Autoblog

Top search on Ford's Cash-for-Clunkers site is... the Mercury Milan?

Chris Shunk — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedans/Saloons, Government/Legal, Ford, Mercury

2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid - Click above for high-res gallery

On June 25, Ford launched its "Recycle Your Ride" website. The site is an easy guide to determine if your vehicle is eligible for Cash-for-Clunkers, and which Ford family vehicles are a good fit as a replacement. So far, Ford says it's had over 250,000 potential customers fill out the short form, and surprisingly, the modest-selling Mercury Milan is in a statistical dead heat with the Ford Fusion for the top replacement vehicle chosen.

To test out the site, we chose a 1997 Ford F-150 with a 4.6-liter V8 engine. Ford's site brought up 16 vehicles eligible for the $4,500 incentive, including the Focus, Escape, Mariner, Taurus, Fusion and Milan. The picking-up-sales-steam Fusion and the underrated Milan currently account for 30% of overall selections, and Ford tells us that the public is split right down the middle on which vehicle they prefer.

While it's quite surprising that the Milan is garnering as much attention as the more popular Fusion, the real proof is in the sales data. We're guessing that the Milan won't outperform the Fusion's 19,000 June sales any time soon.

[Source: Ford]

Top search on Ford's Cash-for-Clunkers site is... the Mercury Milan? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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(Over) Active Aero: VW recalling Touareg over spoilers that might take flight

Chris Paukert — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: SUVs, Government/Legal, Recalls/TSBs, Safety, Volkswagen

With products like its now-defunct Corrado sports coupe, Volkswagen has proven that they understand the benefits of active aerodynamics - but a new recall in conjunction with the National HIghway Traffic Safety Administration centers on the potential for some completely unintentional and undesired active aero with the company's products.

According to NHTSA, VW will recall 14,416 2007-2009 Touareg SUVs because the vehicle's roof spoiler can jettison itself from the vehicle, potentially striking pedestrians or other vehicles. Apparently, the problem stems from the fastening struts on the spoiler which can crack, leading to the loosening or outright detachment of the aerodynamic element.

Owners of Touaregs covered under the recall can bring their vehicles to their local dealer, which will install reinforcement wedges to the assembly for free. Official recall information posted after the jump. Top tip, Jeff!

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading (Over) Active Aero: VW recalling Touareg over spoilers that might take flight

(Over) Active Aero: VW recalling Touareg over spoilers that might take flight originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: New GM drives out of bankruptcy this morning [*UPDATED]

Chris Shunk — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:50:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, GM, Earnings/Financials

After a scant six weeks in bankruptcy court, General Motors is on its way out of Chapter 11. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Gerber approved the sale of GM's good assets to a new company lead by the U.S. and Canadian governments and the UAW healthcare fund, but gave vested parties four days to file an objection.

After two requests for a stay were denied on Tuesday and an accident victim's request was denied at the last minute on Thursday, all signs point to an exit from bankruptcy within a few days, and this morning, word from the Detroit News is that the company officially emerged from Chapter 11 at 6:30am this morning. CEO Fritz Henderson has called a 9 am press conference this morning, and one can only assume that he will declare the birth of "New GM."

GM has received $50 billion from the US government to keep the mega-corporation out of liquidation. For its troubles, Uncle Sam will receive a 60% stake in the new company. Canada, which pitched in $9 billion, will be 11.7% owners, while the UAW will receive 17.6%. Old GM will receive 10% of the new company to help creditors recoup some money. The "New GM" will be smaller in almost every way, with four fewer brands, a smaller presence in Europe, fewer employees, and a markedly more attractive balance sheet.

[Sources: The Detroit News; AFP | Image Source: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

*UPDATE: Official press verbiage added after the jump, click here to watch GM's live 9am press conference.

