The Demo Site

I’m not seeing imaginative mottoes and slogans on license plates these days. Wouldn’t it be a source of revenue for cash-strapped states? Here are some starter ideas, free of charge. All yours. My pleasure. Really. Don’t mention it.

UNITED STATES

Alabama: COME ON IN AND GITCHA SOME.
Alaska: WE CAN’T ACTUALLY SEE RUSSIA FROM HERE.
Arizona: WHERE AIRSTREAMS GO TO DIE.
Arkansas: HELL, YES, WE SELL LIQUOR ON EASTER AND CHRISTMAS.
California: WE REALLY PISS YOU OFF, DON’T WE?
Colorado: WHERE PROACTIVE HOLISTICISM EMPOWERS INTROSPECTIVE PERSONHOOD.
Connecticut: FIRST IN LYME DISEASE.
Delaware: IT AIN’T DOVER TILL IT’S DOVER.
Florida: WE GOT DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO STILL SPEAK ENGLISH.
Georgia: SORRY, WHAT WAS THE QUESTION?
Hawaii: NO MORE “I GOT LEI’D” JOKES, OKAY?
Idaho: SERIOUSLY, WE’RE STILL SEEING THOSE BLACK HELICOPTERS.
Illinois: THE STATE THAT’S MOSTLY A CITY.
Indiana: WHERE FOLKS ACTUALLY VOTED ON WHAT TIME IT WAS.
Iowa: GIVE US ONE MORE SHOT AT ETHANOL, OKAY?
Kansas: SOMETHING INTERESTING COULD STILL HAPPEN.
Kentucky: YOU REALLY THINK OUR GRASS IS BLUE?
Louisiana: WHERE YOU CAN WATER-SKI ON MAIN STREET.
Maine: PRETTY GOOD CHANCE WE BELONG TO CANADA.
Maryland: THE STATE WHOSE OUTLINE NOBODY CAN DRAW.
Massachusetts: OUR HOBBY IS SNOBBERY, AND WE LOBBY.
Michigan: LAST GUY OUT, TURN OFF THE LIGHTS.
Minnesota: LOOK FOR 10,000 FINNS IN OUR LAKES.
Mississippi: NO IDEA WHAT HANUKKAH ACTUALLY MEANS.
Missouri: THE SHOW-ME-YOURS-FIRST STATE.
Montana: IT’S TRUE, WE HAVE ONLY ONE AREA CODE.
Nebraska: LIFE IS A JOURNEY THAT MAY HAVE BYPASSED US.
Nevada: BRING ALL OF YOUR CRAPS TO US.
New Hampshire: LIVE FREE OR GET A BIG PINK FIBROID TUMOR AND DIE ANYWAY.
New Jersey: WHERE A CONTRACT REALLY MEANS SOMETHING.
New Mexico: NOT NEW AND NOT MEXICO, EITHER.
New York: WE MATTER; YOU DON’T.
North Carolina: A PLACE WHERE IT’S OKAY TO CALL A MAN HUMPY.
North Dakota: IF MANITOBA MAKES A MOVE, WE GOT OUR EYE ON IT.
Ohio: WOODY BARELY TOUCHED THAT KID.
Oklahoma: ANOTHER STATE WHOSE PANHANDLE TOURISTS AVOID.
Oregon: IT HARDLY RAINED AT ALL LAST THURSDAY.
Pennsylvania: WHERE JOE SIX-PACK CAN ONLY AFFORD THREE OR FOUR.
Rhode Island: THE STATE TWO HEART SURGEONS COULD EASILY BUY.
South Carolina: DAMN YANKEES REALLY RIPPED US A NEW ONE.
South Dakota: STRIVING DAILY TO BECOME MIDDLE CLASS.
Tennessee: HOME OF AMERICA’S LARGEST UNEMPLOYMENT CENTER.
Texas: TRUTH IS, WE BUY OUR HATS AND BOOTS AT SEARS.
Utah: HOW COULD WE STILL HAVE A DRINKING PROBLEM?
Vermont: FIRST IN STICKY FINGERS.
Virginia: THAT LOVERS THING? GET A ROOM, OKAY?
Washington: OUR MOUNTAINS REALLY BLOW.
West Virginia: GREEN WITH ENVY.
Wisconsin: FAITH. HOPE. COURAGE. PABST.
Wyoming: WE SHOOT LAWYERS IN THE FACE.

GM is struggling with costs in the wake of historically poor automotive sales, and the Detroit automaker is offering more UAW buyouts to trim its blue-collar workforce. The incentive package includes $20,000 in cash and another $25,000 in car voucher form. GM is also looking for workers over the age of 50 with ten or more years of service to take an early retirement. Details of that plan are not yet available as the rank and file have not been officially notified, but GM's buyout package is reportedly the same whether employees leave before they're eligible for retirement or not.
The GM buyout offer is reported to be significantly lower than the offer given by cross-town rival Chrysler. Chrysler is giving $50,000 and a $25,000 voucher to eligible workers. Employees not up for retirement will receive $75,000 in green-backs and a $25,000 voucher.
The buyouts will allow Chrysler and GM to lower fixed labor costs, and when (if?) times get better, new hires will receive a far lower wage with less extravagant benefits. With the death of the jobs bank and a rash of recent shift reductions, there is a strong chance for a high take rate of buyouts.
[Source: Bloomberg | Photo: Getty/Pool]

