Industry News

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com March 6, 2013 The end is here for Suzuki automobiles in the U.S. On Thursday, a judge from U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California in Santa Ana approved Suzuki's Chapter 11 reorganization plan. The plan calls for American Suzuki's motorcycle, ATV and marine engine businesses to exit bankruptcy and become part of a new, wholly-owned subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corp, Suzuki Motor of America. Suzuki's automotive branch will go away after dealer sell off the remaining inventory. "Today's confirmation is a significant milestone and is one of the last remaining steps in our realignment and restructurin…

GM Announces 1,100 Dealer Closures Bloomberg is reporting that GM will close 1,100 dealers by the end of 2010, in addition to the Hummer and Saturn closures already announced. Follow the link for more information. Link to Story

. GM reportedly delays board meeting as new Swedish bidders emerge for Saab Spyker still in the mix and another potential Swedish group is putting something together GM reportedly delays board meeting as new Swedish bidders emerge for Saab

here "According to the Automotive Trade Policy Council, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and GM accounted for 85 percent of the investment in the U.S. auto industry between 1980 and 2002, a total of $176 billion invested in U.S. communities. These three companies alone purchase 80 percent of the auto parts now produced in the United States. Big Three investment and purchasing supports millions of U.S. workers, retirees and their dependents. Yet the United States remains the most open automotive market in the world. Forty percent of vehicles sold in the U.S. have foreign nameplates, compared with 22 percent in Europe, 5 percent in Japan, and just 2 percent in Korea. …

While many still think electric vehicles are a niche, a new study from IHS Automotive suggests that EVs are actually catching on more quickly than hybrids when they were first introduced. The study looked at the cumulative global sales of the first-generation Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Volt, and Nissan Leaf in the first four years. IHS Automotive found that the Toyota Prius moved 52,200 units from 2000 to 2004. However, the Volt and Leaf have sold more vehicles in their respective four-year timeframes. The Chevrolet Volt and all of its derivatives saw sales of 68,507 units, while the Nissan Leaf saw sales of 96,477 units. It should be noted that while Toyota Prius went on …

The US gasoline-industrial complex has had its day. In Asia's frontiers of globalisation the green machine is pulling away Some companies go bust ­because of bad management, and some get crushed by unrelenting ­recession. But once in a while you get a business whose death is about much more than supply chains or sales targets; it sounds the death knell for an entire era. And the funeral bells surely tolled this week when General Motors filed for bankruptcy. Start talking about GM, and the superlatives soon run out. What's now the largest industrial failure in US ­history was for so many years the biggest company in the world. More than that, the 100-year-old giant was…

Pontiac G8 To Live On As Chevy Caprice Not long after "unretiring", Bob Lutz told Automobile Magazine that the highly praised Pontiac G8 will live on as the Chevrolet Caprice. Enthusiasts are no doubt very pleased to hear that such an excellent car will live on. Full Story

Tuesday, September 20, 2005 Chinese car maker Chery will market under different name in U.S. By Associated Press DETROIT -- Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Co. won't market its vehicles under the Chery name in the United States because of legal threats from General Motors Corp., a spokeswoman said Tuesday. GM has said that the Chery name sounds too much like Chevy, which is short for GM's Chevrolet brand. New York-based Visionary Vehicles, which will market Chery in the United States, said it has decided it's not worth the money to fight GM. "They're bigger than we are and they have more lawyers than we do," Visionary Vehicles spoke…

Buick Regal GS Gets Rated Buick Released the Horsepower and Torque ratings for the upcoming Regal GS. How does 270 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque sound? Buick Regal GS Gets Rated

REPORT: GM's RWD architecture will downsize and survive Autoblog is reporting that GM's superb RWD Zeta architecture may yet live on, however it will be downsized to increase efficiency. This is of course, great news for RWD fans, but it would also make sense to actually utilize one of the best platforms they have and spent millions of dollars to develope. Could GM actually do something so logical? We'll have to wait and see. http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?sh...c=29524&hl=

Global Climate Change is making companies look for better ways to do their business and with that in mind, Walmart has chosen Canoo to help them achieve their zero-emissions by 2040 goal. Walmart's goal to offer sustainable delivery of online orders will start with the purchase of 4,500 LDV or Lifestyle Delivery Vehicles with expected use starting in 2023. The company plans to kick off advanced delivers to refine and finalize vehicle configurations in the Dalla-Fort Worth metroplex in the coming weeks. The LDV was engineered for sustainable last mile deliveries with improved driver ergonomics and safety. The LDV is built on the Canoo's MPP or multi-purpose plat…

