by Joseph Szczesny | Feb 7, 2013
It might seem the most American of brands — something Chrysler’s Ram division underscored with its well-reviewed “Farmer” spot during last weekend’s Super Bowl – but the maker is taking a very different direction with the product it is unveiling at the Chicago...
by Joseph Szczesny | Feb 7, 2013
Volkswagen is looking to recreate some of the magic from the 1970s by bringing back its “Yellow Black Racer.” Also known as the GSR – short for the German name, Gelb Schwarzer Renner — it was the sportiest version of the classic Volkswagen Beetle 40 years back....
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 6, 2013
Europeans love wagons. Americans, well, the automotive media seem to have a fixation on the two-box designs but, despite repeatedly optimistic forecasts, consumers have yet to regain the love affair with a design that peaked during the Baby Boom era. No wonder, then,...
by Joseph Szczesny | Feb 6, 2013
With the Chinese economy showing new signs of life after an unexpected slowdown, General Motors and its joint venture partners have set an all-time record, selling more than 300,000 vehicles in a single month for the first time during January. If the pace is sustained...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 6, 2013
Call it Supply-and-Demand 101. Ford Motor Co. is betting it can sell more battery cars if it has more places where potential customers can find them. The Detroit maker plans to more than quadruple the number of outlets for its plug-based vehicles in the months ahead...
by Joseph Szczesny | Feb 6, 2013
Head-on collisions are often among the most deadly highway accidents, and some of the most tragic involve vehicles that inadvertently get on a freeway or one-way street heading the wrong direction. But a new system developed by Daimler AG could alert drivers who’re...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 6, 2013
They’re billed as being the perfect automotive solution, able to deliver both improved fuel economy and solid performance, but do turbochargers live up to their billing? A review by Consumer Reports magazine has touched off a fierce debate. According to a new report...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 6, 2013
Ford will be Focus-ing on its racing program during the upcoming Chicago Auto Show. Quite literally, as it pulls the wraps off its Focus TrackSTer project car. It’s one of three special track-ready versions of the popular compact “hot hatch” the maker is developing in...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 5, 2013
General Motors Co. has recruited retired Admiral Michael Mullen to serve on its board of directors. Mullen, who like GM chairman Dan Akerson is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, served as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2007 to...
by Joseph Szczesny | Feb 5, 2013
It’s a great year for consumers looking to buy a midsize sedan. The market is awash with brand new offerings from manufacturers like Ford, Chevrolet Honda and Nissan, never mind still-fresh entries from Toyota and the Korean makers. Imagine the challenge for a...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 5, 2013
With the new Paceman coming onboard, Mini will now offer a total of seven different models – never mind all the variants it is delivering to showrooms around the world. But the maker is far from done as it fleshes out its line-up, company officials say. If anything,...
by Bryan Laviolette | Feb 5, 2013
General Motors named Jim Glynn as vice president of North American labor relations on Monday. Glynn replaces Cathy Clegg, who was named global manufacturing engineering vice president, replacing the retiring Eric Stevens. Glynn will be responsible for the automaker’s...
