by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 31, 2010
To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the death of the station wagon have been greatly exaggerated. But so have stories predicting the comeback of that hallmark of the Leave it to Beaver era. But that isn’t stopping Acura from giving one more try. The luxury arm of...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 31, 2010
Nissan had big plans for its two full-sized SUVs, the Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX56. Unfortunately, potential buyers didn’t agree, turning a cold shoulder to the twin offerings. Now, with an all-new version of the big luxury ute, the Japanese maker is giving it...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 31, 2010
With a goal of boosting its global fuel economy 30% by mid-decade, Mazda is under pressure to deliver – and fast. And that prompted the Japanese maker to pull the wraps off its new line-up of advanced powertrains, dubbed Sky – “which means the sky’s the limit,” said...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 31, 2010
Hoping to reverse a sharp, if unexpected decline in sales, Toyota’s youthful Scion division rolled out a pair of new products at the New York International Auto Show, each targeting a distinct, if potentially promising, niche. Even for a brand that has traditional...
by Ken Zino | Mar 31, 2010
The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) is pushing a coalition of consumer groups to support the “Access to Repair Parts Act” – H.R. 3059/S. 1368 – appear to be tied up in the legislative committee process from which they might never...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 31, 2010
Ford Motor Co. will team up with software giant Microsoft in an effort to make it “easier and more affordable” to purchase an electric vehicle, the automaker’s CEO Alan Mulally announced during an appearance at the New York Auto Show. The big buzzword in the auto...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 31, 2010
Supercar fans can finally head down to their nearest Mercedes-Benz dealer. The German maker has set the price for its new, gullwinged SLS AMG sports car at $183,000 – barely half the price of the old Mercedes-Benz SLR, which it replaces. But those with a bit more...
by Ken Zino | Mar 31, 2010
V-Vehicle Company’s (V-VC) two loan applications for $321.1 million from the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program (ATVMLP) from the Department of Energy were rejected last week, but that does not mean taxpayers are off the hook yet. (See A Closer...
by Ken Zino | Mar 31, 2010
AT&T’s plans to spend $350 million to purchase compressed natural gas vehicles moved forward today as Clean Energy Fuels Corporation (Nasdaq: CLNE) said it would build and run the CNG fueling stations required. At 8,000 vehicles, this is the largest corporate...
by Joseph Szczesny | Mar 31, 2010
Membership in the increasingly troubled United Auto Workers Union has dropped to its lowest level since the end of World War II, even as the union struggles to deal with worsening financial problems. The UAW lost some 76,000 members just between April 1, 2009 and...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 31, 2010
Looking to build its position among high-mileage makers, Ford Motor Co. has been rolling out a variety of green products, and the latest entry into its line-up promises to give its high-line Lincoln brand bragging rights as the most fuel-efficient luxury car in...
by Ken Zino | Mar 30, 2010
General Motors Company announced today a five-year partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help develop the jatropha plant for what could evolve into a sustainable biofuel energy crop. Jatropha plants produce an oil that can be refined into biodiesel...