Continue reading BREAKING: New GM drives out of bankruptcy this morning [*UPDATED]

BREAKING: New GM drives out of bankruptcy this morning [*UPDATED] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aussie gets second car yanked under anti-hoon laws after posting antics on Facebook

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Australia

According to The Herald Sun, since Victoria, Australia introduced anti-hoon legislation on July 1, 2006, more than ten cars a day have been confiscated from their owners. That's over 8,000 cars in three years, more than 5,000 of which the police still have. Despite those big numbers, Victorian Peter Black has the distinct honor of being the first Aussie to surrender two different cars in two years for hooning.

While our instincts generally tend to sympathy any time a car is taken away, we can't feel sorry for Black because he's guilty of criminal vanity: he broke the law and then posted the video of it online. That led to someone alerting the police as to the video's existence, and in turn, to the authorities alerting Black that he could hand over the keys to his Ford Falcon ute. How many times do we have to say it? Drive safely. If you don't, please keep it to yourself.

Black's case goes in a similar file to Aussie Joshua Shelton's - the 19-year-old had his arm amputated after a high speed crash, then had his license taken away after he was busted two months later doing donuts, and then he got busted this week twice in an hour for two different "hoon-related activities" while he was a passenger. These kids today...

[Source: Herald Sun]

Aussie gets second car yanked under anti-hoon laws after posting antics on Facebook originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #135

Dan Roth — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:41:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Podcasts, Government/Legal, Opinion/Editorial

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #135 of the Autoblog Podcast is here. Chris, Sam and Dan took time out to chat about GM's fast-moving reorganization, Smart's dubious $99/month deal, raising gas taxes as a better way to increase fuel economy, and Shunk's new car dilemma. To wrap up, we hit a question, and that's it - a nice, tidy 65-minute affair. Tell us how we're doing by filling out our survey, if you haven't already, and we'll see you next week. In the meantime, you can drop us a note at Podcast at Autoblog dot com. Thanks for listening!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #135

Autoblog Podcast #135 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neff (allegedly) uses Buick, rope to drag bull; police and motorists irate

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

We occasionally decry some of the daffy laws that are still on the books, and then things like this happen and we're reminded that we need some of them. Two men in King County, Washington allegedly tied a live bull to a Buick's door frame and were spotted dragging it down the road to another pasture. The bull, apparently dead set against heading to said pasture, was on its belly, legs splayed out, leaving a trail of blood behind it.

The two men, Terrance Neff (no relation) and Jonas Arnbrister, told police the bull "is stubborn" and dragging it around is what they always do. Why? Because "You have to be like that with cows." After having pulled it a half a mile they also said that the bull wasn't hurt.

The men are currently in the King County jail awaiting court appearances on charges of animal cruelty. The bull was given pain medication and given to animal authorities for better keeping. Whenever Neff and Arnbrister get out, the next time they need to relocate some bull, we figure they ought to get themselves a lightly-used Pontiac Grand Am and try doing it like the gent in the above photo.

[Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | Image: Bugack.com]

Neff (allegedly) uses Buick, rope to drag bull; police and motorists irate originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ruh-Roh: Formula One Teams Association reportedly walks out of meeting with FIA

Noah Joseph — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal

Well, folks, it looks like that elusive peace is slipping away yet again as the members of the Formula One Teams Association reportedly up and walked out of a meeting today with technical representatives from the FIA.

The meeting of the Technical Working Group was convened to iron out the details of the regulation changes for the near future, and included the ten current teams - of which eight are members of FOTA - as well as the three new teams joining the grid for next year. As of this writing, FOTA has yet to explain its specific reasons for the walkout. However, their exit indicates that the supposed deal between FOTA and the FIA is anything but finalized after Max Mosley (who reportedly agreed to stand down as FIA president as part of the deal) said he may yet run again - and Bernie Ecclestone continues to give the sport a black eye.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty]

Ruh-Roh: Formula One Teams Association reportedly walks out of meeting with FIA originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consumer groups reportedly asking for liability warning labels on used Chryslers

Chris Shunk — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Chrysler, LLC., GM, Carsumer Advocacy

When Chrysler was in Chapter 11, the U.S. bankruptcy court decided that the new Pentastar would be free of any liability for accidents that involve Chrysler-branded products sold prior the bankruptcy. Automotive News is reporting that five consumer groups are looking to get the word out that used Chrysler products will not be eligible for such liability claims by putting a warning sticker on each and every used Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep that is for sale.

