen to live in Arkansas, Indiana, Nevada or Virginia, that is. In a case that once again reminds us that the truth is often stranger than fiction...
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| In Soviet America, Bankruptcy Drives New Government Motors T-Shirt!
June 3, 2009 at 6:00 pm
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|   Combining "In Russia" memes with Carpocalyptic imagery, this is a t-shirt perfect for any Jalopnik reader. Plus, who knows, it might even be chosen as the "New GM"'s new logo. [Despair Inc] Carver One for taxi duty - Click above for a high-res image gallery We don't often hear about the Carver One here in the United States, probably because it's not actually available for sale in this country. With last year's round of bank bailouts, John Stewart's comedic cup overfloweth with material. Now, with General Motors' bankruptcy official, Stewart takes aim at the late, great automaker in the segment "BiGMess.  Duracar Quicc Diva - Click above for a complete gallery Bad news from Dutch EV entrepreneur Duracar, manufacturer of the Quicc Diva: The company that owns Duracar, Econcern, is shutting down because it can't repay part of its $1 million debt.  General Motors is going to right-size its dealer body as part of its bankruptcy, and the Detroit automaker is going to ask plenty of dealers that make the cut to remain with the "new" GM.
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| The Traffic Barrel Monster Will Eat You And Your Car
June 3, 2009 at 5:30 pm
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|  We were first in warning you about the traffic zombie invasion. Now it's time to warn you about the traffic barrel monsters. [via UniqueDaily] There's some competition for the Tesla Model S. Santa Monica, Calif.-based Coda Automotive unveiled its first electric car on Wednesday, and it's no golf cart. The Chinese-made... 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for a high-res image gallery More technology than ever before is being added to modern automobiles, and much of this whiz-bang tech has been created to cut down on fuel consumption and reduce emissions. Raffaele de Rosa's amazing save - Click above to watch the video after the jump Without a doubt, one of the scariest moments in any motorcycle rider's life is the split-second just before a high-side. Headquartered in Santa Monica California the new company stated its intentions to mass produce a pure electric sedan. The 4-door 5-passenger unassuming sedan will be powered by lithium ion batteries made by Lishen Co.
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| VIDEO: John Stewart asks why we keep buying crap companies
June 3, 2009 at 4:59 pm
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| With last year's round of bank bailouts, John Stewart's comedic cup overfloweth with material. Now, with General Motors' bankruptcy official, Stewart takes aim at the late, great automaker in the segment "BiGMess." Although Stewart was late to the game with last night's Daily Show and a few of his quips provide further proof that the MSM are still woefully uninformed about what brought down two of the Big Three, between gags, he poses a few questions the average American is asking. With a little help from Fiat and the U.S. government, among others, it seems Chrysler and GM are both on a pathway to solvency — or are they? On June 1, President Barack... General Motors makes more than a few world-class automobiles. As true as that statement may be, that alone wasn't enough to stall the automaker's steady decline –... General Motors' bankruptcy filing is only a few days old, but the struggling automaker already seems to be pressing ahead full steam. The General has already announced 14 plant closings...  Ford is primed to receive a bump in sales as a result of the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler, and the Dearborn-based automaker is picking and choosing where to take share from its domestic competition.
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| Russian taxi company adds Carver to fleet
June 3, 2009 at 4:56 pm
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| Carver One for taxi duty - Click above for a high-res image gallery We don't often hear about the Carver One here in the United States, probably because it's not actually available for sale in this country. Apparently, that's not the case in much of the European Union and Russia, where a taxi company called 1Motto has reportedly purchased a Carver One to shuttle occupants to their destinations as quickly as possible, even through rush hour traffic. 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for a high-res image gallery More technology than ever before is being added to modern automobiles, and much of this whiz-bang tech has been created to cut down on fuel consumption and reduce emissions. Piaggio MP3 Hybrid - Click above for a high-res image gallery As expected, Piaggio has apparently begun production of the three-wheeled MP3 Hybrid. Currently, the bike is only available in Europe with a price of under €10... Nissan 370Z – Click above for a high-res image gallery While Nissan has been trying to master the Nürburgring in its flagship GT-R supercar, it was the one-rung-down... Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery There's something kind of lighthearted about a giant, lightweight green quote bubble being held aloft by a little blue fork lift.