Rumors have been swirling this past week about the potential sale of Saleen, Inc., just a few months after the company announced it would explore the sale of its operations. LA-based Hancock Park Associates, which purchased a majority of the business from Steve Saleen just a few years ago, had been recently running the company with just a few dozen employees to keep the business goingn until it could find a buyer. The sale is now finally official, with MJ Acquisitions purchasing a majority of the assets of the company including both the production car and aftermarket divisions. Other assets, including the S7, S5 Raptor and the paint operations remain with Saleen, Inc. Currently, all Saleen employees are officially out of a job, including CEO Chris Theodore, but MJ Acquisitions plans on hiring many of the workers including several that were previously laid off.
The new owners seem to be a good fit, already owning several automotive companies and benefiting from extensive experience in engineering and production related to performance vehicles. MJ Acquisitions' immediate plans include the development of the 2010 Mustang for the Racecraft brand as well as new Saleen models that will be introduced in the third quarter of 2009. Full details regarding the sale can be found in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Saleen Irvine Assembly Plant

Many consumers who buy a new car still owe money on the car they're trading in. The situation is usually handled by the dealer agreeing to pay off the old loan, the cost of which might be folded into the new car price. No problem a year ago, but it's a bigger issue now. With 5,000 dealers closing their doors last year, some of those old loans aren't getting paid off. Consumers who bought new cars are finding out they're still on the hook for the old car loans, and in some cases, if another consumer has already bought the trade-in from the dealer, the bank will repossess it.
Complaints about such practices are rising, but there isn't much a buyer can do: if the dealer has gone bankrupt, mere scraps are rewarded to most folks in the scrum of creditors. Most states have insurance bonds against these kinds of losses, but they might pay as little as $5,000, which is barely enough to cover one default.
Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia have restitution funds. California -- exceptionally victimized by the practice because of the number of cars sold in the state -- is creating one that will be fed by a $1 fee on every car sold, but it isn't operational yet. In the meantime, used car buyers should ask to see the car's title to ensure it's clear. And for all buyers, in good times and especially in bad, caveat emptor.
[Source: MSNBC]

General Motors has been working hard to get its 2008 and 2009 inventory in line with the market's lackluster demand. In fact, many of the General's plants haven't run since before Christmas. GM sees better times coming this spring, though, and the Detroit automaker is increasing truck production for the week of March 16. Flint truck, which makes the Silverado, is going back online, and the General is ramping up the line speed to 31.5 vehicles per hour, up from 27.7. GM's Arlington, Texas plant is also increasing its line speed by an additional 1.5 units per hour. Arlington is the home of the GMT 900 SUVs, including the Tahoe, Yukon, and Escalade.
GM is anticipating somewhat stronger demand during the spring, but it also helps that inventory is way down. On December 1, GM had a 120 day supply of truck. By January 1, that number dropped to a 90 day supply.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

You know, ubiquitous, cheap computing has made being a gearhaed much easier than what it used to be. We can plan routes, look up part numbers for that under-dash support for that 66 Mustang we’re rebuilding, check where speed traps are… there’s a whole host of things the gearhead can make use of in the cyber-world.

That doesn’t mean it’s all buttered toast and fine-&-dandy, oh no.

Just ask Lee Harbert of San Francisco.

Who’s Lee Harbert? You’ll see.

Lee Harbert used to be a San Francisco-based investment banker. He was also an investment banker with a history of DUIs. Sadly, on Jan. 11, 2005, he hit and killed 55-year-old Gurdeep Kaur in a hit-and-run accident with his Jaguar. How do we know this? Because Google got him a trip to the Big House, that’s how.

Harbert side of the story, in case you’re interested, is that he thought he’d hit a deer. Since he thought he nailed Bambi instead of Mr. Kaur, he thought there would be no need to stop and help anyone. On top of that, police had originally said they were looking for a burgundy Jag, while his was black, so he had no idea what he’d done. Honestly your Honor!

But then the police got a search warrant that included taking a look at his computer as well.

That’s where they found, according to the prosecutor, Google searches from a couple days after the accident. Searches for stuff like “auto parts, auto dealers out-of-state; auto glass, Las Vegas; auto glass reporting requirements to law enforcement, auto theft,”

Uh-oh, that doesn’t sound good, now does it? Actually, it sounds pretty bad.

But wait, it gets worse.

It seems that Mr. Harbert also searched for “hit-and-run,” which he followed to a page about the hit-and-run he committed.

No. Seriously. Right out of a movie: The criminal returning to the scene of the crime.

Now, a lot can be said about being a drunk driver. On its face that’s inexcusable, as any true gearhead will tell you. And the same thing goes for committing a hit-and-run. What sort of spineless weasel would do a thing like that? Not a true gearhead, that’s for sure.

But Googling ways to cover up your own crime as well as the crime itself?

DORK!