The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing the petition, which states that consumers who purchase a used Chrysler vehicle risk "being held responsible for millions of dollars in medical expenses, hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost income and other losses - with no possibility of recompense - even if their injury was clearly Chrysler's fault." Under the current plan, customers looking to sue Chrysler for defective product concerns will have to go after old Chrysler, which is broke, bankrupt, and doomed.

Chrysler, of course, is against the petition, as the warning may harm a dealer's ability to sell used Chrysler-branded products. In an email to Automotive News, Chrysler spokesman Michael Palese wrote "In Chrysler's bankruptcy, the ability to form a new company free from the product liability burden of the old company was essential to the new company's survival." Palese also mentions that the petition has also uncovered no new defects or safety issues.

Automotive News is also reporting that General Motors has worked out a deal with state attorneys general to consider claims as long as they were submitted after the automaker's bankruptcy.

[Source: Automotive News - subs req'd | Image: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty]

Consumer groups reportedly asking for liability warning labels on used Chryslers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FOLLOWUP: MG Rover execs reportedly strike back amidst fraud accusations

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, UK

The soap opera that is unfolding in the United Kingdom regarding the death of the once-proud MG Rover automobile company continues unabated. Four former MG Rover executives who purchased the automaker from BMW back in May of 2000 for a £10 fee have responded to Lord Mandelson's decision to send the aging case to the Serious Fraud Office with a terse statement. Here's a snippet:

The announcement is mystifying given that at no stage during the last four years of the government inspectors' investigation has there been any suggestion of fraud or criminal activity of any kind.

Both the National Audit Office and the MG Rover administrators, PWC, carried out thorough investigations into the company's affairs and concluded there was no evidence whatsoever of any wrongdoing.

Lawyers advising the directors who have sat through all of the interviews and read every scrap of evidence have confirmed there has never been any suggestion of fraud during the investigation. At all times, the directors have willingly and openly accounted for their actions.

Sounds like the former execs are none too pleased with the delay in publishing the findings of the four-year investigation into the automaker's final days, not to mention the inference that there may have been some sort of fraud on their watch. As an added bonus, the execs are openly questioning why the government has declined to discuss its own dealings with MG Rover around April of 2005 as the company collapsed into administration. As we said before, this case sounds like it's far from over.

[Source: Autocar]

FOLLOWUP: MG Rover execs reportedly strike back amidst fraud accusations originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FOLLOWUP: Serious Fraud Office reportedly called in to investigate MG Rover collapse

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, UK

The saga that is the collapse of MG Rover and the subsequent four-year government probe into what went wrong has just taken another sordid and oddly-timed twist. Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for the British Labour Party, has told the Financial Times that he was under "obligation" to pass the case to the Serious Fraud Office (is there a "Not So Serious Fraud Office?") following his review of the findings into the last days of MG.

In response, the so-called "Phoenix Four" executives that had purchased the brand from BMW for a a nominal £10 fee have called into question Lord Mandelson's motives in stalling publication of the report even further. A representative of the businessmen said, "We suspect that this is a government ruse to conceal its own failings."

Political motives aside, there are serious questions as to how many leads there will be for the SFO to follow now that four years have passed since the last MG rolled out of the brand's plant in Longbridge and the company collapsed into administration. Further, if there were legitimate suspicions of criminal activity, many wonder why the SFO wasn't called into action at a much earlier date.

Somehow, we have a feeling this case is far from over. Ah, well... what's another four years?

[Source: The Financial Times]

FOLLOWUP: Serious Fraud Office reportedly called in to investigate MG Rover collapse originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canada pondering Cash-For-Clunkers too?

