by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 21, 2013
Government officials took the unusual step of closing some of the freeways in Beijing earlier this month, the latest in a series of increasingly frantic efforts to reduce the city’s seemingly endemic problems with air pollution so severe many residents now walk around...
by Jim Dunne | Oct 21, 2013
If you’re a rock fan, the name might bring to mind an old song by the British band T. Rex. Others, might recall the 1998 concept vehicle that introduced the name Jeepster. What sort of tune you’ll sing likely will depend upon your reaction to this spy shot. The...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 18, 2013
Battery cars have a number of potential advantages – including the ability to move the motor out from under the hood, something that could translate into a lot more space for passengers. On the downside, manufacturers struggle to find the right place to put bulky...
by Joseph Szczesny | Oct 18, 2013
As it prepares to roll out the new mid-sized trucks, the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, at the Los Angeles Auto Show next, General Motors is pursuing what it describes as a three-truck strategy. While GM has put more emphasis on its passenger cars in the past few...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 18, 2013
While Toyota and its Prius hatchback have dominated the hybrid market in recent years there was a time when the Japanese giant was locked in battle with its Asian rival, Honda. But the smaller maker’s original alternative, the quirky 2-seat Insight, as well as latter...
by Michael Strong | Oct 18, 2013
The marketing teams at large companies spend thousands of hours and even more dollars to develop effective campaigns and slogans to cast their companies in just the right light. General Motors’ Mary Barra may have the best one of all: “No more crappy cars.” At least,...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 18, 2013
Movie memorabilia can collect some steep premiums these days, so few were surprised when a mystery buyer shelled out close to $1 million for the Lotus-based submarine from the 1970s-era James Bond film, “The Spy Who Loved Me.” But the real surprise turns out to be who...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 18, 2013
Hyundai is getting ready to join the list of makers offering all-wheel-drive options to upscale motorists – in this case with a new AWD system it is calling “HTRAC,” which will make its debut on the next-generation Genesis model. Once reserved for off-road vehicles...
by Michael Strong | Oct 17, 2013
Much of the focus on Fiat SpA has been on how it can gain control of Chrysler Group and what it will mean for the Italian automaker, but lost in that story is the success of one of its other brands: Maserati. The Modena-based maker of famous names like Quattroporte...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 17, 2013
Toyota Motor Co. is recalling another 885,000 vehicles worldwide, the latest in a series of major safety-related actions this time caused by electrical problems that could prevent airbags from deploying in the event of a collision. The vast majority of the vehicles...
by Joseph Szczesny | Oct 17, 2013
Chevy dropped a bombshell earlier this year when it announced the revival of the formidable Z28, a 500-plus-horsepower version of its 2014 Camaro. Now, with the track-ready coupe ready to roll into showrooms, the maker is hoping to whet – make that “wet” – potential...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Oct 17, 2013
Green cars are going mainstream. American motorists no longer have to look for stone-pony-slow econoboxes or premium-priced specialty vehicles to drive something clean and fuel-efficient, and that has made for an interesting round of choices as the sponsors of the...