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| Miles EV launches Coda Automotive for full speed electric sedan
June 3, 2009 at 4:54 pm
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| click above for a high res gallery of the Code EV sedan Today, Miles EV announced that the full speed electric car that it has been developing for the last several years will bear the new Coda Automotive brand. The Coda sedan will be assembled in China by Hafei under the direction of staff from Coda. The new car is based on an existing Hafei chassis that has been heavily re-engineered by Porsche Engineering. The car is powered by a UQM electric motor driving the front wheels with energy storage via lithium iron phosphate battery pack. Headquartered in Santa Monica California the new company stated its intentions to mass produce a pure electric sedan. The 4-door 5-passenger unassuming sedan will be powered by lithium ion batteries made by Lishen Co. SANTA MONICA, California - The first electric sedan you're likely to see in showrooms could come from a company you've never heard of and cost more than you're willing to pay. Getting to own an electric car can be expensive. The bar looks even higher if you're a group of high school students. Students at the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville, NC decided to use cars to buy a car.  When CalMotors did the electric drivetrain integration engineering for the eRuf project last year, they used an electric motor from UQM. Becoming decidedly more serious about working in the electric and hybrid vehicle space...  Battery manufacturer Valence Technology has big plans to expand its manufacturing capacity. To help pay for the investment, the Austin, Texas-based company has applied for a $225 million grant from the U.
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| Spy Shots: 2011 BMW 1 Series gets closer to production
June 3, 2009 at 3:49 pm
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| 2011 BMW 1 Series - Click above for a high-res image gallery The BMW 1 Series is due for a thorough overhaul, and judging by these recent spy shots, the entry-level Bimmer is on track to be released late next year. This second generation prototype was caught running between BMW's test centers in Germany wearing the roundel's patented psychedelic camo, and appears to blend some of the new X1's slab sides with the upright grille and fascia that debuted on the redesigned 2009 BMW 7 Series. Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery There's something kind of lighthearted about a giant, lightweight green quote bubble being held aloft by a little blue fork lift. Mustang X-1 and Challenger Vapor – Click either for high-res image gallery We're all about the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, but they need some help in the form of new recruits, and that's where good old fashioned recruiting comes in.  Mercedes-Benz Concept Fascination – Click above for a high-res image gallery Body-styles in Mercedes' staple E-Class range have been taken on a heck of a roller coaster these past few years.  Tesla Roadster - Click above for a high-res image gallery From the first to the 100th and now to the 500th, the story of Tesla Motors and their initial offering - the Roadster - has been pretty heavily documented.
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| VW clean diesels have best sales month since launch in June
June 3, 2009 at 3:39 pm
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|  May was another dismal month for car sales pretty much everywhere, including Volkswagen. There was however one bright spot at VW: sales of its Jetta TDI. Overall, sales of the Jetta were up 27.6 percent in May and it appears that most of that gain was due to the new Sportwagen and TDI versions. The 2009 Jetta TDI was the first tier 2 bin 5 compliant clean diesel car to make it to market last year when the first examples went on sale in August. The diesel versions of the Jetta have always been popular when they have been available in the U.S. and this new one was no exception. After a long hiatus, American consumers appear ready to return to auto showrooms to buy new cars, experts say, although not in the large numbers seen in past years. A rise in new U.  After filing for bankruptcy protection, General Motors is pushing a new ad campaign promising it will emerge from its financial troubles leaner and stronger. Is this...  Although Volkswagen is known for its diesels, the German marque is glad to show that it's also a player on the fuel-cell battlefield. How? By shipping 16 fuel-cell Passat Lingyu sedans to the U.  Volkswagen has announced that it will recall some 25,594 examples of its 2006-2009 Jetta over a potential driveshaft issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, cars with the company's 2.
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| U.S. Air Force builds two crazy custom pony cars for recruiting
June 3, 2009 at 3:38 pm
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| Mustang X-1 and Challenger Vapor – Click either for high-res image gallery We're all about the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, but they need some help in the form of new recruits, and that's where good old fashioned recruiting comes in. But it's not like the old days where a couple of uniformed officers attend a job fair in your high school gymnasium. These days, the U.S. Air Force is using a pair of radically customized pony cars to get your attention. Mission accomplished. Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery There's something kind of lighthearted about a giant, lightweight green quote bubble being held aloft by a little blue fork lift. May was another dismal month for car sales pretty much everywhere, including Volkswagen. There was however one bright spot at VW: sales of its Jetta TDI. Overall, sales of the Jetta were up 27.  Jaguar's owner Ratan Tata has made it clear that he wants to expand Jag's sportscar offerings beyond the scope of the current XK, and this is what the British rumormill has cooked.