Source: Gizmodo

You think that General Motors and Chrysler are in trouble? Take a look at India's largest SUV-maker, Mahindra. It posted a whopping 99% drop in profits last quarter due to the double blow of a 26% sales dip and a "currency loss."
The lack of interested car buyers is an all-too-familiar theme, but the currency loss is more complicated. In a statement, Mahindra said the loss was due mostly to "cancellation of forward covers entered into by the company to hedge certain anticipated exports." Translation: the company invested in the currency markets to cover any possible losses in its exports. When the rupee fell 19% last year, there was nothing to cover Mahindra's 54% drop in exports. But despite all that, the company actually did manage to make a profit, even if it was only $245,000.
What does this mean to you? Other than being another name on a growing list of carmaker carnage, it could mean an even longer delay for everyone hoping to buy one of Mahindra's trucks in the U.S., not to mention that Mahindra is almost definitely not interested in Hummer now.
[Source: Bloomberg]

When reports began to surface about the formation of a U.S.-backed Formula One team, we weren't surprised. Every three-to-five years, speculation about a new U.S. campaign crops up, and inevitably - almost routinely - they're shot down within a month. However, our lack of surprise didn't stem from the rumor's cyclical nature; we've known about USF1 for over a month and have been waiting to drop the details about how the franchise, the players and the financial backers that plan to bring America back to F1 in 2010.

If you are like me and plan on keeping your car for a while longer then you want to be assured that you keep it in good running order. How do you save money doing this?

Do you ever visit the dealership for something as simple as an oil change and your service advisor wants to pile on additional maintenance items where your bill will end up being well over $100? Ever wondered which items are actually essential or how you could save money getting your car services? Well, we are going to help you with just that.

You probably know your car a lot better than you think and for a service advisor to recommend that you spend upwards of $100 to $300 for his so-called “preventative maintenance” package when you bring your car in for an oil change is just ludicrous. I completely understand that a car has moving parts and IT DOES require preventative maintenance BUT… you must not fall for the service advisors recommendations all the time.

Let’s say you have 30,000 miles on your car and you bring it for an oil change. At 30,000 miles the service advisor may want to recommend that you change out some additional fluids and tell you that you need new tires. Now, new tires at 30,000 may be too early for some vehicles depending on many factors. You very well could need new tires if you never rotated them and your alignment is bad. This is a case where you may want to check out things for yourself. Simply looking at your tread on your tire may not be the answer. You may want to feel, with your hand, your tires and get a measurement on how much tread is actually left. Some people may use the penny trick where if your tread is well below Lincoln’s head then it is time to consider new tires. Now if you see the threads or the steal belt then you must replace the tire or tires immediately.

With a recommendation from your service advisor to change additional fluids you must refer to the owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendations. Many times the change of transmission fluid is not needed at 30,000 miles nor would the coolant fluid be. With many newer vehicles this may be recommended at 60,000 miles. They key is to a lot of maintenance items on your vehicle is doing research. Seeking advice from others who drive the same year make and model as yours is a good step also. This can be done by Google searching for forums online where others share the same experiences. This goes along with the situation where you have to perform a repair on your vehicle. Get as much information as you can before taking your car to the dealership.

Oil change interval rates can save you or break you.

An oil change interval has been argued a million times and I have concluded that 3000 miles is a bit too soon for an oil change as 15,000 miles is way too long to wait. A good judgment of when to change your oil is somewhat dependent on your driving styles. A lot of stop and go in heavy city traffic may warrant you changing closer to 3000 miles than 7000 miles. When your vehicle has to work extra hard most of the time it may require that you change your oil closer to 3000 miles. I say “close” because researchers have found that most modern cars do not break down the newer oil formulations fast enough in the time that it takes to drive 3000 miles to cause damage. It is more like 4000 to 5000 miles in many vehicles as a good rule of thumb. If you have a vehicle that requires full synthetic oil then you may go longer depending on the recommendation from the vehicle manufacturer. Usually the interval on a vehicle that recommends synthetic oil is around 7500 miles to 10,000. I believe 10,000 miles is too long to wait due to my personal experience but that case can be argued by people who drive Mercedes Benz or other luxury vehicles. The point is, if you change your oil too early at every 3000 miles then you would have spent hundreds more for the cost of maintaining your vehicle especially if you pay a premium for full synthetic oil. Not only will it help your wallet but the environment at the same time.

Dealerships get a large amount of money from maintenance recommendation packages that they suggest that you perform when you take your vehicle in for simple routine maintenance. Dealerships also want to take advantage of you when it comes to getting your car repaired. Sometimes the dealership is the best place to take your car when a repair is needed. Put it this way, the dealership may have worked on several other vehicles that are similar to yours with the same repair issue so that puts them in a position to save you time. Now will it save you money? Probably not when compared to another none-dealership shop. You may be able to talk to your service advisor about the same repair costing less at another reputable shop and/or dealership if you do comparison shopping. Other times you may want to seek an online source that may have already performed the same type of repair at the dealership. Arm yourself with enough information to take to your service advisor that could aid in saving you money. If all else fails, ask to talk to the service manager. He or she would be the one that can make a change or adjustment in your repair bill depending on the situation.

If you purchased a vehicle from the same dealership that you bring in the vehicle for maintenance or repair, let the service advisor or manager know this information. Sometimes this is pre-programmed into the system at the dealership that you purchased your vehicle but it does not hurt to remind them that you are a loyal customer. You would be surprised how at the benefits some loyal customers receive in the service department.

What if you have a high mileage vehicle and you bring it in to a dealership for service? How do you save money then?