Buick, Jaguar knock Lexus from top of J.D. Power 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study Follow the jump to read the full article and press release. http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?showtopic=28776

<br> Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon Confirmed According to C/D, Lutz has confirmed that there will be a CTS-V Sport Wagon. Follow the jump for details. Story Link

. GM Builds First Lithium-ion Battery for Chevrolet Volt o GM is the first major automaker to manufacture an advanced lithium-ion battery pack in the U.S. o Brownstown Township to be first high-volume U.S. automotive lithium-ion battery manufacturing site o Plant’s battery cell processing, module and pack manufacturing capabilities strengthen GM’s in-house battery expertise GM builds first lithium-ion battery for Chevrolet Volt

http://www.autoextremist.com/page2.shtml#Rant

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com April 22, 2013 AAA recently released their annual ‘Your Driving Costs’ study and finds that average American driver is now paying $9,122 per year to keep their vehicle on the road, an increase of 1.92% when compared to 2012. Assuming a person is driving around 15,000 miles a year, that breaks down 60.8 cents per mile. The study looks at the costs of keeping a vehicle on road such as gas, maintenance, and insurance to name a few. “Many factors go into the cost calculation of owning and operating a vehicle. This year, changes in maintenance, fuel and insurance costs resulted in the increase to just over 60 cents a mile…

Diesels challenge hybrids Poll shows consumer interest in diesel engines is rising while buyers considering hybrids are down Christine Tierney | Link to Original Article @ The Detroit News Enthusiasm for gas-electric hybrid vehicles dipped among prospective car buyers during the past year, while interest in new, cleaner diesels was rising, according to a survey issued Monday. The poll conducted by J.D. Power and Associates found that 50 percent of prospective car buyers are considering a hybrid, down from 57 percent a year earlier. "In the 2006 study, we found consumers often overestimated the fuel-efficiency of hybrid electric vehicles, and the decrease in considera…

I don't really know what to make of this, really. The LT1 in the Camaro got a fair bit more power, but there are a ton of variables involved too. Any theories? Here's the link: http://blog.caranddriver.com/dyno-shows-2016-chevrolet-camaro-ss-out-muscles-the-corvette/

There has been a lot of talk about driverless cars with companies (both automotive and tech) promising a safe and grandiose future and a number of high-profile crashes that have resulted in fatalities. This got us wondering how the general public feels about them. Recently, two studies came asking this and their results are very interesting. First up is CarGurus which asked 1,873 vehicle owners in the U.S. between the ages of 18 to 65 about self-driving vehicles. 79 percent of participants said they were not excited about owning a self-driving car. 84 percent said they were unlikely to own a self-driving car in the next five years. This number drops to 59 percent when…

Buick News November 1, 2008~ Some news bits are trickling in about a couple of future tri-sheilds. Firstly, Autoblog has spilled some of the beans on the next-gen LaCrosse. Engine options will include a 290hp version of the Direct Injection 3.6L V6 and an all-new 3.0L DI V6 that should be good for 240hp and around 30mpg. Other options certain to make their way into the LaCrosse include HID headlamps, a heads-up display, rear view camera and all-wheel-drive. Secondly, GM appears to be putting the finishing touches on the Opel Insignia-based Buick Regal. Thoigh it's not slated to come to the US, the Regal certainly does look the part of the LaCrosse's half-brother, and…

Silverado Beats F-150 in Sales General Motors sold more Chevy Silverado 1500 pickups (119,959 units) in June that Ford sold F-150s (107,778 units), and that's not a fluke. Full Story

Dodge Challenger Tops Consumer Reports Owner Satisfaction Survey Discussion: Dodge Challenger tops Consumer Reports owner satisfaction survey

New rules for cars to take effect Saturday Automakers must post crash-test ratings and realistic gas mileage, among other regulations David Shepardson | Detroit News Washington Bureau | Link to Original Article @ DetNews WASHINGTON -- Automakers face several new safety and environmental requirements that take effect Saturday -- most notably posting government crash-test ratings on window stickers and installing a system to monitor tires on all 2008 vehicles. In 2005, Congress ordered automakers to place frontal and side crash tests and rollover ratings on vehicle window stickers starting Sept. 1, 2007. About 85 percent of vehicles sold are tested by the National High…