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| Rendered Speculation: Jaguar C-Type draws its claws
June 3, 2009 at 3:30 pm
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| Jaguar's owner Ratan Tata has made it clear that he wants to expand Jag's sportscar offerings beyond the scope of the current XK, and this is what the British rumormill has cooked. Dubbed the C-Type, the renderings depict a compact two-door roadster to rival the likes of Porsche's Boxster, BMW's Z4, Mercedes' SLK and Nissan's 370Z. With a lightweight aluminum chassis and powertrain options to potentially include a 235hp V6, 380hp V8 and 3.  2010 Jaguar XJ: Click above to view the video after the jump The top-of-the-line leaping cat was blessed with an aluminum chassis that was well ahead of its time, but...  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...  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.  Audi R8 V10 - Click above for a high-res image gallery Reports out of France and Germany indicate that in addition to the all-new A8 and A5 Sportback, Audi plans to reveal two versions of the R8 at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.
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| Vancouver 2009: fuel cell forklift looks pretty happy
June 3, 2009 at 3:26 pm
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| Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery There's something kind of lighthearted about a giant, lightweight green quote bubble being held aloft by a little blue fork lift. Of course, the Ballard fuel cell forklift wasn't on display here at the Hydrogen + Fuel Cells 2009 in Vancouver purely to amuse. Nope, forklifts are sort of the canaries of the fuel cell industry, 2011 BMW 1 Series - Click above for a high-res image gallery The BMW 1 Series is due for a thorough overhaul, and judging by these recent spy shots, the entry-level Bimmer is on track to be released late next year. Mercedes-Benz Concept Fascination – Click above for a high-res image gallery Body-styles in Mercedes' staple E-Class range have been taken on a heck of a roller coaster these past few years. Tesla Roadster - Click above for a high-res image gallery From the first to the 100th and now to the 500th, the story of Tesla Motors and their initial offering - the Roadster - has been pretty heavily documented.  Danica Patrick's SI Swimsuit Issue photo shoot – Click above for high-res image gallery In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, racing superstar Danica Patrick...  Novitec Alfa Romeo MiTo – Click above for a high-res image gallery Alfa Romeo's spritely MiTo hatch may have been styled to look like the flagship 8C Competizione...
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| GM in talks to sell HUMMER to Chinese company Tengzhong
June 3, 2009 at 2:22 pm
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|  When GM finds a buyer for the HUMMER brand, its CAFE levels will be affected in a positive (if very minor, because the H2 is not counted in CAFE figures) way. This isn't the only reason why the General might want to shed itself of the large vehicle division - it's a political liability, too - but every little bit helps. In any case, that anyone is interested in buying a GM product right now is good news for the company,  Click above to watch the video after the break It shouldn't come as a major surprise that car sharing services like Zipcar are reporting increased membership rates and demand for short-term rental vehicles in these tough economic times.  GM officially announced this morning a preliminary agreement's been reached to sell the Hummer brand out of a desire to look like a company building vehicles more in line with what Washington politicians believe 'merica wants.  According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, General Motors plans to announce a tentative sale of the Hummer brand less than a day after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.  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.
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| Give it a Break, Guys: Mercedes planning production E-Class shooting brake?
June 3, 2009 at 2:16 pm
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| Mercedes-Benz Concept Fascination – Click above for a high-res image gallery Body-styles in Mercedes' staple E-Class range have been taken on a heck of a roller coaster these past few years. The original included sedan, wagon, coupe and convertible variants. Then the latter two were split off as the CLK, but after introducing the CLS as essentially a four-door coupe version of the E-Class, Mercedes opted to bring the two-door variants back into the fold for the current generation. Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery There's something kind of lighthearted about a giant, lightweight green quote bubble being held aloft by a little blue fork lift. 2011 BMW 1 Series - Click above for a high-res image gallery The BMW 1 Series is due for a thorough overhaul, and judging by these recent spy shots, the entry-level Bimmer is on track to be released late next year. Tesla Roadster - Click above for a high-res image gallery From the first to the 100th and now to the 500th, the story of Tesla Motors and their initial offering - the Roadster - has been pretty heavily documented. Danica Patrick's SI Swimsuit Issue photo shoot – Click above for high-res image gallery In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, racing superstar Danica Patrick...