With a high mileage vehicle you can still save money by knowing your vehicles history. Knowing your vehicles history will save you from paying additional money on recommended maintenance that is not needed. If your car has 100,000 miles on it and you bring it in for an oil change where the service advisor says “you need a coolant flush, transmission fluid change, air filter change, fuel filter replacement, drive belts replaced and maybe fuel injector cleaning (for giggles) and this will cost you $450.” Okay, what a shocker to you because according to the history of your vehicle you already had most of these items done at 75,000 miles minus the fuel filter. Funny how your oil change for $30 turns into $450 so fast. At this point simply telling your service advisor NO THANK YOU will instantly save you about $300 because you have made up your mind to only perform the NEEDED items. All of the other services that the service advisor recommended are not needed at this time.

If you have a question for our staff we will be more than happy to help you. Please place your question in the comment box below and we will do our best to answer your question as soon as possible.

Magna International will be closing its gear assembly plant in Syracuse, New York. The Canadian auto parts maker said Wednesday the move comes after workers rejected a contract the company said was necessary to keep the factory running and to keep it competitive.

Magna said a total of 1,400 jobs at the New Process Gear facility will be eliminated. It said that it was disappointed that employees had rejected the contract which would have given the facility a future. There is no word on what agreement was rejected.

The New Process Gear facility will take some time to shut down as Magna is holding talks with employees, suppliers and its customers.

General Motors spokesman Angel Sanchez said that the automaker will lay off 600 workers at its northern Mexico plant as a result of declining demand in the U.S. market. The cuts will be made during February and March at GM’s Ramos Arizpe factory in Coahulia.

“We are having to make an adjustment to our staffing due to the issue of demand,” Sanchez told Reuters. “Orders for the local market, but to a large degree for the export market, are coming down.”

GM has four plants in Mexico that staff some 13,000 employees making it the biggest car maker there.

Other car makers including Toyota, Nissan and Volkswagen have also cut production lines in Mexico in recent weeks.

Source: Reuters

Wiesmann is celebrating it's 20th anniversary this year and to commemorate two decades of oddly attractive, highly desirable retro-mobiles, the automaker will roll out several special edition models during 2009. The first 20th Anniversary Model from Weismann is the MF4-S GT, and the follow-up model will be a convertible version of the V8-powered coupe.
The Wiesmann MF4 Roadster loses its roof but will gain a soft-top, with power provided by the same BMW-sourced 367hp, 4.0-liter V8. A MF4-S Roadster is also in the works, packing a 4.8-liter V8 putting out 420 hp.
Wiesmann plans to increase output from 250 to 350 units this year, but for the time being, sales will remain exclusively in Europe.

Gallery: Wiesmann MF4

Click on the image above to view a gallery of Dacia concept teasers

If Dacia has managed to establish a name for itself, it has been on no-frills, low-cost vehicles. But Renault's Romanian budget brand is preparing to unveil a new concept car at the Geneva Motor Show that looks poised to blow the doors off its lackluster image with some show-stopping forms.
The leaked teaser images shown here preview the new Dacia concept, but no details have emerged to go along with them. Although some sources suggest that Dacia is poised to launch a new crossover, big wheels on low-profile rubber sheltering Brembo calipers and the two-door format suggest a sportier model in the works. We'll be keeping our eyes open as we get closer to Geneva in March for more details on the shapely Dacia concept. In the meantime, we'll just have to ponder the renderings in the gallery below.

Gallery: Dacia concept teasers

Korean automaker Ssangyong has reportedly restarted five of its production lines at its plants in Pyeongtaek and Changwon. Earlier this month, Ssangyong was forced to enter receivership as a last ditch effort to stave off bankruptcy after failing to negotiate a deal with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., the Korean automaker's Chinese owners, and Korea Development Bank, its largest creditor.
Prior to those negotiations, Ssangyong was hemorrhaging money due to a 50% drop in sales, which ultimately led to the inability to make payroll and fulfill supplier contracts. At this point, Ssangyong must wait until February 9 to find out if the local court of Seoul will allow the automaker to enter bankruptcy protection proceedings. Sounds like the road will remain bumpy for Korea's fifth-largest automaker for the foreseeable future.
[Source: Gasgoo | Image: AFP/Getty]

Peugeot plans to offer its 3008 CUV with a diesel-electric hybrid by 2011. The step after that is to add plug-in capability, but those plans have been pushed back "a year or two" because of the economy. With R&D budgets pinched by slim sales, the investment in the technology simply can't be justified right now, especially in light of Peugeot's assertion that such cars will sell in "in the tens of thousands, not millions."
As exhibits of Peugeot's intention to employ the diesel-hybrid drivetrain, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen showed three concepts at last year's Paris Motor Show that employed the technology: the Peugeot Prologue HYmotion4, the Peugeot RC HYmotion4, and the Citroen Hypnos. Nevertheless, the head of Peugeot's hybrid innovations unit said plug-in hybrid production - and we would guess the actual date of any PSA hybrid production at all - would "depend on battery costs."
[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

President Barack Obama on Wednesday imposed a $500,000 cap on senior executive pay for most of the financial institutions receiving taxpayer bailout money. He promised that new steps that will be taken to end a system that rewards “executives being rewarded for failure.”