The 2008 results are out for the J.D. Power APEAL Study and "Buick, the domestic nameplate traditionally known for its understated designs, is the most improved nameplate in this year’s APEAL study, thanks to a boost from its stylish new Enclave crossover utility. Buick’s 20-point index score increase was tops among the 36 nameplates in this year’s study, as was its eight-position jump in the rankings." (I added the bold.) All this good from just one vehicle! Buick needs more class-leading and competitive product! To view more from J.D. Power's APEAL Study, click here

http://www.canadiandriver.com/thenews/2008...e-uaw-nader.htm nader as an ally?

The Spark That Didn't in Detroit Apparently there was a bit of confusion at this year's NAIAS regarding the Chevy Spark. Despite releasing official photos of the car while the auto show was takimng place, it seems the actual vehicle GM had on display was the Beat. GM admits that they were planning to show the actual Spark in Geneva, and as it turns out the car on display at Detroit was the Beat concept. Seems like a good way to confuse a lot of people. Follow the jump to read the details. http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?showtopic=27755

Permanent magnets made using rare-earth metals is what currently drives the electric auto motors. These rare-earth metals are 15 elements that run the periodic table from 57 to 71 including yttrium and scandium which are soft silvery-white heavy metals. Very destructive to the environment and almost entirely controlled by China, but used in a wide range of electronics from computers, cell phones to current electric/hyrid auto's. Not much in the electronic industry is not using some rare-earth metals. MAHLE under the guidance of Dr. Martin Berger, MAHLE Vice President for Corporate Research and Advanced Engineering has stated that the MAHLE breakthrough …

Yesterday we had fun with the banners for April Fool's. However that was a precursor to grander things. Introducing the new banners and logo for the site! We wanted it to be a surprise for everyone as we continue to make improvements around the site. Feel free to check them all out. A C&G Classic 2 skin will be added featuring the old logo for those who are feeling nostalgic. Take a look and we hope you enjoy them! - Dodgefan

According to Forbes here is an insight into the cars we'll be driving by 2014. Did i just do a Honda plug via subliminal messages? http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/20/future-ca...future-car.html Everybody knows the auto world has shifted. The trick is divining which brands have got the gumption to last. Now, with President Obama's new efficiency standards requiring a fleet-wide fuel economy average of 35.5 miles per gallon, automakers have their work cut out for them. Domestic carmakers in particular are gearing up to battle forthcoming offerings from new-to-the-U.S.Fiat ( FIA - news - people ), with its diminutive 55.5-mile-per-gallon Fiat 500, and Chinese newcom…

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News Automobile Magazine announces its 2006 Automobile of the Year and All-Stars awards Editors Select Automobile of the Year, Six All-Stars, and the Man, Design, and Technology of the Year (ANN ARBOR, MI--December 5, 2005)--AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE, America's leading automotive lifestyle publication, today announced the winners of the 2006 AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE All-Stars Awards. Each year, the editors of AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE convene to test, evaluate and debate the performance, significance and contributions of the vehicles and executives who have impacted the automotive industry the most. The prestigious list of the deserving winners is featured in the 2006 January…

http://www.autonet.ca/News/story.cfm?story...1942920-cp.html

Good vehicle interiors can be hard to find, especially if you are on a budget. If you are in the market for a decent one, the Subaru Impreza is the most affordable at $29,260 (as tested) — and that’s the cheapest one you’ll find on Ward’s annual best interior list. The auto news site also named the Bentley Bentayga, which can set you back at least $278,730, one of this year’s winners, with Honda (CR-V), Lexus (LC 500), and Mazda (CX-9) being the only brands to return as 10 Best Interiors award recipients. Aside from the aforementioned models, this year’s list included the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Buick LaCrosse, Lincoln Continental, Maserati Levante, and Mini Countrym…

http://www.canadiandriver.com/thenews/2008...-jobs-first.htm this is what needs to get out to the general public Washington, D.C. - The U.S. non-profit research centre Good Jobs First said that foreign-owned auto assembly plants in that country have received a total of US$3.6 billion in state and local subsidies, mostly from southern states. “As elected officials debate aid for the Big Three, taxpayers have the right to know the full extent of government involvement in America’s auto industry,” said Greg LeRoy, executive director of Good Jobs First. “And while proposed federal aid to the Big Three would take the form of a loan, the vast majority of subsidies to fore…

