Automotive Cheers and Jeers of 2009
If ever the automotive world had an annus horribilis, it was 2009, a year of recession, bankruptcies and ever-shrinking sales figures. But there were a few positive moments. Here are the best and worst moments of 2009.
Ford Motor offers more buyouts to autoworkers
Less than two weeks after Ford Motor Co. said it would restore merit pay and other benefits to its salaried workers, the increasingly successful automaker is offering its 41,000 U.S. hourly workers their second buyout program of the year -- saying it has more workers than it needs.
Car tech: Better driving through technological enhancements
Today's cars can do everything from parallel-park to alert you if someone's in your blind spot. Consider adaptive cruise control and collision detection as two examples. Technology assists have not only improved vehicle operation, but could even improve the way we drive.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Video: Chainlink 4x4 is frighteningly awesome...
Video: Chainlink 4x4 is frighteningly awesome
We aren't sure who built this or why – we're not even sure what it's called (we think it's "Chainlink") – but we're quite sure it's brilliant.
US Car Fleet Shrinks by 4 Million, First Time in 50 Years
2009 was not a good year for car sales. No surprises there. An interesting side effect of lowered sales last year, though, is that the total number of vehicles in the overall U.S. car fleet dropped. There were 250 million cars here in 2008, and only 246 million at the end of 2009.
Why "Going Social" Can Make or Break the Automotive Industry
The car business has been notoriously slow at embracing aspects of the Internet since the beginning. Social media is no exception. In 2010, more in the industry from manufacturers down to dealers will learn to engage in social media or be left behind.
Porsche Considering Three-Cylinder Engine For 2012 Boxster
Porsche is in the midst of developing its next-generation Boxster sports car, which has been seen undergoing testing in prototype form on a number of occasions in recent months. The new car is expected to go on sale late next year as a 2012 model and according to a new report Porsche may be...
We aren't sure who built this or why – we're not even sure what it's called (we think it's "Chainlink") – but we're quite sure it's brilliant.
US Car Fleet Shrinks by 4 Million, First Time in 50 Years
2009 was not a good year for car sales. No surprises there. An interesting side effect of lowered sales last year, though, is that the total number of vehicles in the overall U.S. car fleet dropped. There were 250 million cars here in 2008, and only 246 million at the end of 2009.
Why "Going Social" Can Make or Break the Automotive Industry
The car business has been notoriously slow at embracing aspects of the Internet since the beginning. Social media is no exception. In 2010, more in the industry from manufacturers down to dealers will learn to engage in social media or be left behind.
Porsche Considering Three-Cylinder Engine For 2012 Boxster
Porsche is in the midst of developing its next-generation Boxster sports car, which has been seen undergoing testing in prototype form on a number of occasions in recent months. The new car is expected to go on sale late next year as a 2012 model and according to a new report Porsche may be...
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Guy Adds Boat Tail to Car, Increases MPG by 15.1%...
Guy Adds Boat Tail to Car, Increases MPG by 15.1%
Darin Cosgrove has increased the fuel efficiency of his car by 15.1% by adding a homemade boat tail made from cardboard, aluminum and duct tape to the vehicle.
Darin Cosgrove has increased the fuel efficiency of his car by 15.1% by adding a homemade boat tail made from cardboard, aluminum and duct tape to the vehicle.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Will Audi's E-tron be a 'Tesla Killer'?...
Will Audi's E-tron be a 'Tesla Killer'?
Picture this: Elon Musk and Henrik Fisker -- impresarios of the electric Tesla Roadster and the soon-to-be, sort-of-electric Fisker Karma, respectively -- are running for their lives through a cave. Rolling behind them, gathering momentum, thundering ever closer, is an enormous boulder. I just spent a few minutes driving the boulder.
Teens lose control at the wheel ... to gain it
The late-model Mustang goes sideways at speed -- tires screeching and smoking.There's a teenager behind the wheel.But the teen isn't making the car do that. It's an instructor trying to teach the teen control.
Is your Speeding Ticket a case of Mistaken identity?