All of the Detroit 3 automakers have accepted $1 dollar salaries while their companies receive bailout money and until they show profit. However, it’s interesting to see how much Detroit executives like Rick Wagoner, Bob Nardelli and Alan Mulally made in 2008 and what type of cuts they’ll be facing in 2009.

Check out Detroit Free Press’s data after the jump.

General Motors Corp.

Rick Wagoner, chairman and chief executive: $2.2 million in 2008, $1 in 2009

Fritz Henderson, president: $1.8 million in 2008, 30% cut for 2009

Bob Lutz, vice chairman: $1.75 million in 2008, 20% cut for 2009

Tom Stephens, executive vice president: $1 million in 2008, 20% cut for 2009

Gary Cowger, group vice president: $900,000 in 2008, 20% cut for 2009

Note: GM said in December the executives below Wagoner would take a 50% cut in total compensation in 2009, with no bonuses in 2008 or 2009.

Ford Motor Co.

Alan Mulally, chief executive: $6 million in 2007, $2 million base salary for 2008

Don Leclair, chief financial officer: $1.9 million in 2007

Mark Fields, executive vice president: $2 million in 2007

Lewis Booth, executive vice president: $1.4 million in 2007

Michael Bannister, executive vice president: $1.1 million in 2007

Notes: Leclair retired and was replaced by Booth in 2008. Ford said the four executives below Mulally would receive a salary increase in 2008.

Chrysler LLC is a privately owned company and not required to publicly disclose financial information.

Source: Detorit Free Press

When we arrive in Switzerland next month for the Geneva Motor Show, Kia will have a brand new concept to share with the world in the shape of an MPV concept. In this case, Kia claims the MPV stands for "Million Possibilities Vehicle". Based on what we can see in this teaser image, its flanks share some of the design elements of the 2007 Kue concept mixed in with wheel wells that look inspired by Ford's Kinetic design language. Kia's bare bones press release states that the concept has some kind of "unique glass roof treatment". We'll have to wait until Geneva to see just what that means.

Gallery: 2009 Kia MPV concept

Detroit automakers have long played the politics game, with employees donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to company-run political action committees. During the 2008 election cycle, GM, Ford, and Chrysler each doled out $800,000 or more to local and federal elections. With 2008 in the rear-view mirror, GM has decided to halt all political contributions. The General says it stops donating after major political cycles in an effort to replenish its funds, but this is the first time in six years the money has been halted.
GM donated to both Democrats and Republicans in 2008, with 51% going to the donkeys and 49% going to the elephants. The goal of the donations is to concentrate the influence of its large employee base, but by splitting the money in half, it looks like GM is buttering both sides of the bread. Ford and Chrysler also donated an identical 51/49 amount. With Detroit automakers working closely with Washington lawmakers on government loans, we wouldn't be surprised if Chrysler and Ford soon follows GM's lead. After all, getting votes while also giving money just doesn't look very good.
[Source: Detroit News]

Click on the image above for a high-res image gallery of the Carbon Motors E7

The Carbon Motors E7, a purpose-built car for law enforcement, is continuing to march toward reality. Carbon Motors has targeted 2012 as the start of production, and cars can already be pre-ordered at the company''s website as a way to raise capital for the start of series production.
We'd love to get our hands on one of these, as the E7's technical details intrigue: a 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine, aluminum unit-body and performance numbers that leave Ford's old Crown Victorias sucking wind. The media might get a chance to try the E7 within about 18 months, and pricing will be announced at the end of this year. When it does reach local PDs, perps will have something new to fear and officers might finally have a modern vehicle that accommodates police work.

The Detroit Free Press is reporting the Chrysler LLC will close four of its assembly plants from February 9-13 due to "economic conditions". The four plants to be idled are in Brampton, Ontario; Sterling Heights, MI.; Belvidere, IL and Detroit. The Brampton plant builds the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger, while Sterling Heights Assembly handles the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring. The plant in Belvidere builds the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot, and the Detroit plant builds just the Viper. These four, along with the rest of Chrysler's assembly plants, were also idled from December 19th through January 19th during an extended shut down period over the holiday break. Apparently they weren't shut down long enough, as falling sales as rising inventory are still hurting the company. Last month, Chrysler LLC sales were down 54.8% by volume compared to January 2008. More temporary plant closings would not be surprising, as Chrysler reportedly reviews its production schedule on a weekly basis.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Lexus RX350

For those of you aching to get behind the wheel of the 2010 Lexus RX350, your time has almost arrived. The new luxury crossover from Lexus will hit dealerships later this month, with a base MSRP of $36,800 for the front-wheel-drive model and $38,200 for the all-wheel-drive variant (neither price includes the $825 destination charge).
The RX350 comes packing a revised 3.5-liter V6 sending 275 hp and 256 lb-ft of torque to a new six-speed automatic transmission. The AWD version features an Active Torque Control system that splits power anywhere between 100:0 to 50:50, front to rear, depending on the conditions.
For 2010, the RX350 is equipped with ten standard airbags, but Intelligent Adaptive front headlamps, Pre-Collision System and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control are all optional. For all the details, hit the jump for the press release or get the highlights in our First Drive.