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| Senate to vote on 'Cash for Clunkers' today?
June 3, 2009 at 2:13 pm
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| A vote could come today on a bill designed to offer credits of up to $4,500 for consumers to trade-in gas-guzzling older vehicles. The so-called "cash for clunkers" legislation is designed to stimulate auto sales, but it also stands to effectively remove gross polluters from the roads and put drivers in safer and more fuel efficient vehicles. Parsing the sales numbers from May, the boys at Cars.com put together this month's list of the top ten best selling cars. They found lower gas prices increase U.S. sales of trucks and SUVs.  Tesla Motors faces a Herculean task getting the sweet Model S sedan built by 2011, but that isn't keeping CEO Elon Musk from looking ahead to several projects that include the next-gen Roadster.  Porsche may have gotten in over its head when it tried to take over Volkswagen outright, but that doesn't mean the German automaker is struggling to sell premium sports cars.  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...
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| VIDEO: Man aims airbag at family jewels, regrets what happens next
June 3, 2009 at 1:56 pm
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|  Man blasts family jewels with airbag: Click above to watch the video after the jump You may remember last fall when we showed you a couple videos by Farmer Dave where he blows up refrigerators. That was good, stupid fun involving the blunt force of an exploding airbag. What you're about to see after the jump is just stupid, and every bit as interesting to watch. Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery There's something kind of lighthearted about a giant, lightweight green quote bubble being held aloft by a little blue fork lift. May was another dismal month for car sales pretty much everywhere, including Volkswagen. There was however one bright spot at VW: sales of its Jetta TDI. Overall, sales of the Jetta were up 27. Jaguar's owner Ratan Tata has made it clear that he wants to expand Jag's sportscar offerings beyond the scope of the current XK, and this is what the British rumormill has cooked.
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| Senators call for Congress to vote on GM, Chrysler bankruptcy
June 3, 2009 at 1:51 pm
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| WASHINGTON ? Senate Republicans unveiled a bill today that would require Congress to approve any investment in shares of the new General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC, criticizing the Obama administration's bankruptcy plan as unconstitutional. Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., said he hoped to have his amendment voted on as soon as Thursday morning, but the prospects for attaching it to a tobacco regulation bill are cloudy at best. After filing for bankruptcy protection, General Motors is pushing a new ad campaign promising it will emerge from its financial troubles leaner and stronger. Is this... 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 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.
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| How Do The Chinese Feel About Buying Hummer?
June 3, 2009 at 1:30 pm
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|  GM's sale of Hummer to the Chinese has drawn mixed reactions in the U.S. But little attention's been paid to the soon-to-be new owners. How do the Chinese feel about buying this military-inspired, Amerigasmic capitalist icon? The fine folks at China Car Times hit the Chinese autoweb, the only place you're likely to hear honest and unfiltered opinions from average Chinese citizens, to gauge reaction to the purchase of Hummer by Sichuan Tengzhong. General Motors' bankruptcy filing is only a few days old, but the struggling automaker already seems to be pressing ahead full steam. The General has already announced 14 plant closings...  According to sources at The New York Times, General Motors' Hummer division has been sold to a machinery company in western China. That company, Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Ltd.  General Motors said it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with a buyer for the Hummer brand. You can find more details of the deal in Nick Bunkley's report here, but G.  Hummer finally appears to have found a home. General Motors said Tuesday that it has a deal to sell the rough-and-tough truck brand to an unnamed buyer by the end of the third quarter, pending regulatory approvals.
