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Toyota is now well-recognized as the world’s biggest and most profitable carmaker but even it cannot afford to see its closest rivals go out of business. Given the tightly interlinked ties between carmakers, suppliers and regulators, even if one major company goes under it could spell serious...

The Woodward Dream Cruise, Detroit's annual rolling car show, has spawned a fifth special edition of the PT Dream Cruiser. The fourteenth special edition of the PT Cruiser, the PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 is a purely cosmetic tweak of the standard vehicle, with production limited to 1,750 units for...

General Motors is building on the segment-leading fuel economy of its full-size pickups and SUVs with new XFE (eXtra Fuel Economy) versions of its 2009 Chevy Silverado, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Sierra and GMC Yukon models. Following on the success of the carmaker’s first XFE model, the Chevrolet...

So far Mazda has taken a somewhat unconventional route to improving fuel efficiency of its vehicle fleet, focusing on lighter materials and new designs instead of rebuilding its powertrain lineup. It has done the company well, but to move to the next level of efficiency the carmaker is also...

Fans and owners of Carroll Shelby's creations in the Shelby American Auto Club (SAAC) have come to a resolution with the man himself, ending the battle that started earlier this year. The basis of the disagreement was over Shelby's perception of the club's use of his image and likeness for profit...

Volkswagen's Jetta TDI is already eligible for a $1,300 tax credit courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service, thanks to its clean diesel engine. Now, the IRS has also extended this to certain Mercedes-Benz models. Previously the federal alternative-powertrain tax credit only applied to hybrid...

Update: While some may doubt the likelihood of General Motors' upcoming Chevrolet Volt appearing on time, the carmaker’s engineers and designers don’t seem to have the same qualms. In a video for ABC news, GM's exterior design executive director Michael Simcoe gave a preview of the...

Fuel isn't the only substance in a car made from oil. Many synthetic plastics are also petroleum-derived, and automakers are looking to recycling as a way of reducing the costs of the flexible material. So far the plans don't include much in the way of using recycled plastic on the user-interface...

You may not know him by name, but Frank Stephenson is the man responsible for the designs of the Mini Cooper, the Fiat 500 and the Alfa Romeo Mi.To - three of the most lauded hatchbacks of the last decade. He is also responsible for the design of the Ferrari F430 and 612 Scaglietti in addition to...

Today marks the start of the 10th Anniversary Gumball 3000 Rally, a sort of intercontinental supercar scramble. Beginning in San Francicso, then sweeping down the Pacific coast through Los Angeles to San Diego before heading east to Las Vegas, where it will leave the U.S. and fly to North Korea...

Danish audio-video masters Bang & Olufsen have announced today their partnership with Mercedes' AMG performance division. They join Audi and Aston Martin as the company's primary automotive partners. The primary focus of the agreement will be for in-car entertainment systems, both audio and...

For weeks rumors about the Corvette-like car appearing in behind-the-scenes shots of the new Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen movie have been circulating. No one has known for sure what the car is, but the latest report indicates it's a Corvette Centennial Design Concept due for debut early next...

Not widely recognized as a performance parts leader, but rapidly becoming one, TRD (Toyota Racing Development) has revealed a supercharger system for its Tundra and Sequoia pickup and SUV. Featuring the same basic Eaton four-lobe system found in the Cadillac CTS-V and Corvette ZR-1, the new...

Increased demand for smaller and more fuel-efficient models in the U.S. is causing carmakers to reconsider importing vehicles usually reserved for markets where consumers are faced with much steeper fuel prices than their American counterparts. Ford has confirmed plans to bring six new models from...

Hit hard by falling sales of large SUVs and pickups in the United States as well as the effects of rising fuel prices and a worsening economy, Toyota has announced that its operating profit dropped 39% for the quarter ending June 2008. Key reasons cited for the poor result include slowing sales...

The 2009 Ford Mustang announced today focuses on updates and added equipment, since it is primarily a carry-over model from the 2008 version. A panoramic glass roof, more luxurious premium trim options, a new security package and several special edition models are the primary features in the 2009...

Defunct American luxury automobile manufacturer Packard may be the next legendary auto brand to be revitalized, with latest reports indicating the rights to the company as well as a V12 prototype is now up for sale. Former Arizona residents Roy and Barbara Gullickson are looking for a buyer for the...

Tire waste is a major problem in developed areas where often millions of tires do not get recycled for a variety of reasons, contributing to landfills and destroying the environment. In California alone around 42 million waste tires are generated every year, and while 75% of these tires are...

The climbing price of steel and other materials could be the undoing of Tata Motors' ultra-cheap Nano. The company is being forced into a difficult position by the rising costs, having to choose between reduced demand due to a higher retail price or reduced profits due to a smaller margin. With so...

UPDATE: The special one-off Mustang AV8R has sold for $500,000 at the Gathering of Eagles charity auction, with the funds going to support the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh youth education and inspirational experience program. Ford will donate a special one-of-a-kind...