At a recent roundtable with reporters, Chrysler president Jim Press was quizzed about the nonbinding potential deal with Fiat Auto. Here’s a lowdown on what Press said about the likelihood of the tie-up becoming official and the implications for Chrysler LLC.

On the chances of the deal scuttling partnerships with Nissan and VW—over a Versa-based small car and a Ram-based pickup, and the Routan minivan—and nixing any future deals with other automakers:

“We are always open to new partnerships, and the Fiat deal doesn’t preclude them, but we are not talking with anyone else at the moment. We can’t speculate on what restrictions would be in place if the deal was done. We will still produce our own cars. Fiat is essentially giving us billions of dollars’ worth in platforms and engines and technology, and they have a wider and better range of A-, B-, and C-segment cars than anyone in North America. They get access to our distribution network and our dealers are able to fill in the part of the portfolio we don’t have [small, fuel-efficient cars], plus we have access to their export distribution, which helps with Jeep and minivans. It’s like a hand-in-glove fit for both of us. We can go from viability to prosperity as a global powerhouse.”

Our take on this is simple: Fiat gives Chrysler the small car platforms it needs, although Press is wrong about the quality of the Fiat platforms. Ford, for instance, has a more impressive range of B- to C-segment cars in Europe, from the Fiesta through the Mondeo, than Fiat, which is traditionally weak at the larger end of this spectrum. As to whether Fiat and Chrysler will be a global powerhouse, time will tell. It looks more like this deal may be the only way that two relatively small players can survive in the short-to-medium term.

Hardcore NASCAR fans might not recognize their favorite sport when the season picks back up on February 15th at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. Chrysler, General Motors, Ford and Toyota have all cut back funding 20 to 30 percent, and once strong teams like Petty Enterprises have merged with rivals and closed up shop. What's more, fewer fans will be able to afford a weekend at the races, and that equals less revenue.
Still, Brian France remains optomistic that the 2009 season will remain compelling. Top-shelf drivers like Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch will be back to battle for the championship and there are still 50 teams that have signed up to race at Daytona in 2009. Come what may, it's a virtual guarantee that NASCAR racing will go on, though perhaps with a bit less sparkle, flash and income than in previous years.
[Source: Detroit News]

Most people pass the driving exam on the first try, with a select few failing once or twice before finally getting it right. In South Korea, one woman has been trying to pass the written test since 2005 and has yet to pass. In all, the 68 year-old woman, known only as Cha, has failed the exam 771 times. Okay, so you're thinking that South Korea has some wicked-hard test that takes a MENSA certificate to pass. Probably not. Actually, you only need a 60% to pass, and Cha typically lands in the 30-50% range. Unfortunately, the test isn't cheap, either. Each and every failure costs Cha 6,000 won, which equals about $4.69 in U.S. funds. That doesn't sound like much, but spread over 771 failures, we're talking about $3,600. Cha is hoping to get a car to help her business. She sells food and household items door to door.
Well, Cha, we're pulling for you and we don't want you to give up. And we're proud of you for not cheating, too. We hear some people cheat by writing answers on their arms or hooking up their Bluetooth and getting answers from someone on the other end of the line. That would be wrong. But seriously, Cha... what's wrong with taking taxis?
[Source: Yahoo | Image: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty]

By now, racing fans should be aware that when David Donohue grabbed the checkered flag at the 2009 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona his win came on the 40th anniversary of his father's 1969 victory. The Daytona outcome won't be the last tribute to Mark Donohue in 2009, either. Watkins Glen International is planning a weekend of Donohue festivities for their season-opener in April. The event will be a celebration to compliment the official release of a new Mark Donohue biography, which is something that fans of the The Unfair Advantage will surely want to add to their reading lists. The book's author and Watkins Glen founder's son, Michael Argetsinger, will be on hand for autographs and conversation. The ultimate American racing history lesson will also take place as the track opens for tribute laps by many vintage race cars once piloted by Mark Donohue. If you happen to be in the upstate New York area, mark the calendars for April 25th and 26th. Thanks for the tip Jon!

[Source: RacingArchives.org]

"Hello, Abu Dhabi? Yeah, this is Taste. I'm outta here." Well, you can't really blame Taste now can you? There's only so much abuse a sense can take, and the motorists of Abu Dhabi - the same gulf emirate that ordered up the gold-plated Rolls-Royce - have taken things one step too far. Several, actually.
Your eyes do not deceive you, and this is not available for rent to drive your kids to their homecoming. This custom HUMMER H2 convertible was spotted at the Emirates Palace Hotel, a location whose overdeveloped sense of opulence is rivaled only by the horrid monstrosity parked in front.
A topless HUMMER? Okay, the original H1 was available without a roof, but not with a seven-seat, red leather interior, a matching tribal pattern paint job, blistered wheel arches housing chrome wheels and what appears to be a hood scoop packed with a row of driving lights. You know, just in case someone could have missed this tooling around the streets of Abu Dhabi at night.
[Source: gtspirit.com via World Car Fans]