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| G.M. Bankruptcy Could Affect Liability Claims
June 3, 2009 at 1:26 pm
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|  Current owners of General Motors vehicles could soon have something in common with the owners of Chrysler vehicles: the inability to sue for future injuries they believe were caused by safety defects. In its recent bankruptcy filing, G.M. asked that the assets of the new company that emerges from bankruptcy be "free and clear of all successor liability claims." It is an attempt to prevent the new G.M. from being financially responsible for injuries caused by vehicles already sold, said Adina Rosenbaum, a lawyer for Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group. General Motors' bankruptcy filing is only a few days old, but the struggling automaker already seems to be pressing ahead full steam. The General has already announced 14 plant closings...  As Chrysler and General Motors sort through messy restructuring processes in bankruptcy court, it?s worth noting that there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel for both companies, if everything goes well.  Rollin Green, 24, has enjoyed the cumulative benefits of being in a General Motors Corp. family that went to work for the company in the 1940s, but that tradition may end with him.  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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| Review: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V offers supercar performance, everyday drivability
June 3, 2009 at 12:57 pm
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| 2009 Cadillac CTS-V – Click above for high-res image gallery Despite recent products to the contrary, when much of America thinks "Cadillac," a lot of people still recall the land yachts of the '70s and '80s. Hoods and decks marginally shorter than your average aircraft carrier, and Sedan de Villes and Fleetwoods serving as hearses or transportation for those awaiting a ride in one. But something happened to Cadillac a few years back. Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery There's something kind of lighthearted about a giant, lightweight green quote bubble being held aloft by a little blue fork lift. Mustang X-1 and Challenger Vapor – Click either for high-res image gallery We're all about the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, but they need some help in the form of new recruits, and that's where good old fashioned recruiting comes in. 2011 BMW 1 Series - Click above for a high-res image gallery The BMW 1 Series is due for a thorough overhaul, and judging by these recent spy shots, the entry-level Bimmer is on track to be released late next year. Mercedes-Benz Concept Fascination – Click above for a high-res image gallery Body-styles in Mercedes' staple E-Class range have been taken on a heck of a roller coaster these past few years. Tesla Roadster - Click above for a high-res image gallery From the first to the 100th and now to the 500th, the story of Tesla Motors and their initial offering - the Roadster - has been pretty heavily documented.
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| Zap responds to Xebra brake recall notice
June 3, 2009 at 12:53 pm
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|  After reporting on the NHTSA recall of 2008 Zap Xebras we heard back from Zap spokesman Alex Campbell. The federal government doesn't actually do all the regulatory compliance testing for new vehicles. Manufacturers or distributors either do the testing themselves or pay a testing company to do it for them. The test results are then submitted to the government for approval. The Fiat 500 is coming to America, and it appears to be on a fast track. Richard Gadeselli, a Fiat spokesman at the automaker's headquarters in Turin, Italy, sent an...  General Motors remains committed to the Chevrolet Volt and says bankruptcy will not stop the range-extended electric vehicle from rolling off an assembly line next year.  German tuners Hohenester Sport pushed a biogas-burning Audi A4 to 226.55 mph to set a new speed record for the alt fuel. The 700-horsepower car was 20 mph faster than the biogas Bugatti EB110 that held the record since 1994. 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...
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| Top 7 Good Cars From "Bad GM"
June 3, 2009 at 12:47 pm
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| General Motors makes more than a few world-class automobiles. As true as that statement may be, that alone wasn't enough to stall the automaker's steady decline – fueled as it may have been by the global economic downturn – into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. To expedite GM's return to viability, the Obama Administration plans to split the giant automaker into two parts, a so-called "Good GM" made up of GM's best assets and "Bad GM," which is what we're examining in today's Top Ten list. The Fiat 500 is coming to America, and it appears to be on a fast track. Richard Gadeselli, a Fiat spokesman at the automaker's headquarters in Turin, Italy, sent an... General Motors' bankruptcy filing is only a few days old, but the struggling automaker already seems to be pressing ahead full steam. The General has already announced 14 plant closings... Parsing the sales numbers from May, the boys at Cars.com put together this month's list of the top ten best selling cars. They found lower gas prices increase U.S. sales of trucks and SUVs. Ford is primed to receive a bump in sales as a result of the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler, and the Dearborn-based automaker is picking and choosing where to take share from its domestic competition.
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| Tesla delivers 500th Roadster to New Jersey man
June 3, 2009 at 12:44 pm
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| Tesla Roadster - Click above for a high-res image gallery From the first to the 100th and now to the 500th, the story of Tesla Motors and their initial offering - the Roadster - has been pretty heavily documented. The trend is unlikely to stop any time soon and, in that vein, Tesla is making sure to note the latest milestone, the delivery of the 500th Roadster. The lucky recipient is New Jersey's Martin Tuchman, Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery There's something kind of lighthearted about a giant, lightweight green quote bubble being held aloft by a little blue fork lift. Jaguar's owner Ratan Tata has made it clear that he wants to expand Jag's sportscar offerings beyond the scope of the current XK, and this is what the British rumormill has cooked. Mustang X-1 and Challenger Vapor – Click either for high-res image gallery We're all about the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, but they need some help in the form of new recruits, and that's where good old fashioned recruiting comes in.