President Biden was joined by the auto industry Executives of FORD, GM and Stellantis in the executive order targeting 50% of new auto sales by 2030. While largely symbolic, this nonbinding order sets federal expectations for automakers to rapidly transition from ICE to BEV cars and trucks. Transportation is the largest share of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. While not in attendance, BMW, HONDA, VOLKSWAGEN and VOLVO have all signed off on this executive order backing to target 50% of their new auto sales to be BEV by 2030 mirroring these companies pledges to hit this as they sided with California and their CARB mandates a few years back. …

Coupe or Convertible, your choice in what could easily be a 21st century Bond car. April 2022 Wiesmann revealed a Thunderball Concept EV to considerable excitement. This car features a classic two-seat, rear-wheel drive layout and lightweight carbon fibre construction, delivering performance, responsiveness, and engagement that enthusiasts demand. Wiesmann at the start of this year opened the books and as of this past Superbowl weekend, the first year production of the Wiesmann "Project Thunderball" is sold out. This is a big accomplishment for a sports sedan with a $320,000 dollar starting price. To quote Owner and CEO of Wiesmann, Roheen Berry: “We are…

. Buick Regal Wagon Photos Thank you to Oracle of Delphi for these photos!

G8 ST Winner Gets Torrent GXP Instead Joseph Warren, the winner of the naming contest, was originally going to get a new G8 ST as his prize for choosing the right name for the Sport Truck. Unfortuneately for him, GM decided to kill the ST, so this left him with a problem. GM told him he could choose any other Pontiac so long as the price was equal or less. What did he choose? a Torrent GXP. Yeah, I don't get it either. Follow the jump to see the full article. http://www.cheersandgears.com/index.php?showtopic=27758

Backseat Driver The Small Car Conundrum Jerry Flint, 12.13.05, 12:12 AM Small cars make sense for obvious reasons, but they have never caught on big in the U.S. While such vehicles may gain ground in this market, I don't see them becoming a dominant force here--unless gasoline climbs past $5 a gallon. Detroit first flirted with small cars a half-century ago. As World War II ended, the big U.S. automakers believed there would be a tremendous demand for a new generation of small, light cars to put car-hungry Americans back on wheels. In 1944, then-young Henry Ford II said his company would build "a lower-priced car than had been offered the public since…

Interesting comparisons... I don't believe it's been posted here before: http://www.npr.org/news/specials/gmvstoyota/

1) Dual VVT(1-3years for mainstream GM product) This will be on the next gen 3.6L HF V-6. GM will likely set Toyota's 3.5L Dual-VVT V-6 as the benchmark to follow for it HF 3.6L V-6 and its HF 2.8L V-6. GM will match Toyota's HP and MPG. 2) Direct Fuel injection(2-3years for mainstream GM product) This will premier on the next CTS on the 3.6L HF V-6. This engine will have Dual-VVT and Direct Injection. HP will be blown to up to 340hp! DirectInjection will surplant conventionl Fuel Injection with in a decade on all applications 3) Active Fuel Management(currently, next gen 3-4years) This has already been introduced on several vehicles including th Impala SS. How…

Top-20 selling vehicles in U.S. through October DETROIT, Nov 1 (Reuters) - The following are the 20 top-selling vehicles in the U.S. through October of 2006 as reported by the automakers. Following is a list of the top-20 selling vehicles, ranked by total units.

