Forums: Automotive

Each year, around 10 000 cars of America's past flood the streets of Swedish Västerås. I'm not an owner of such a vehicle myself (although I plan to be - the future of my economy is looking good!), but I happen to love these cars and can't help but feeling somewhat proud, as a Swede, over my country hosting such an event (regardless of what Buford T Justice has to say about it). Greetings from Volvo Land to America/one nation of car lovers to another! (Links to clips below, enjoy!)

Don't call it Chevy. General Motors leaders are asking Chevrolet employees to refrain from the shorthand etched in America's consciousness for decades. Or, as the New York Times put it, "If General Motors has its way, you won't be driving your Chevy to the levee ever again." The Times quoted this company memo sent Tuesday: "We'd ask that whether you're talking to a dealer, reviewing dealer advertising, or speaking with friends and family, that you communicate our brand as Chevrolet moving forward. "When you look at the most recognized brands throughout the world, such as Coke or Apple, for instance,...

<p>Authorities have identified a 47-year-old woman who drowned as her car sunk into a retention pond Friday night after she unsuccessfully tried to save the vehicle from rising water.</p><p>Cassandra Bryant, of the 1400 block of Blue Bell in north Harris County, was southbound on the North Freeway service road around 10 p.m. when rising water prompted her to maneuver the car inadvertently into the pond.</p>

Nissan Leaf EV to Have Ultra-Cheap Battery Pack BY Ariel Schwartz Wed May 5, 2010 Over 8,200 people have made online reservations in the past month for the upcoming Nissan Leaf EV, and for good reason. The $33,000 vehicle, set to be released later this year, is the first affordable all-electric vehicle from a major auto manufacturer. It's an early adopter's dream. Now Nissan has revealed the secret behind the Leaf's reasonable price: an ultra-cheap battery pack. While most lithium-ion batteries cost $1000 to $1,200 per kWh, the Leaf's 24 kWh battery pack costs just $9,000 to produce, or $375...

Although initially Aston Martin didn’t intend to bring the V12 Vantage to the U.S. market, the British sportscar maker is planning to introduce this model in the fourth quarter of 2010, according to Inside Line. Based on the 2007 V12 Vantage RS Concept, the roadgoing V12 Vantage was launched in Europe in 2009, being a heavily modified version of the standard V8 Vantage. Aston plans to build only 1,000 units of this car, which is powered by a 510 horsepower V12 engine. Since the V12 Vantage was never destined for the U.S., Aston Martin had to make extensive modifications to...

State and local officials announced Friday that Chinese hybrid electric automaker BYD Co. will open its U.S. headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. China’s fourth-largest automaker expects to create at least 150 jobs here by 2011 as it rolls out its fleet of vehicles to California markets first before expanding throughout the country. “By bringing global alternative energy companies to Los Angeles, we are securing our future and building the foundation for an emerging industry that will attract good paying, green collar jobs for generations of Angelenos,” said Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa during a City Hall press conference that included Gov....

* Ford, Lincoln and Mercury March sales totaled 178,546, up 43 percent versus year ago * Ford brand sales up 46 percent versus year ago, Lincoln up 19 percent and Mercury up 26 percent * Cars up 53 percent versus year ago, utilities up 46 percent and trucks up 30 percent; March retail sales up 38 percent; fleet sales up 53 percent * Ford, Lincoln and Mercury first quarter sales totaled 428,596, up 37 percent versus year ago * Ford gains retail market share for the 17th time in the last 18 months, as more buyers turn to Ford’s fresh...

Obama says auto bailouts have paid off Photo 6:09am EDT By Steve Holland ASHEVILLE, North Carolina (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Saturday taxpayer-funded bailouts of the auto industry that he approved had paid off, in what amounted to a rejection of conservative arguments against such government help. In his weekly radio and Web address, Obama kept up the pressure for an overhaul of U.S. financial regulations, saying the promising news from the auto industry had not reduced the need for Wall Street changes. Government bailouts of Wall Street, begun by then-President George W. Bush in 2008 and continued...