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| Commerce chief: Government doesn't want to run GM
June 3, 2009 at 12:40 pm
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| HOLT ? Don't look for the federal government to advertise or promote vehicles made by a reconstituted General Motors, or to tell the company how to otherwise run its business, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke said today. "President Obama and the administration have no intention of being involved in the day-to-day operations of GM, even though we're a major shareholder now. We need to leave that to the experts," Locke said during a visit to an automotive supplier in this suburban Lansing town, where he spoke to an audience of employees and other auto supplier executives.  WASHINGTON ? Fighting to survive, top executives from General Motors and Chrysler today defended their decisions to slash dealerships around the country, calling the moves unavoidable despite the pain to many loyal dealers and customers. GM's sale of Hummer to the Chinese has drawn mixed reactions in the U.S. But little attention's been paid to the soon-to-be new owners. How do the Chinese feel about buying this military-inspired... After reporting on the NHTSA recall of 2008 Zap Xebras we heard back from Zap spokesman Alex Campbell. The federal government doesn't actually do all the regulatory compliance testing for new vehicles. General Motors' bankruptcy filing is only a few days old, but the struggling automaker already seems to be pressing ahead full steam. The General has already announced 14 plant closings...
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| Can Chrysler and GM Survive?
June 3, 2009 at 12:20 pm
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|  With a little help from Fiat and the U.S. government, among others, it seems Chrysler and GM are both on a pathway to solvency — or are they? On June 1, President Barack Obama announced that General Motors had officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York, bringing an end to nearly eight months of speculation regarding how the struggling automaker would bring itself back from the brink of financial extinction. General Motors' bankruptcy filing is only a few days old, but the struggling automaker already seems to be pressing ahead full steam. The General has already announced 14 plant closings... After filing for bankruptcy protection, General Motors is pushing a new ad campaign promising it will emerge from its financial troubles leaner and stronger. Is this... 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.
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| Fiat 500 on Fast Track to America
June 3, 2009 at 12:18 pm
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| The Fiat 500 is coming to America, and it appears to be on a fast track. Richard Gadeselli, a Fiat spokesman at the automaker's headquarters in Turin, Italy, sent an e-mail message to confirm plans to bring the 500 – voted as Europe's Car of the Year in 2008 – to Chrysler dealerships just in time for Christmas 2010. That's barely 18 months away - just around the corner in auto development terms. WASHINGTON ? Fighting to survive, top executives from General Motors and Chrysler today defended their decisions to slash dealerships around the country, calling the moves unavoidable despite the pain to many loyal dealers and customers. General Motors makes more than a few world-class automobiles. As true as that statement may be, that alone wasn't enough to stall the automaker's steady decline –... General Motors' bankruptcy filing is only a few days old, but the struggling automaker already seems to be pressing ahead full steam. The General has already announced 14 plant closings... Ford is primed to receive a bump in sales as a result of the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler, and the Dearborn-based automaker is picking and choosing where to take share from its domestic competition.
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| Range Rover Owner Advertises Faults On Lemon Parked Outside Dealer
June 3, 2009 at 12:00 pm
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|  A furious Range Rover owner, unhappy with the level of dealer service on his break-down happy vehicle, covered it in negative advertising and parked it in front of the dealer. That's gonna leave a mark. The unnamed owner parked his Rover on a public street in front of Lookers Land Rover dealer in Colchester, England with his list of gripes and an advisement to avoid these cars should you want trouble free motoring. Since the vehicle is on a public road there's nothing the dealer can do. With a little help from Fiat and the U.S. government, among others, it seems Chrysler and GM are both on a pathway to solvency — or are they? On June 1, President Barack... Ballard fuel cell forklift - Click above for a high-res image gallery There's something kind of lighthearted about a giant, lightweight green quote bubble being held aloft by a little blue fork lift. May was another dismal month for car sales pretty much everywhere, including Volkswagen. There was however one bright spot at VW: sales of its Jetta TDI. Overall, sales of the Jetta were up 27. Mustang X-1 and Challenger Vapor – Click either for high-res image gallery We're all about the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, but they need some help in the form of new recruits, and that's where good old fashioned recruiting comes in.
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| Asheville, NC students wash cars to raise money to convert one to electric power
June 3, 2009 at 8:57 am
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| Getting to own an electric car can be expensive. The bar looks even higher if you're a group of high school students. Students at the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville, NC decided to use cars to buy a car. They held a car wash that raised money to convert a 1993 Mazda B2600 pickup truck to electric power (Andrew Angellotti would be proud). The car was purchased by the students for $1,000 but more ($7,800) is needed to buy the marine cell batteries they'll use to power the truck.  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.  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...