Consumer Reports: Never To Be Truted? Posted on 08.13.2007 12:00 by Ralph Kalal Link to original artical on www.topspeed.com Consumer Reports, the publication of Consumer’s Union, has long been accused of a bias toward imported cars, particularly those made by Japanese brand manufacturers, and against anything built by a Detroit automaker. The bias hasn’t changed. Apparently, it’s intentional and institutional. The current issue of Consumer Reports purports to offer a comparison test of the new Toyota Tundra pick-up truck and the Chevy Silverado, as well as the Dodge Ram and Ford F-150. So, you’d expect them to get comparable vehicles, wouldn’t you? Apparentl…

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is going forward on building their own vehicle. According to sources, the company recently gave the approval for the project after spending a year investigating the feasibility of it. Codenamed 'Titan', the team behind the vehicle will grow from 600 to around 1,800 people. Not much is known about the vehicle except for that it will be electric and feature some sort of autonomous technologies. A fully autonomous vehicle isn't expected till later on. The report says Apple has set a 'target ship date for 2019.' Whether that means it will be launched or reaching a major milestone in 2019 is unknown. Rumors about the Appl…

Good to see, fer sure. A nice (and I staged!) 1-2 photo finish for the team. Good job, Chevy. Link: http://www.gminsidenews.com/articles/corvette-racing-takes-historic-1-2-at-rolex-24/

C4C filing time extended, again Dealers unable to process requests; Tuesday set as new deadline Bimmer325 | Tuesday @ 01:56 AM One more lap to go. Thousands of dealers complained of trouble filing clunker requests Monday, with the finish line looming just hours away. As a result, the Obama administration has extended the deadline for dealers to process transactions to noon Tuesday. It's too late for any deals, though, as sales under the incentive winded down Monday at 8 PM. Why the paperwork trouble? Increased traffic as last-minute shoppers rushed to cash in caused the government website to crash Monday afternoon. As dealers rushed to submit vouchers on t…

G. David Felt - Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.cheersandgears.com Xiaopeng Motors, Thanks Tesla for Open Source Patents It was only a matter of time and someone coughing up money before someone would use Tesla Open Patents to build a EV Competitor. Xiaopeng Motors is that company and thanks to Tesla, the dream of a young man is becoming reality. Musk has always said the focus is the drive to accelerate the change to EV Auto's. With this dream we now have the XPeng SUV EV. Henry Xia took this to hear in 2014 when once Tesla had announced the open source of their patents that this young engineer could build his own dream company. With …

Electrify America, the largest open Hyper-Fast charging network in the U.S., and Costco Wholesale are offering electric vehicle charging at five Costco Wholesale locations. The charging stations feature Hyper-Fast chargers- capable of speeds up to 350 kW- and will help meet the growing demand for open and convenient fast charging. Electrify America - Costco Wholesale Station Facts Five charging stations in operation in California, Colorado, and Florida. In collaboration with Electrify America's Electrify Commercial® team, the charging stations are owned by Costco Wholesale. Costco Wholesale’s charging stations will be …

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 6, 2012 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today released their numbers of recalls done by automakers in 2011. The total for 2011 stands at 15.5 million vehicles and 593 recall campaigns. The numbers are less than 2010 totals of 20.1 million vehicles and 648 campaigns. Honda was the top automaker in recalls with 3.9 million vehicles recalled during 2011. Honda initially disputed the number put out by NHTSA, but later said it agreed to the number. Honda spokesman Chris Martin said the majority of Honda's recalls were to find a small number of faulty parts. "We're playing it safe. We want to ma…

....may be the future. http://www.popsci.com/scitech/...nergyThe Department of Energy just gave $100,000 to upstart company Solar Roadways, to develop 12-by-12-foot solar panels, dubbed "Solar Roads," that can be embedded into roads, pumping power into the grid. The panels may also feature LED road warnings and built-in heating elements that could prevent roads from freezing. Each Solar Road panel can develop around 7.6 kwh of power each day, and each costs around $7,000. If widely adopted, they could realistically wean the US off fossil fuels: a mile-long stretch of four-lane highway could take 500 homes off the grid. If the entire US Interstate system made use of the …

Imagine a car that’s the length of a Smart ForTwo, the width of a Honda Accord, and six inches taller than a Cadillac Escalade. Those are the exterior dimensions of the Mirrow Provocator, a Russian car company design. None are on the road yet, and all you can see on the Mirrow Cars website are graphic representations of many views and permutations of the vehicle. Mirrow’s slogan is “Cars like a mirror of tomorrow.” The company describes the Provocator as a “business car” and says it’s intended for service in the city. It’s designed to park perpendicularly to the curb, preferably backed in, which turns out to be very convenient, as the only full-size door is in the…

