The debate between embattled auto manufacturers and environmental groups continues today, with environmental groups urging the government to speed up federally mandated fuel economy requirements. The proposal calls for the federal goal of a ‘35mpg standard by 2020′ to be moved up to 2015, and naturally auto manufacturers are opposed to the plan as they […]
Small-scale Malaysian car manufacturer Proton is developing a new range of in-house engines, including a new hybrid powerplant as part of its strategy to increase its export program. Proton has traditionally relied on engines sourced from other carmakers, namely Mitsubishi, but increased demand from customers seeking fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness has spurred the carmaker […]
BMW has reportedly canceled plans for a new full-size SUV positioned above the current X5, which the carmaker was planning as a rival to the Mercedes-Benz GL and top-selling Range Rover luxury SUVs. The decision comes amidst declining profits, falling demand (especially in the U.S.) and tough new emissions and fuel-economy standards being rolled out […]
Ford in the UK has teamed up with car security marking and registration systems specialist, Retainagroup, and is attempting to thwart the rising epidemic of catalytic converter thefts by permanently marking the exhaust system with a unique identity so that they can be recognized once removed from the vehicle.
Each mark, applied to the casing of […]
Following from last week’s rushed announcement for an extension of the existing employee discount program to friends and extended family of employees, General Motors has released a new memo to its dealers stating that it plans to offer a $4,000 bonus cash on the purchase of the 2008 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, including the […]
Soaring demand for compact and fuel-efficient vehicles in the U.S. has seen sales of the diminutive Smart ForTwo outstrip expectations, causing its distributor, Penske Automotive Group, to increase forecasts for 2008 sales. Original estimates for the ForTwo were pegged at just 20,000 units for the year when the car went on sale back in […]
Carbon-fiber is seen by many in the auto industry as one of the most effective ways of reducing vehicle weight and improving fuel economy and emissions levels, but the relative expense of the material means that it’s still reserved for only a handful of high-end production cars. BMW has effectively used carbon-fiber roofs for its […]
Michael Schumacher’s spokeswoman has confirmed the retired seven time world champion was involved in a road accident in England.
A car dealer in Kent, a county in southeast England, told the Mirror newspaper that he was struck as a pedestrian on Sunday by a modest Fiat Ducato van - which had the former Ferrari racer […]
Following the call by Michigan members of congress for the government to support a multi-billion dollar aid package for the auto industry, Senate Democrats have approved a $6 billion package to secure low-interest loans for the Detroit Three.
The package will be financed by Congress for $900 million, in order to guarantee the $6 billion in […]
Rising fuel prices are having a real impact on American driving habits for the first time in decades. Over 40 billion fewer total miles were driven through the first four months of 2008 than over the same period in 2007. In May alone, Americans drove 9.6 billion fewer miles than the previous year.
This constitutes the […]
Porsche will add direct-fuel-injection technology to its high-performance Turbo and GT3 and GT2 variants of the 911 Coupe as part of the mid-cycle update planned for the cars over the next 12 months. Porsche first applied direct injection technology to the 4.8L V8 Cayenne SUV but has since implemented the technology on the […]
Focusing on enhanced efficiency through lighter packaging and incremental improvements, Mazda’s 2009 lineup includes mostly expected changes. News of the next version of what may be Mazda’s most tantalizing model - the MX-5 Miata - remains in shadows, however.
Changes to the aging RX-8 are minimal, with evolutionary improvements to the interior […]
BMW will be introducing a host of updates for its M range of cars for the 2009 model year, with a number of styling and mechanical changes, plus increased equipment found on the latest M3, M5 and M6 models. Major changes include the introduction of BMW’s new iDrive system throughout the range as well as […]
Microsoft today announced that it will expand its automotive business unit with a number of new interface software systems and electronic services expected to be rolled out over the next couple of years. The first of these new features will be the immediate availability of ‘Microsoft Live Search for Devices,’ a system that will allow […]
The flailing U.S. auto industry could be thrown a lifesaver if congressional plans to stage a bailout go ahead. A party led by Michigan’s congressional delegation is attempting to secure funds that would give U.S. auto manufacturers up to $27 billion in federal aid over the next five years and allow them to finance restructuring […]