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| Ford offering extra incentives to "orphaned" Chrysler owners?
June 3, 2009 at 8:46 am
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| Ford is primed to receive a bump in sales as a result of the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler, and the Dearborn-based automaker is picking and choosing where to take share from its domestic competition. One area ripe for conquest are customers who've purchased vehicles from soon-to-be closed Chrysler dealerships. Ford is banking that those customers are going to feel left out in the cold, and the automaker is going to provide some sweet deals to bring those consumers over to the Blue Oval.  Volvo has launched a joint venture with a Swedish utility to put a plug-in hybrid on the road by 2012 in an push to dominate the emerging market for cars with cords. The... 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.  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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| Jesse James plans land-speed record for hydrogen-powered streamliner
June 3, 2009 at 8:45 am
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|  Famous motorcycle builder and all-around celebrity Jesse James plans to attempt a new world record top speed run for a hydrogen-powered vehicle later this month on a dry lake bed somewhere in California. The actual car being used is a former land speeder called the Dees-Milodon Engineering-Davis B Streamliner, which had previously attained speeds as high as 237 miles per hour at Bonneville.  No, Jesse James is not building his own jet fighter at West Coast Choppers. It only looks like a jet fighter. What you see pictured here is actually the Dees-Milodon Engineering-Davis B Streamliner, which ran on the salt in the 1960s.  After a few earlier attempts were unsuccessful in setting an official record, Jürgen Hohenester, a German racecar driver and automotive tuner, has finally set a new...  Lexus LF-A Nurburgring - Click above for a high-res image gallery Last year's reports about the demise of the Lexus LF-A may have been greatly exaggerated, and according to the fabulists at AutoExpress...  Dirigo - Click above for an image gallery One of the cars participating in the One Gallon Challenge is the Dirigo three wheeler. Built by Bill Buchholz, the Dirigo is...
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| AT&T Bringing TV to the Back Seat
June 3, 2009 at 7:30 am
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|  If AT&T has its way, watching live television in the back seat will become as common as chatting on a cellphone. The company planned to announce today a new service dubbed CruiseCast that the company hoped would entice car owners to add satellite TV to their wheels. The service is designed to be a compliment to DVD entertainment systems already on the back of many headrests. The package includes a roof-mounted antenna and a receiver that gets tucked into the trunk for $1,299. Getting to own an electric car can be expensive. The bar looks even higher if you're a group of high school students. Students at the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville, NC decided to use cars to buy a car. Famous motorcycle builder and all-around celebrity Jesse James plans to attempt a new world record top speed run for a hydrogen-powered vehicle later this month on a dry lake bed somewhere in California. Ford is primed to receive a bump in sales as a result of the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler, and the Dearborn-based automaker is picking and choosing where to take share from its domestic competition. After a long hiatus, American consumers appear ready to return to auto showrooms to buy new cars, experts say, although not in the large numbers seen in past years. A rise in new U.
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| The Big Money: Could GM be cool again?
June 3, 2009 at 7:30 am
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|  There's an almost palpable lack of confidence that General Motors will exit bankruptcy as a leaner, meaner, stronger company. However, the game plan is basically to envision the New General as a sort of American Toyota, with a tidy lineup of brands to manage and an appealing fleet of economical, fuel-efficient vehicles to sell. Sedans and small, gas-sipping cars will be the future, not the fuel-chugging trucks and SUVs that got GM in trouble.  "It's all NASCAR's fault", or at least that's the argument some are making to explain General Motors filing for bankruptcy. It's all about promoting over-consumption and who's encouraged to buy what sort of cars. After filing for bankruptcy protection, General Motors is pushing a new ad campaign promising it will emerge from its financial troubles leaner and stronger. Is this...  We weren't expecting this, especially from General Motors, which was forced to sell cars and trucks last month amidst rumors of impending bankruptcy (something that came to fruition as soon as the month was over). According to sources at The New York Times, General Motors' Hummer division has been sold to a machinery company in western China. That company, Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Ltd.