Chris Paukert — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Government/Legal, Green, Earnings/Financials, Canada

Historically speaking, Canada has gotten the blunt end of the stick when it comes to new car pricing compared to its southern neighbors. Pricing on many vehicles versus an otherwise identical U.S. counterpart has long been comparatively inflated, and America's recently passed Cash-For-Clunkers bill has left many Canadian consumers feeling even more short-changed than normal.

But help may be on the way. The Vancouver Sun reports that Jim Prentice, Canada's environmental minister, is reviewing whether the Great White North should get a Cash-For-Clunkers scrappage incentive program of its own. According to the story, Prentice has met with "a number of auto manufacturers over the past few months" in order to discuss whether the government should issue its own $3,500 incentives to junk old vehicles and purchase new ones.

Interestingly, before a decision is made, Prentice plans to analyze whether a small, existing auto salvage trade-in program in Alberta has had any effect. That program apparently gives eligible owners a comparatively modest sum - $300 - for scrapping their 1995 or older vehicles. Instead of the cash incentive, alternative awards for the current program include up to $490 toward a new bicycle or as much as a year's worth of mass transit passes.

A decision on a Cash-For-Clunkers program for Canada will likely be handed down in the next 60 days.

[Source: The Vancouver Sun | Image: Theo Heimann/Getty]

Canada pondering Cash-For-Clunkers too? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler fills out board of directors

Chris Shunk — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, LLC., Earnings/Financials

The new Chrysler Group, LLC is out of bankruptcy, in bed with the Italians and the U.S. Government, and now it has a complete board of directors. Chrysler is forging ahead with a fresh group of board members, including former governors, Fiat royalty, and some people you've probably never heard of.

Chrysler announced the rest of its nine member board of directors over the holiday weekend, joining active chairman C. Robert Kidder, who was announced in May. Among the new board members are former Michigan Governor and U.S. Congressman James Blanchard, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, Fiat Powertrain CEO Alfredo Altavill and former Northwest Airlines CEO Douglas Steenland.

Noticeably absent from the board is overt representation from the United Auto Workers, which is perhaps surprising as the labor group owns part of the new Chrysler. Hit the jump to read up on all of the automaker's board members.

[Source: Chrysler | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

Continue reading Chrysler fills out board of directors

Chrysler fills out board of directors originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Bankruptcy Judge OKs sale of good assets to New GM

Chris Shunk — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:07:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, GM

General Motors has cleared a major hurdle to get out of bankruptcy quickly, as U.S. Judge Robert Gerbe has finally given the automaker the go-ahead to sell off its best assets to a newly formed company that analysts have been calling "New GM". The new GM will include assets like the Chevrolet and Cadillac brands, plus plants and production facilities that haven't scheduled for closure. The old GM will consist of soon-to-be shuttered plants, the Pontiac brand and mountains of debt and liabilities.

Judge Gerbe gave the go-ahead on Sunday because he felt not doing so would cause "immediate and irreparable harm" to the 100-year-old company. The Detroit Free Press is reporting that the Treasury Department was threatening to cut off funding to GM if the sale didn't go through by July 10. Hundreds of GM's debtors requested that the sale be rejected, but Judge Gerbe's ruling likely means that the affected parties won't see much, if any money owed.

GM entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 1, and if New GM actually does emerge from bankruptcy this week, the fourth largest bankruptcy in this country's history will have been completed inside of just six weeks. The timeframe is very similar to that of the much smaller Chrysler, which needed only 42 days to exit bankruptcy.

[Source: Detroit Free Press, Photo by Hiroko Masuike/Getty]

BREAKING: Bankruptcy Judge OKs sale of good assets to New GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Japan could require hybrids to emit sound

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Government/Legal, Green, Japan

2010 Lexus HS 250h - Click above for high-res image gallery

Now that hybrid cars have taken the top sales spots in Japan for the last few months, that country's Transport Ministry is reportedly launching an investigation to determine whether it's wise to require hybrid automobiles to emit an artificial sound when operating with the internal combustion engine switched off. The thinking is that hybrids may be more dangerous to the blind due to their quiet operation under electric power.