Have you ever sat for a couple of hours and just watched ants work? Unless you have a government grant or just no life at all, probably not. They're actually quite fascinating according to The Discovery Channel. They (the ants, not TDC) can carry 10-50 times their own weight, get more done before dawn than you do in a month, can fill out 1040-EZ forms without the worksheets and never, ever get caught in traffic jams.
That last ant fact is from the research of one of those grant-funded ant watchers who spent the last 8 years watching the tiny insects' behavior. Audrey Dussutour of the University of Sydney, observed that even on a path as slim as a tree branch, leafcutter ants optimized their going and coming traffic with no entomological pileups.
And how is this supposed to help you during gridlock Monday morning? For starters, slow down. Apparently, not being in such a hurry to get somewhere could actually speed up the flow of human traffic. Dussutour observed that when faster-moving ants not carrying a load got behind slower, load-bearing ants, they chose patience instead of passing the pokey ant, which actually allowed the overall colony to move faster.
Which leads to the part that interests us most. Researchers are using algorythms developed from the ant behaviors to develop a multi-car navigation system that could one day lead to those driverless cars we've been hearing about for 50 years. Let's just hope that whatever they come up with, our robocars come equipped with anti-magnifying glass beam protection, otherwise we're all fried.
[Source: Wired Science | Photo: Audrey Dussutour]

Remember those Saturday morning cartoons from when you were a kid, where futuristic soldiers battled with laser guns? Well if you were wondering what ever happened to that future we were promised, it's here. Boeing's Direct Energy Systems project recently concluded a test in the New Mexico desert where the Humvee-mounted Laser Avenger system successfully shot down three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a demonstration for U.S. Army officers.
The Laser Avenger was initially created to dispose of unexploded ordinance (bombs that didn't detonate) lying on the ground, but given the proliferation of UAVs for both surveillance and weapons deployment, Boeing adapted the lasers to shoot the UAVs out of the sky. The benefit over shooting down the drones with guns or missiles - in startling contradiction to the red lines depicted in the old G.I. Joe cartoons - is that the enemy can't see where the laser beam is coming from, thereby keeping the ground troops' position secure. Pretty awesome, unless you're a UAV. Fortunately UAVs are unmanned by definition, so what we're looking at here is lasers shooting down flying robots. You can check out the details in the press release after the jump if you'd like, but we're going to sit right here in our pajamas until the next commercial.
[Source: Boeing via NextAutos]

If you thought things were looking bleak at General Motors, perhaps you should take a peek at Delphi, the parts supplier that spun off from The General in 1997. It declared bankruptcy in 2005 after the revelation that its poor financial position was being masked by irregular accounting practices. Delphi has yet to emerge from bankruptcy and now says that its value has fallen to the point where it may be unable to pay back the debts it has amassed since filing for Chapter 11.
Sounds pretty bad, no? It gets worse. The supplier has filed paperwork with the court asking for permission to end health care benefits for retirees that had been salaried employees. This move could be made as early as April, after which current Delphi employees would no longer be eligible for health care benefits after retiring. If approved, Delphi says this move would save $70 million per year and free up over a billion dollars in liabilities.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]

GM is is putting the finishing touches on its viability plan ahead of the federal government's February 17 deadline, and more job losses could be part of the package. Bloomberg reports that the General plans to cut as many as 5,000 salaried workers as part of a broader restructuring plan. The anonymous sources told Bloomberg that the workers could be "fired," which likely means that GM isn't likely to try to achieve their target through layoffs. In late 2008, GM was able to score 5,100 retirement and separation packages to trip its workforce, which now sits at about 29,000 in North America.
GM also offered packages to its entire union workforce with aim of convincing 10,000 or more take a walk. The offer to leave the General includes $20,000 in cash and a $25,000 vehicle voucher. GM's larger goal is to shrink its union and salary workforce in North America from 95,000 to as few as 65,000 men and women by the year 2012. We're not sure how much of GM's February 17 plan will be made public, but with the date just over a week away, we're sure to know about the job cuts sooner than later.
[Source: Bloomberg]

How did you like Hyundai's Genesis Coupe ads during the Super Bowl? They rocked, right? With that hard-driving soundtrack from The Smashing Pumpkins, of course they rocked. The song is called "FOL," and it isn't available for purchase anywhere. But you can get it for free just by giving Hyundai your e-mail address. Click here to fill out the two-question (name and e-email) form, then click on download. Hit play, close your eyes and you'll be lapping the track with Billy Corgan any time you wish. We're not sure how long the offer is available, so if you're interested, click here. Don't want to give up personal info to Hyundai? Watch the ads as much as you like right here.
[Source: DealMac]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Dodge Viper ACR

Saleen's future has been in upheaval the last few years. First, company founder Steve Saleen left, then the company's assets were sold off to private investors. Its new owners plan to continue making superchargers and bolt-on parts, but Saleen's turnkey Racecraft and S lines could face the axe, while the company's former keepers retain ownership of its supercar manufacturing business while they figure out what they can do with it.
Meanwhile, Chrysler has been looking to sell of its Viper operation, but while Saleen could have been a contender in years past, in its current condition few expect it to make such a large acquisition. That may be a false assumption, however, as silence is speaking louder than words. Understandably, Chrysler's management is not disclosing the identities of the three potential buyers with which it is discussing the future of the Viper enterprise, but Saleen's new owners are likewise refusing to comment. That kind of silence can be as deafening as a Saleen exhaust note, leaving us to wonder if the company's new owners could turn the broken shards of a once-great American company into a new powerhouse with the Viper packing the punch.
[Source: AutoWeek]

