by Bryan Laviolette | Oct 13, 2012
We fire up the Gibbs Quadski – the world’s first production, planing fast amphibian – and head straight for the water. Just as the tires start to get wet, we instinctively grab the brake lever because, well, wheeled vehicles aren’t supposed to go in the water. But...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 12, 2012
While the kids may be getting their costumes ready and dreaming of shopping bags full of candy, gearheads know the real place to celebrate Halloween is Las Vegas. Yep, you will find some wild costumes cruising the Strip, but the best treats in town will be on display...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 12, 2012
After a steady, decade-long decline, the number of automotive recalls has taken a surprisingly sharp jump over the last several years – most analysts pointing to the backlash over Toyota’s unintended acceleration scandal that, in 2009 – 10 led the maker to call back...
by Marty Bernstein | Oct 12, 2012
Return Of The Fashion Designers? Years ago Lincoln used the famous ladies haute courtier Bill Blass was arguably the first fashionista to create the interior of a new vehicle. But that long-running association ended some years back, as did Chrysler’s ties to Nolan...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 12, 2012
Only months ago, the EPA was pressing hard to expand the use of ethanol in the nation’s gasoline supply, but in the wake of this summer’s fierce drought, the agency may soon reverse course and actually trim back because of shortages of corn used to produce the...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 12, 2012
Ford has been taking aggressive aim at Toyota this year and borrowing a page from the Japanese giant’s playbook in the process, focusing not only on new battery-powered models like the Fusion Hybrid and C-Max but also by bragging that some of Ford’s newest offerings...
by Joseph Szczesny | Oct 11, 2012
Toyota Motor Co.’s comeback appears to have hit a couple of serious potholes with trouble in China and a huge and potentially expensive new recall. In response to the new challenges, Standard & Poors has lowered its opinion of Toyota’s American Depository Shares...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 11, 2012
Over the years, we’ve come to expect three things will happen when an automaker introduces an all-new product: the vehicle will get heavier, it will get more content, and it will get a bigger price tag. With stiff new fuel economy standards coming into play, we’ve...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 11, 2012
We haven’t even seen Santa anchor New York’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade yet, but with the local CostCo already lighting up the artificial tree we’ve begun to scratch our head hoping to think up some creative Christmas presents. If only we had the money to pop for the...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 11, 2012
Some folks might consider it doubly unlucky but Chevrolet is counting on rebuilding its momentum in the months ahead as it launches 13 new products for the ’13 model-year. The maker certainly can use a little boost. While its sales are up since January, that pace has...
by Bryan Laviolette | Oct 11, 2012
He may be approaching his eighties, but former General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz is showing no sign of slowing down. Among an assortment of board seats and other assignments that give lie to the idea of “post-retirement,” the former Marine pilot has...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 10, 2012
Toyota has the highest loyalty rate of any major automaker, according to a new study – news that suggests the maker might be able to sidestep the impact of another major safety-related recall involving 2.5 million vehicles in the U.S. alone, the largest Toyota has...