According to an unnamed official, the government's 13-member panel - consisting of a diverse group of scholars, vision-impaired groups, consumers, police and automobile industry officials - "decided to consider introducing a sound-making function" on all hybrids at its first meeting on Thursday, July 2. The panel hasn't yet decided what sound hybrids should make. We'll cast our unofficial vote in the direction of cowbells.

The issue is well-known in America, where the government has launched Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Acts in each of the last two years to study the supposed problem. Naturally, there is some opposition to artificial noise generators on hybrids. "On the other hand, we should pay attention to residents (along roads) as hybrids are excellent in reducing noise," added the Transport Ministry official.

Gallery: 2010 Lexus HS250h

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: AFP via Google]

REPORT: Japan could require hybrids to emit sound originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: NHTSA to mandate lane departure warning and auto-brake systems?

Chris Paukert — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:44:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Tech

Is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about to add some more safety measures to your next new car? According to The Detroit News, they might be. The Motown daily says that government officials are pondering whether or not they should require new vehicles to be fitted with lane-departure warning systems and automatic braking systems that trigger upon warning of an impending accident. Both systems are currently available only in very small percentage of new passenger cars - primarily luxury vehicles. According to the DetNews report, safety experts believe that the systems "show significant promise" in their ability to reduce traffic accident-related fatalities and injuries.

NHTSA will decide whether to require such systems in 2011 after further cost-benefit analysis, including looking at insurance company data and estimated manufacturing costs. It has already added new components to its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) for 2011 vehicles, including a test that measures the effectiveness of lane-departure warning systems and a different frontal-crash program.

NHTSA hopes to announce its findings by the end of the year.

[Source: The Detroit News]

REPORT: NHTSA to mandate lane departure warning and auto-brake systems? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: NHTSA may mandate amber turn signals

Chris Shunk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

Some cars have red turn signal lamps, while others have an amber hue. Big deal, right? The National Highway Traffic Safety Association thinks it is, after finding that amber lights are 5.3% more effective at preventing crashes than the red blinkers. NHTSA came to that conclusion after comparing crash data of vehicles that switched from one color to another. Europe already mandates the amber turn signal, and NHTSA says that data from other agencies supports their findings. As it is, American cars sold in Europe already receive legal turn signal units - even if they aren't sold that way in America (see Chevrolet's C6 Corvette as an example).

NHTSA is now asking the public whether it should mandate amber turn signals for all vehicles sold in the States. Unfortunately for automakers, amber turn signals aren't exactly high fashion here in the U.S., as the vast majority of the signals are of the red blinking variety, likely because of cost considerations. While it's true that the auto industry is probably suffering from a case of far too many regulations, anything that can improve safety by up to 5.3% without costing an arm and a leg is probably worth considering. If NHTSA gives automakers a reasonable amount of time to implement the changes, automakers may be able to fit the change into the next design cycle.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

REPORT: NHTSA may mandate amber turn signals originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Majority of highway fatalities caused by deficient road conditions

Noah Joseph — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Maintenance, Government/Legal, Safety

What would you think to be the leading contributor to fatalities in car crashes here in the States? Failure to use seat belts? Speeding? Drunk driving? Think again. According to a new study commissioned by Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), the leading cause of highway fatalities is deficient road conditions. In fact, the study asserts, with a roadway-related crash occurring every minute on American streets, inadequate roadway infrastructure is responsible for the majority of highway fatalities in the United States and over a third of injuries incurred in non-fatal crashes as well.

Given the state of many roadways, you might think that the situation - like America's road network - is beyond repair. However, the study, entitled "On a Crash Course: The Dangers and Health Costs of Deficient Roadways," assesses the financial cost alone of crashes caused by these substandard roadways - as a whopping $217 billion annually, including medical bills, loss of productivity and property damage. That's more than three-and-a-half times the $59 billion which local, state and federal governments in the United States invest in improving America's roadways. PIRE's solution? Improving road conditions, of course, including better signage and markings, widening shoulders and removing obstacles from roadsides. Follow the jump to read more on PIRE's findings and suggested solutions for what it deems is one of the largest killers in America.

