Archive for April, 2009

VIDEO: New Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen trailer leaked online

Filed under: Videos, Lifestyle

Click above to watch video after the jump
A fever pitch is building for the upcoming release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on June 24th, so much so that a rabid fan snuck his hand-held camcorder into a special screening today where the film’s newest trailer was being debuted. What he escaped […]

REPORT: Saturn’s death likely to hurt GM CAFE numbers

Filed under: Saturn

Saturn Vue Hybrid - Click above for a high-res gallery
The ultimate fate of Saturn as an automotive brand remains uncertain, pending the outcome of the offers currently being made to buy it from a shrinking General Motors. One thing is certain though, it will not remain a part of GM. One of the […]

Rendered Speculation: Chevrolet Volt-based Saab Fashionista

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Saab, Rendered Speculation

Saab Fashionista concept - Click above for a high-res image gallery
At this point, it’s not a certainty that Saab or even parent company General Motors will still be in the car business in the year 2012, but let’s not let that tidbit get in the way of […]

FIA imposes three-race ban on McLaren, then suspends it

Filed under: Motorsports

2009 Australian Grand Prix - Click above for a high-res gallery
The FIA World Motor Sport Counsel has issued, and then retracted, a three-race on ban on McLaren after an investigation discovered the F1 team mislead race stewards at the Australian Grand Prix.
The episode that led to the probe involved McLaren accusing Toyota’s Jarno […]

Great Pontiac Commercials of the Past

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Pontiac

We’re still smarting after Monday’s announcement by General Motors that the Pontiac brand will be phased out. It’s not that we disagree with the decision - killing Pontiac is probably the right move. Rather, we’re disheartened at the loss of a brand so important to the car culture in this country. […]

REPORT: Obama planning to announce Chrysler bankruptcy tomorrow

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, LLC., FIAT

According to a report by Bloomberg citing the usual unnamed sources, President Obama will announce tomorrow that Chrysler will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy while continuing to work on its alliance with Fiat.
Bloomberg’s source made it clear that the there are still several loose ends and the plan “is not […]

Reports of aggressively rusting Toyota pickup frames piling up

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Safety, Toyota

Some Toyota Tundra owners are reportedly experiencing inordinately heavy amounts of premature rust, and they want the Japanese automaker to take action to address the problem. WCVB TV in Boston has been investigating the Toyota rust situation for about a year, and they’re reporting that at least two dozen 2000-2001 Tundra […]

REPORT: Largest American Axle plant to idle as work shifts to Mexico

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Earnings/Financials, UAW/Unions
Blaming the current economic conditions and still wounded from a near-fatal labor strike, Detroit-based auto supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. will reportedly lay off at least 500 workers at its largest plant and send the remaining jobs south of the border to Mexico.
This time last year, the manufacturer […]

REPORT: MINI to launch Special Edition F1 Cooper at MINI United

Filed under: Sports/GTs, Hatchbacks, MINI, Special/Limited Editions

According to MotoringFile, internet keepers of all things MINI, BMW’s cutest brand plans to launch a new Special Edition Cooper to coincide with the first Formula 1 racing car ever created by legendary British racer and company namesake John Cooper. To stand out from the rest of the already […]

REPORT: GM won’t pay dealers for franchises, will buy back parts, vehicles

Filed under: Car Buying, GM

In a special broadcast to dealers yesterday, General Motors’ sales chief, Mark LaNeve, explained that the automaker would buy back unsold new vehicles and parts from dealerships slated to be phased out by the end of 2010, but GM wouldn’t pay off dealers for their franchises.
As reported earlier this week, GM […]