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Watch world's fastest four-cylinder set a new quarter-mile record

Rumor has it that if you give Canadian engine tuner Nicolas Brunet a 2.0-liter, turbocharged General Motors Ecotec motor, he'll make it capable of breaking the quarter-mile record for four-cylinder dragsters. We say "rumor" because this news apparently hasn't been independently confirmed yet, but at Napierville Dragway in Quebec, Canada, the funny car you see above ran 6.75 at 206 mph.

GM recall affects 277,000 models with shifter problem

Citing a defect that can cause a parked vehicle to roll away, General Motors is recalling 277,000 cars and trucks. The models involved, all built for the 2009 model year, may have a loose clip on their transmission shift cable. The failure of the clip to be locked into place may prevent the transmission from moving into Park – even if the driver moves the shift lever into the proper position. GM has told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that dealers will inspect the trans

Pontiac will add 4 cylinder engine to G6 coupe in mid-2009

Since Pontiac added coupe and convertible versions of the G6 a couple of years ago, they have only been available with V6 engines. It looks like the current economic conditions are triggering a change in the coupe lineup. Pontiac will be adding an SE trim level to the coupe powered by the 2.4L EcoTec four cylinder coupled with the new six speed automatic transmission. The four cylinder produces 164 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque. The sedan with the same powertrain is rated at 22 mpg city and 33 mpg

Alpha RWD platform set to invade GM lineup

Citing suppliers and loose-lipped employees of General Motors as its source, Inside Line has learned that the rear-wheel drive Alpha platform will be making a big splash in the automaker's product portfolio soon. The Alpha will reportedly underpin a successor to the Pontiac G6 set to arrive in late 2010. Such a vehicle would do much to enhance Pontiac's unsubstaniated claim to build excitement, and would also augment the upcoming Zeta-based, rear-wheel-drive G8 sedan nicely. After that, the Alph

IIHS crashes convertibles too! Saab 9-3, Volvo C70 earn top ratings

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just wrapped up its own version of a clinical demolition derby on some of the newest drop tops around, and when the airbag dust settled, the Saab 9-3 and the Volvo C70 earned the Institute's Top Safety Pick award. Both vehicles scored "good" in front, side and rear crashes, while others, like the Pontiac G6, didn't fare quite as well.

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