38 Articles
Mar 26, 2009
Yes, the rich really are different, even now: UK man buys license plate "1 D" for $513,000

The trade in personalized license plates in the UK can be big business -- the most coveted ones aren't given away, they are auctioned off at country clubs and manor houses. And in spite of a thing called "the recession" the record price paid for a specialty plate in the UK has just been broken, with a Lebanese property developer paying £352,411 ($513,047 USD) to own "1 D." The actual winning bid was £285,000 ($414,893 USD), to which fees and taxes were added.

Jonathon Ramsey
Mar 26, 2009
Spy Shots: Next Ford Focus mules caught testing

The next Ford Focus is being prepared in sedan and wagon formats, and the first mules have been caught. Judging from what we see here and what we've already heard, the coming Focus will take its design cues from the Iosis-Max concept shown at Geneva last month.

Jonathon Ramsey
Mar 26, 2009
Scarpina electric scooter shown off in Japan

A company called Auto EV Japan is planning to release a new electric scooter this May in Japan. A number of different versions of the Scarpina will be offered, including models with both 2 and 3 wheels. It appears as if the three-wheeled units use a suspension design very similar to the one that debuted years ago on the Honda Gyro with the twin set of wheels at the rear, not at the front as on newer designs such as the Jeremy Korzeniewski

Mar 26, 2009
Early March sales figures said to be down around 40%

While there are folks predicting a turnaround in car sales and general economic fortunes by the end of this year, for now the status quo remains, and it can be summed up as: "Ouch." J.D. Power has put the early returns for March sales down 40% compared to the same month last year. It predicts sales of 633,000 cars to retail customers and another 165,000 to fleet customers for March of this year versus a March 2008 total of 1.07 million total sales. That would be an annualized rate of 9.2 million

Jonathon Ramsey
Mar 26, 2009
Autoline LIVE with John McElroy, Guests Peter De Lorenzo and Jason Vines

The automotive world needs a dose of truth, and starting Thursday, March 26th, it'll get it. Join John McElroy and friends for an all-new Autoline LIVE, after hours webcast discussion. Joining John is outspoken automotive pundit, Peter De Lorenzo of AutoExtremist.com and gonzo PR ace Jason Vines. It'll be an uncensored, no-holds-barred, tell-it-like-it-is conversation on what's wrong, what's right, and what's up with the auto industry.

John Neff
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