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| Car buyers may be off endangered species list
June 3, 2009 at 7:29 am
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| After a long hiatus, American consumers appear ready to return to auto showrooms to buy new cars, experts say, although not in the large numbers seen in past years. A rise in new U.S. car sales in coming months would be a welcome development for the nation's automobile industry. A nasty recession has decimated sales to less than 10 million vehicles a year — a drop of more than 40 percent from past years — and helped force General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. After filing for bankruptcy protection, General Motors is pushing a new ad campaign promising it will emerge from its financial troubles leaner and stronger. Is this... Click above to watch the video after the break It shouldn't come as a major surprise that car sharing services like Zipcar are reporting increased membership rates and demand for short-term rental vehicles in these tough economic times.  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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| GM, Magna, Opel, and Voltec: a Tangled Web is Woven
June 3, 2009 at 7:00 am
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|  GM Europe has itself been rescued through a German government brokered deal selling portions of the company to Canadian auto parts maker Magna and Russian lender Sberbank. Magna will own 20%, Sberbank 35%, GM 35%, and Opel auto workers 10%. Magna CEO Frank Stronach has strongly voiced his plans to move his company into electrification of the automobile, and indeed the company is already known to be partnering with Ford to bring their EV Focus to market in 2012.  With General Motors expected to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York on Monday morning, negotiators in Germany scrambled to finalize a deal to save Opel from insolvency.  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.  Car parts manufacturer Magna has agreed to buy GM Europe, which includes the Opel and Vauxhall brands, according to BBC News. The German government still needs to approve the deal, but may choose insolvency instead.
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| Never Ride In a Lame Carpool Again
June 3, 2009 at 6:30 am
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|  Car pooling can save you a ton of money on gas and parking and it certainly cuts down on the CO2 we're spewing into the atmosphere, but it can be a drag. No one wants to creep along in rush-hour traffic with a Phil Collins devotee who has only a passing familiarity with soap and won't pony up for gas. After a long hiatus, American consumers appear ready to return to auto showrooms to buy new cars, experts say, although not in the large numbers seen in past years. A rise in new U. GM Europe has itself been rescued through a German government brokered deal selling portions of the company to Canadian auto parts maker Magna and Russian lender Sberbank. If AT&T has its way, watching live television in the back seat will become as common as chatting on a cellphone. The company planned to announce today a new service...  We're always surfing auto dealer websites here at Autopia, casting our covetous gaze upon cars we'd buy if only we earned real money. Leading the glamorous lives of jaded auto writers, few things can really pique our interest.
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| Faux GTO Could Fool Enzo
June 3, 2009 at 6:30 am
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| We're always surfing auto dealer websites here at Autopia, casting our covetous gaze upon cars we'd buy if only we earned real money. Leading the glamorous lives of jaded auto writers, few things can really pique our interest. But our collective jaw hit the floor when we happened upon the latest offering from one of our favorite Swiss suppliers. Volvo has launched a joint venture with a Swedish utility to put a plug-in hybrid on the road by 2012 in an push to dominate the emerging market for cars with cords. The... "It's all NASCAR's fault", or at least that's the argument some are making to explain General Motors filing for bankruptcy. It's all about promoting over-consumption and who's encouraged to buy what sort of cars.  These shots appear to show the 2010 Mercedes E-Class Wagon, the Teutonically efficient way to haul your crap. Expect the same range of engines as the sedan: a V6, V8 and a super-efficient diesel.  Here's a little problem to solve: Although budgets are shrinking, it still costs million to run a Formula One team. On the other hand, the teams go through spare parts like a rib joint does napkins.
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| AutoblogGreen for 06.03.09
June 3, 2009 at 6:13 am
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|  How can hydrogen cars can go 1,700 miles? By using a tanker truck
The secret to the long distance covered by the Hydrogen Road Trip is a 16-foot trailer. Click above to watch the video after the break It shouldn't come as a major surprise that car sharing services like Zipcar are reporting increased membership rates and demand for short-term rental vehicles in these tough economic times.  Hydrogen cars in Vancouver - click above for a high-res gallery Vancouver is hosting the Hydrogen + Fuel Cells 2009 conference this week, and that give us a chance to learn a bit more about the city's ongoing hydrogen fuel cell vehicle tests.  Governments around the world have been cracking down on emissions from cars in recent years trying to reduce noxious and greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, even if all the cars on the planet were completely eliminated from the roads...  Morgan LifeCar - Click above for a high-res gallery By far the most interesting title for a presentation here at the Hydrogen + Fuel Cells 2009 conference in Vancouver...
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