[Source: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation | Image: STR/AFP/Getty]

Continue reading STUDY: Majority of highway fatalities caused by deficient road conditions

STUDY: Majority of highway fatalities caused by deficient road conditions originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elon Musk: "Golden handcuffs" require I stay through Model S launch

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Convertibles, Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Government/Legal, Green

For a guy who allegedly wants a lot of the credit for creating Tesla Motors, Elon Musk certainly doesn't seem to like the job of being its CEO. As part of Daimler's investment deal with Tesla, Musk needed to commit to staying on as Tesla's CEO at least until the Model S launches in 2011. Musk told Reuters:

I didn't really have a choice. This was a requirement of Daimler that I remain CEO of Tesla through the Model S launch and then continue to be part of Tesla in a chairman role beyond that. It's flattering, but at the same time it's golden handcuffs.

Well, that sure makes it sound like fun, doesn't it? It's clear that Musk has always been interested in projects other than Tesla (e.g.: electric planes and SpaceX), but does he have to make running one of the hippest electric car companies around sound like a drag?

Another nugget from the article: One of the reasons the price on the Roadster was raised was to help qualify Tesla Motors for the DOE loan it later received. Musk said, "We did the minimum we needed to do to make the business work."

Gallery: Tesla Model S

[Source: Reuters]

Elon Musk: "Golden handcuffs" require I stay through Model S launch originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota stung by possible Prius headlight defect?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Government/Legal, Green, Recalls/TSBs, Safety, Toyota, Carsumer Advocacy

2007 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

We'd wager that the last thing Toyota wants in the midst of the super-important launch of its new third-generation Prius is a negative stigma attached to the previous model. Unfortunately, that's exactly what the Japanese automaker may have on its hands as a number of owners of the 2005-2008 Toyota Prius with the HID headlight option are banding together on online forums, message boards and in possible class action lawsuits against the automaker in relation to failing headlamps.

According to Advertising Age, these HID headlight bulbs and their associated electronics can sometimes cost well over $1,000 to replace after they've gone faulty, and Toyota is unwilling to pick up the tab. At least one lawsuit has reportedly been filed last month by Girard Gibbs in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on behalf of a Putnam County, N.Y., Prius owner. The suit contends that the problem is a "dangerous but undisclosed safety defect" and alleges that "Toyota is concealing the problems from owners" despite having been "long been aware of Prius' HID headlight problem." It's possible that the suit will get class-action status.

The NHTSA has reportedly filed a preliminary investigation into the issue and contacted Toyota on May 13 regarding 338 complaints it has received so far from Prius owners about the HID headlamps. Spokesmen from Toyota have said the automaker is cooperating with the NHTSA investigation, which may or may not end up calling for an official recall.

Gallery: Review: 2007 Toyota Prius Touring

[Source: Advertising Age]

Toyota stung by possible Prius headlight defect? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Voter Drive: Study says political ideologies correlate with what cars we buy

Chris Shunk — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal

A new study by RL Polk & Co. shows that the kind of car you drive is tied to the state you live in, and whether that state is traditionally Republican or Democrat-leaning. The study shows that 36 of the 50 United States tie closely to political lines. Red states (Republican) typically buy domestic, while blue states (Democrat) typically skew import.

In states where Democrats won three of the past four elections, imports consist of as much as 60% of the market, while Republican strongholds favor domestics by up to 74%. The paradigm changes slightly in traditionally Democrat states that also produce a lot of cars and trucks. States like Wisconsin and Michigan still prefer domestic products. The three states that have been split over the past four elections also prefer domestic vehicles.

The exact reason for the phenomenon isn't clear, but a quick view of the political map shows that traditional Democrat strongholds are on the east and west coast, where imports are preferred. The center of the country traditionally favors Republicans, especially in the South. That's pickup truck country, and Ford, GM and Chrysler dominate the segment.

[Source: Washington Times | Image: Infovis.net]

Voter Drive: Study says political ideologies correlate with what cars we buy originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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