A little-known fact in many states' Motor Vehicle Departments is that there are often several vehicles that share the same license plate numbers. We know from experience that that fact doesn't always make a difference to lazy enforcement officials.
Top 10 Reasons Why the BMW M3 Is the Perfect Car (VIDEO)
Most car tests are subjective affairs delivered from the reviewer's perspective based on his or her personal experience with that particular car. And that's good, because while we want some objective data, what we really want to know is what it feels like. Unfortunately though, most reviews don't really break it down for you...
Picture this: Elon Musk and Henrik Fisker -- impresarios of the electric Tesla Roadster and the soon-to-be, sort-of-electric Fisker Karma, respectively -- are running for their lives through a cave. Rolling behind them, gathering momentum, thundering ever closer, is an enormous boulder. I just spent a few minutes driving the boulder.
Teens lose control at the wheel ... to gain it
The late-model Mustang goes sideways at speed -- tires screeching and smoking.There's a teenager behind the wheel.But the teen isn't making the car do that. It's an instructor trying to teach the teen control.
Is your Speeding Ticket a case of Mistaken identity?
A little-known fact in many states' Motor Vehicle Departments is that there are often several vehicles that share the same license plate numbers. We know from experience that that fact doesn't always make a difference to lazy enforcement officials.
Top 10 Reasons Why the BMW M3 Is the Perfect Car (VIDEO)
Most car tests are subjective affairs delivered from the reviewer's perspective based on his or her personal experience with that particular car. And that's good, because while we want some objective data, what we really want to know is what it feels like. Unfortunately though, most reviews don't really break it down for you...
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Chrysler Will Display Electric Fiat 500 at Detroit Auto Show...
Chrysler Will Display Electric Fiat 500 at Detroit Auto Show
Does an electric Fiat 500 stand a chance? Chrysler canceled its short-lived ENVI program after just a few months, and made more realistic projections about how much of its fleet will be electrified in the new few years. Are they serious about an electric 500 now, or still putting on a show for their Washington overlords?
Are L.A.'s Streets Any Safer with $446 Red-Light Tickets?
In October, a piece of what looked like junk mail sent to me from a P.O. box turned out to contain grainy pictures of my car, license plate and face in the classic L.A.-driving-trance position. I’d been captured on camera doing a “California roll” while making a right turn at a red light at Balboa Avenue and Vanowen Boulevard. The damage was $446.
Audi E-Tron concept supercar hits the road
The Audi E-tron will hit 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, reach a top speed of 125 mph, last for 155 miles on a charge, and cost somewhere north of the R8's $155,100 sticker price.
Does an electric Fiat 500 stand a chance? Chrysler canceled its short-lived ENVI program after just a few months, and made more realistic projections about how much of its fleet will be electrified in the new few years. Are they serious about an electric 500 now, or still putting on a show for their Washington overlords?
Are L.A.'s Streets Any Safer with $446 Red-Light Tickets?
In October, a piece of what looked like junk mail sent to me from a P.O. box turned out to contain grainy pictures of my car, license plate and face in the classic L.A.-driving-trance position. I’d been captured on camera doing a “California roll” while making a right turn at a red light at Balboa Avenue and Vanowen Boulevard. The damage was $446.
Audi E-Tron concept supercar hits the road
The Audi E-tron will hit 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, reach a top speed of 125 mph, last for 155 miles on a charge, and cost somewhere north of the R8's $155,100 sticker price.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Subaru WRX Pulls Semi-truck Out of Snow with Ease (Video)...
Subaru WRX Pulls Semi-truck Out of Snow with Ease (Video)
Subaru's are good cars in a lot of ways. They can be raced at high speeds and have had some success. On a personal use level, they are affordable and quality automobiles. None of that really fully allows us to appreciate what they can do. This clip will help in that department.
Subaru's are good cars in a lot of ways. They can be raced at high speeds and have had some success. On a personal use level, they are affordable and quality automobiles. None of that really fully allows us to appreciate what they can do. This clip will help in that department.
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