Cobo readied for car show New floor plan adds more space for automakers’ displays, aisle for the expected 700,000 visitors. Monday, December 31, 2007 Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News With less than two weeks until Cobo Center opens its doors to the world’s automotive press, work crews are making their final push to [...]
Auto loans have the whiff of bad debt about them Monday, December 31, 2007 Ken Bensinger / Los Angeles Times When Jennifer and Bobby Post traded in their 2001 Chevy Suburban last year for a shiny new Ford F-350 turbo diesel with an extended cab, it seemed like a great deal. Even though they still [...]
2008 Chevrolet Impala 50th Anniversary Edition – Auto Shows A front-drive V-6 Impala to recall glory days of the past. BY JAKE HOLMES, December 2007 The Impalas of today are a far cry from their rear-wheel-drive forebears such as the first stand-alone 1959 model with a 355-hp, 348-cubic-inch V-8 or even the 1961 [...]
Car sales likely worse in 2008 than in 2007, analysts say December 28, 2007 By DEE-ANN DURBIN ASSOCIATED PRESS DETROIT — Industry analysts are predicting a lackluster end to an already dismal year for automakers, likely the worst in nearly a decade. Holiday discounts failed to bring consumers out of their funk, and December sales [...]
GM electric car takes off on YouTube Business Insider Saturday, December 29, 2007 More than eight years after discontinuing the now-notorious EV1 electric car, General Motors Corp.’s quirky little ride just won’t go away. Fans of the EV1 still haven’t forgiven GM for halting the electric car program — and destroying most of the cars [...]
EPA to release memos on fuel ruling It’s a sign that battle over Calif. goals has far to go December 28, 2007 BY H. JOSEF HEBERT ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — A Bush administration decision to prevent California from imposing higher fuel-economy rules — which had been seen as a major victory for automakers — appears [...]
Serbia to sell Yugo automaker Friday, December 28, 2007 Associated Press BELGRADE, SERBIA — Serbia’s only carmaker and producer of the much-maligned Yugo will be sold next year, the government said Thursday. In an advertisement published in the Politika daily, Serbia’s Privatization Agency said nearly 90 percent of the company’s shares will be sold in [...]
Toyota to roll out concept pickup Small hybrid truck to debut at Detroit auto show adds solar panels to charge GPS system and displays. Friday, December 28, 2007 Christine Tierney / The Detroit News Toyota Motor Corp. will unveil a concept for a small hybrid pickup at the North American International Auto Show in January. [...]
Thursday, December 27, 2007 Auto briefs Ford aims for better kid test dummies DEARBORN — A high-tech insert, similar in size and shape to a 6-year-old’s abdomen, is being developed for crash test dummies to help improve vehicle safety for children. The prototype is part of an effort to make pediatric crash dummies and crash [...]
Wednesday, December 26, 2007 Buzzing about battery power Chevrolet Volt generates surge of traffic on Web GM’s eco-friendly concept car draws a cult following Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News The Chevrolet Volt is slowly consuming Lyle Dennis’ life. A year after casually launching a blog devoted to General Motors Corp.’s ambitious efforts to build [...]
100% recyclable vehicles is Detroit 3 target December 25, 2007 FREE PRESS STAFF Ford Motor Co. said Monday it is working with General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC to make cars and trucks as close to 100% recyclable as possible. The Detroit automakers are working through the U.S. Council for Automotive Research’s Vehicle Recycling [...]
End of cell system strands users Analog’s shutdown cuts off some OnStar, alarm services Tuesday, December 25, 2007 Peter Svensson / Associated Press NEW YORK — When Adele Rothman bought her 16-year-old son a car in 2003, she made sure to pick one that had OnStar, the onboard communications and safety system. What the Scarsdale, [...]
Vehicle sales expected to fall for Dec. Experts say weak housing, credit markets hit automakers and will carry into the new year. Tuesday, December 25, 2007 Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News Analysts are predicting much weaker U.S. car and truck sales this month as the industry braces for an even tougher 2008. Sales [...]
Six reasons to buy a sQuba Switzerland’s innovative Rinspeed, maker of the Splash hydrofoil car that flies over water, released images last week of its new wonder car: the sQuba, capable of diving to depths of 33 feet. The sQuba, made by Switzerland’s Rinspeed, is capable of diving to depths of 33 feet. (Rinspeed) [...]
A NEW LOOK AT THE 80-YEAR PROMISE UAW health trust faces big doubts Some experts, workers fear retiree funding will run out December 23, 2007 BY KATIE MERX FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER First of two parts A historic new trust intended to pay the health costs of UAW retirees from Detroit’s automakers could run out [...]
