by Bryan Laviolette | Jul 23, 2010
Ford of Europe is working on an all-wheel drive, hybrid version of its RS rally-inspired high-performance car. Could it be destined to show up in the U.S.? So far, the automaker isn’t saying. “Rumors are fun, aren’t they?” a Ford spokesman said in response to a query...
by Bryan Laviolette | Jul 23, 2010
Jeep Wrangler owners already know they can go just about anywhere. Now they can sleep comfortably once they get there. Jeep introduced a pair of small campers designed to resemble the Wrangler that’s pulling them. They feature Jeep wheels, Wrangler-style fenders and...
by Bryan Laviolette | Jul 22, 2010
The automotive world is going smartphone app crazy. The latest to join the fray? General Motors will roll out smartphone apps – specialized apps geared for customers of its four remaining U.S. brands – this fall. GM will release a new app for smartphones...
by Bryan Laviolette | Jul 22, 2010
Here’s a shocker: Men don’t like the way the women in their lives drive. In other news, a federal agency announced a study that determined that water is wet and fire is hot. As many as one in three men are so “frightened” by the driving of their distaff partner they...
by Bryan Laviolette | Jul 21, 2010
Hey 007, Lotus might be developing a successor to your ride in “The Spy Who Loved Me.” Or, maybe not. The British sports and race car maker has issued a cryptically worded press release that says it expects to make a major announcement at the Paris Auto Show....
by Bryan Laviolette | Jul 19, 2010
The gearbox wars continue to heat up. Mercedes-Benz engineers are trying to determine just how many transmission cogs are enough – and perhaps more importantly, how many the public will accept. Numbers always seem to matter in the auto industry. But in an era of...
by Bryan Laviolette | Jul 13, 2010
The chief engineer who was responsible for development of the latest-generation Ford Focus is leaving Ford of Europe to join a German pleasure boat builder as chief executive officer. Jens Ludman, global chief engineer for Ford in Germany, spent 11 years with the...
by Bryan Laviolette | Jul 8, 2010
With sales taking a sharp tumble, Smart USA is hoping to rebuild demand by giving buyers the ability to extensively customize the brand’s fortwo microcar. The new program, dubbed Smart Expressions, will not only let buyers choose from 93 paint colors, but also bring a...
by Bryan Laviolette | Jul 7, 2010
Nissan has taken the wraps off it’s next-generation Quest minivan, showing the automaker plans to take another shot at a segment it has long struggled to find a place in – and which a number of key competitors have already abandoned. The 2011 Nissan Quest...
by Bryan Laviolette | Jul 7, 2010
In the long history of Dodge and its in-house parts division, Mopar, the two have never collaborated on a vehicle together. That changes with the introduction of the limited-edition Dodge Challenger Mopar ‘10. Dodge will build a low-volume version of the 2010...
by Bryan Laviolette | Jul 2, 2010
The dream of producing a fully capable amphibious car could move closer to reality after the company’s Quadski ATV hits the market next year. While Gibbs Technologies plows ahead with plans to begin marketing the Quadski next spring, the progress on the company’s...
by Bryan Laviolette | Jun 22, 2010
General Motors still has not announced pricing for the Chevrolet Volt, but there are indications that cost might come in lower than originally anticipated. Micky Bly, director of electric vehicle programs at GM, told an audience at last week’s Green Car Conference...