Affective January 1st, 2022, Rimac Automobili became two companies, Rimac Group which is a majority shareholder in the Bugatti Rimac with a 55% stake and Porsche owning the remaining 45%. Rimac Technology is a sister company 100% owned by Rimac Group. rimac_technology_video.mp4 Rimac found themselves working with multiple auto companies to engineer, develop, produce and supply high-performance battery systems, electric drive units, electronic control systems, and user interface components. Rimac has established a reputation for providing leading advanced performance electronic technologies. Rimac Technology is the major su…

The turbocharger turns 100 years old this week The turbocharger , which has dominated the development of the internal combustion engine for the last 30 years, turned 100 years old this week. On 16 November 1905 Swiss engineer Dr. Alfred Buchi received patent No. 204630 from the Imperial Patent Office of the German Reich for a machine consisting of a compressor (turbine compressor), a piston engine, and a turbine in sequential arrangement. Porsche chose the occassion to introduce its very latest take on the turbocharger, this time with variable turbine geometry (VTG). This extensive article covers the development and major achievements of the turbocharger and the new VTG t…

It wasn't until Jim Tudor got his new Honda Element that he noticed a quirk in its design. Why was the boxy vehicle's sunroof over the empty back seat instead of his spot up front? "I found out that it's supposed to be for my surfboard," said Tudor, 56, who is the grandfather of two and never surfs anywhere but the Internet. "It was really only after the fact, when I started doing a little reading on the car, that I found out I wasn't supposed to be the one driving it." It turns out many of the people buying the Element — which looks like a cross between a minivan and a Hummer — aren't the young surfers and mountain bikers …

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersansGears.com July 12, 2012 From the we're a bit skeptical on this file; Autocar had the chance to talk with Tesla’s chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen. von Holzhausen told the magazine that work on a new model has begun and will be an entry level model. “The third model will continue to drive down the price point as fast as possible,” said von Holzhausen. von Holzhausen goes onto say the new model will have more distinctive styling than recently released Model S. "We will become more experimental as we develop as a brand. Our cars need to have some personality.” Source: Autocar William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & G…

Energy transition is the ultimate challenge in electric vehicles (EVs) and technological advances are reducing costs while offering greater efficiency as demanded by consumers. Driving the market is the entire powertrain made up of power-dense batteries, electric motors and wide-bandgap semiconductor solutions. GaN or Gallium Nitride is a wide-bandgap material with outstanding intrinsic characteristics that can offer system level advantages with better performance. Lower weight, higher power density for increased range is what GaN can deliver due to operating with a higher efficiency at a higher frequency providing a reduction in passive components while increasi…

EVgo, a publicly traded national company offering public fast charging stations across North America teamed up with various auto companies like GM, Toyota and Subaru to offer fast charging stations access to customers of newly purchased electric vehicles. EVgo had 1,000 public EV stations in August of 2023, and a year later in 2024 they opened their 2,000th DC fast charging station and are on pace to finish out 2024 with 2,850 DC fast charging stations nationwide. This is 390 locations in 45 metropolitan markets across 32 states. This is part of a longstanding collaboration to expand public access to EV charging in amenity-rich locations, such as grocer…

. Future Buick Compact Spied LA Auto Show The new compact Buick will likely be based on the Opel Astra and the Chinese Buick Excelle Discussion Future Buick Compact Spied at LA Auto Show

_ Toyota Led All Automakers With Most Recalled Vehicles in 2009 In the midst of recalls for sudden acceleration issues, frame rot, and other issues, Toyota has the "honor" of best ever number of recalls in 2009 with a staggering 4.87 million cars and trucks effected. Ford, with its ongoing issue of older cruise control systems, was second place with 4.52 million vehicles. Without the years-old cruise control issue, Ford would have had posted best year ever. General Motors rounded out the top three, with 2.24 million recalls announced in 2009. Chrysler actually had a good 2009 - at least when it comes to recalls - with just under 600,000 vehicles affected.…

With gas prices making a downward trend, sales of SUVs are making an upward climb. In fact, SUVs, pickups, and crossovers when added together make up half of total volume of sales in April. Now with the increase in SUV sales, prices also went up. Edmunds reports that average transaction prices on SUVs have climbed nine percent when compared to last year. Now when something goes up, something must come down. In this case, it happens to be small cars. Edmunds says that the average timeframe to sell a small car has risen from two and half months to three. The increase in the time to sell has also caused the average transaction price to remain flat. Source: Edmunds Vi…