Dust covered for more than 50 years in a British garage, a rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalanta Coupe has been found and auctioned last week at the Paris Bonhams Retromobile event. The car was bought by a European car collector and if you were wondering for how much, it’s an enormous 3,417,500 euros. Packed with a high performance engine, and way ahead of its time, the supercar was originally owned by Earl Howe - famous British race driver, which only adds to the value. We can only imagine how it’s going to look after a good restoration … [autoweek via WCF]

The list with the hotties for this year’s Auto Show in Geneva is far from being over. Check out this adorable MINI convertible that got some John Cooper Works love and turned into a modern day princess that will rock the streets. Expected to feature a 1.6-liter turbo four that outputs 211 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, the new MINI JCW cabrio is fast as hell. It does 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 6.9 seconds and tops at 146mph (234 km/h). Add to all these a set of 17″ alloy wheels, retuned suspension and electronics, an aero kit, larger brakes and dark grey soft-top, and you wouldn’t have to kiss it to turn it into a great seller. We’re sold … [via Autoblog]

When deciding to purchase any used hybrid cars, there are many benefits to be considered. Firstly, despite the fact that they may be slightly more expensive than other second hand cars, you will still save money on fuel with the cost per mile advantage. Depending on the age of the hybrid car, there should be a warrantee that entitles the owner to free replacements of some of the more expensive hybrid parts. Even when a hybrid car has passed 250,000 miles, it will still run perfectly.

Check into a possible tax rebate of up to $5,000 in the US if you decide to own a used hybrid car, as the government supports the hybrid vehicle because they do benefit the environment. A Used or new hybrid car has no more mechanical problems than a regular car and they have a fantastic power source, that doesn't need to be plugged into an electric source. The hybrid car creates it's own energy through a process of regenerative breaking, which is when charge is created through the movement of the wheels.
There are so many advantages to buying a used hybrid car with the first one being, it's cheaper than buying one brand new and it will still work just as good when it's looked after well, just as long as a regular car. When you buy a used hybrid car, you can also be proud to know that you are helping the environment and putting less fuel emissions towards pollution already out there today.

By: Noah Joseph

Participation in major auto shows is coming down like a house of cards for some automakers. The latest nail in the coffin: Mitsubishi is pulling out of the Frankfurt Motor Show. But that's just the tip of the clichéd iceberg, as the Japanese automaker has revealed a new strategy towards participating in car shows.
From here on in, Mitsubishi will only attend one major auto show on any given continent each year. In Europe, Mitsu is already locked in Geneva, where it will unveil its cap-tastic new i Miev SPORT AIR concept. In North America, Mitsubishi already sat out the Detroit Auto Show and didn't have much to show us in Chicago, so its new strategy will force it to choose between New York and Los Angeles, while across the Pacific it's bound to stick to its home-turf at the Tokyo Motor Show. Between the new car show strategy and its withdrawal from Dakar, Mitsu should be saving some serious coin, however we can't help but wonder what effect it will bear on its corporate image in the long term. But if things keep up the way they have been, we wouldn't be surprised to see more cash-strapped automakers following Mitsubishi's lead

Italian premium brake manufacturer Brembo announced yesterday that it will lay off 1,840 workers as the auto industry continues on a downward trend. To keep production in line with demand, Brembo said it will continue temporary lay-offs along with other saving controls.

Brembo plans on laying-off 540 and 680 white collar workers for 20 days in the March-May period. In March, it will lay off between 120 and 1,160 blue-collar workers at its plants for varying periods.

Outside of Italy, Brembo will cut a total of 160 jobs in Mexico.

Brembo said it has seen a strong reduction in orders as production is cut by auto makers and that it sees no signs of recovering in the coming months.

While Rolls-Royce prepares for the launch of the new “baby Phantom” at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show next month, workers at the Goodwood factory squeezed in some time to give the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom and Phantom Extended Wheelbase a facelift.

A number of modest enhancements were made to keep the Phantom lineup uniform to the new Phantom Drophead Coupe and the Phantom Coupe. Designers made subtle touches including a new streamlined front bumper that has been designed and integrated with a shallower grille, finished in stainless steel. Other updated include LED door handle illumination and 21-inch cast aluminum wheels as standard.

Inside the new 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom rear passengers can now enjoy AUX audio and visual connectivity to the 12-inch monitors mounted within the picnic tables, rear-climate control, volume control and window switches that are now place in a wood veneer in the panel door and bi-directional double reading lights in the C-pillar.

After all the sketches released by Hyundai, the 2010 Equus large-luxury Korean sedan has been unveiled ahead of its Geneva debut.

The new 2010 Hyundai Equus will be available with same two engine choices from the Hyundai Genesis sedan. The base model will be powered by a 290-hp 3.8L V6, while the range topping will get the 368-hp 4.6L V8.

The previous generation Hyundai Equus was a Mitsubishi-designed sedan that was exclusively sold in Korea, Middle East, China and some parts of Southern Asia - a few units were even exported to Europe. The new 2010 Hyundai Equus is expected to have further reach under the Genesis brand and may even make it to the U.S. and other European regions. The new Equus will arrive in Korean dealerships on March 3.

Let us know what you think of the 2010 Equus in the comments section after the jump.

2010 Hyundai Equus:

Source: The Car Blogger