Sunday, October 10, 2010

Detroit's automakers reclaiming market share


Detroit's automakers have been losing ground in their home market since 1996, but they're halting that trend this year at the expense of their Japanese rivals...More
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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Chrysler unveiled the redesigned 2011 Dodge Charger



AUBURN HILLS, Michigan — Chrysler has officially unveiled the redesigned 2011 Dodge Charger, which gets new sheet metal, a revised cockpit and a new Pentastar V6 engine. The car goes on sale in the fourth quarter....More
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Friday, August 20, 2010

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Anchors Dream Cruise Display


Ford Racing Performance Parts offering discount rates and on-site installation for Mustang owners; free Boss 302 T-shirts....More
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GM IPO moves to reduce U.S. gov't stake


General Motors Co. filed paperwork Wednesday to hold an initial public stock offering, a landmark step toward selling shares to the public again and ending the government's majority ownership of the automaker....More
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Chrysler previews new Jeep Wrangler






Chrysler Group LLC on Thursday released the first teaser photos of the 2011 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited, which go on sale later this year. Production of the popular off-roaders began this week in Toledo....More
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Auto industry payback may surprise U.S. taxpayers | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

WASHINGTON -- Saving Detroit's auto industry may be a better deal for U.S. taxpayers than anyone expected.

A Free Press analysis suggests that taxpayers could get back about $74 billion of the $86 billion the government made available in 2008 and 2009 to save General Motors, Chrysler and Ally Financial, the former GMAC.

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Toyota Subpoenaed Again by a U.S. Grand Jury - WSJ.com

Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it has been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury in New York to submit documents related to problems with steering relay rods, part of an expanded investigation into the safety of its vehicles.

The subpoenas to Toyota's U.S. subsidiaries on June 29 were issued by a U.S. grand jury in the Southern District in New York. They appear to be tied to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation into whether five years ago Toyota notified the agency of a steering rod defect in a timely fashion, as required by law.Toyota Subpoenaed Again by a U.S. Grand Jury - WSJ.com
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Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Automotive World - US: Hyundai eyes pick-up tie-up with Chrysler - report

Hyundai has reportedly proposed plans to enter the pick-up market in the US by way of a partnership with Chrysler Group LLC.
Reuters, citing unnamed sources familiar with this matter, said a proposal made by Hyundai to Chrysler earlier in 2010 involved Chrysler building a pick-up for Hyundai, based on the Ram pick-up platform.
Chrysler's chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne turned down Hyundai's initial proposal, the report said, citing its sources. He had said that Chrysler needed to focus on its turnaround plans under Fiat.
According to the sources, Hyundai continues to be interested in the pick-up market in the country, and could come back to Chrysler to explore options. These discussions at Hyundai, however, are still in the preliminary stage.Automotive World - US: Hyundai eyes pick-up tie-up with Chrysler - report
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Saturday, April 17, 2010

Porsche 911 Carrera S deserves mythical label


The 911 S is a mechanical dream, watch-like precision in a car. There's a reason German engineering comes with such a glorified reputation and the 911 S proves this at every turn....more
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Toyota recalls 600,000 Sienna minivans (AP)


AP - As congressional investigators dig further into potential electronic problems in runaway Toyotas, the automaker is facing other safety concerns, recalling 600,000 Sienna minivans over rusting spare tire holders....More
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Lexus GX 460 rated 'do not buy,' Toyota halts sale


AP - Toyota Motor Corp. has suspended sales of the 2010 Lexus GX 460 after Consumer Reports warned car shoppers not to buy the sport utility vehicle because handling problems could lead to rollover accidents during sharp turns....More
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Class-action lawsuits could cost Toyota $3 billion

Miami -- Toyota owners claiming that massive safety recalls are causing the value of their vehicles to plummet have filed at least 89 class-action lawsuits that could cost the Japanese auto giant $3 billion or more, according to an Associated Press review of cases, legal precedent and interviews with experts.---...More
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Toyota Prius with stuck accelerator glides to safe stop

El Cajon, Calif. -- A California Highway Patrol officer helped slow a runaway Toyota Prius from 94 mph to a safe stop on Monday after the car's accelerator became stuck on a San Diego County freeway, the CHP said.
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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Geneva Show News: Alfa’s Guilietta hints at future Chrysler


Alfa Romeo's new Guilietta, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, is a far more significant car than it might appear.
Not only has it got to appeal to a wider buying public as beleaguered Alfa tries to rebuild its European sales, it also forms the basis of what Fiat hopes will be a one-million units a year Chrysler-Fiat-Alfa range of cars....More
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GM recalls 1.3m cars over power steering fault


General Motors (GM) is recalling 1.3 million small cars in North America because of a power steering problem that has been linked to 14 crashes.
The firm said four models were affected - the Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, Pontiac Pursuit and Pontiac 4.....More
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Friday, February 26, 2010

Fiat 500C Abarth: 2010 Geneva Auto Show




TURIN, Italy — Fiat's Abarth brand will display performance editions of the 500C and the Punto Evo at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show.

Abarth has kitted out the 500C in a choice of two-tone exterior paint schemes, loud graphics and 17-inch diamond-finish alloy wheels.

Under the hood is an Abarth-tuned 1.4-liter four-cylinder Turbo T-Jet gas engine that makes 140 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque. Coupled with a six-speed Abarth Competizione automated manual gearbox with paddle shifters, the engine provides 0-60-mph acceleration in less than 8.1 seconds and a top speed of 127 mph, while returning impressive average fuel economy of 36 mpg in the European combined driving cycle....More
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Thursday, February 25, 2010

Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid: 2010 Geneva Auto Show


HETHEL, England — Lotus Engineering has created what the U.K. firm calls a "high-performance technology demonstrator" in the Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid. The Lotus shares elements of its plug-in series hybrid drivetrain with a Giugiaro-designed concept from Lotus' Malaysian parent, Proton. Both will be at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show...More
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Metro Detroit Toyota suppliers raided

The FBI raided the Detroit-area offices of three key Toyota Motor Corp. suppliers Tuesday night, officials said Wednesday.---...More
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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Spyker finalises purchase of Saab from GM


STOCKHOLM (AFP) – After months of negotiations and setbacks that left Saab's fate in limbo, Dutch sportscar maker Spyker said Tuesday it had finalised the purchase of the iconic Swedish brand from General Motors.
Spyker's CEO Victor Muller told reporters in Stockholm it was hard to imagine that the process his company, a minnow in the car industry, had started three months ago to acquire Saab was finally over.....More
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Sudden acceleration fix still an issue, Toyota says


Toyota Motor Corp. raised more questions about the safety of its vehicles than it answered Tuesday during a congressional hearing filled with dramatic moments and harsh exchanges....More
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