NINETY EIGHT REGENCY

Xenatec Maybach Cruiserio coupe enters production with Saudi investment by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) on Dec 30th 2010 at 11:31AM Want to get your hands on a Maybach coupe? You've got two options. First would be to commission a replica of the Exelero concept car on the chassis of a Dodge Viper. That'll set you back €550,000, or about $730k at today's conversion rates. Your other choice is to have Xenatec convert a Maybach 57 S limo into a coupe for €675,000 ($894k). We brought you initial news of the project back in May, followed by details in October. For a quick refresher, the German coachbuilder brought in Fredrik Burchhardt, designer of the original Exelero, to pen the modified shape for the coupe. The result keeps most of the saloon's mechanicals in place – including the 600+ horsepower twin-turbo V12 – only with modified bodywork, cabin and (of course) two longer doors instead of four. Seen until now only in sketches, the Xenatec Maybach coupe has been (awkwardly) dubbed the Cruiserio, and it has just made its debut at Daimler headquarters in Stuttgart. The project is now being underwritten by a €70 million ($93M) investment from AutoKingdom of Saudi Arabia. Over the course of three years, Xenatec and AutoKingdom ambitiously anticipate building 100 examples, and say they've already got enough orders to keep them busy for the next year or so. Can't wait that long? The first example is up for sale out of Riyadh, with a price tag of just under a cool million. link: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/xenatec-maybach-cruiserio-coupe-enters-production-with-saudi-inv/

Japan’s Economic Future in Doubt: A National Introspective TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2010 It’s not been a good year for Japan. China has recently overtaken the Land of the Rising Sun as the world’s second biggest economic power and a recall of over ten million vehicles by one of the nation’s biggest and most respectable companies, Toyota, kicked off a global PR debacle that some analysts predict will take years to recover from. Add to that Japan’s aging population, its growing national debt and heavy reliance on manufacturing, all of which are effectively killing what was once thought destined to be the world’s leading economic superpower. The departure of its fourth Prime Minister in three years and a nasty diplomatic row with China over the detention of a trawler captain by the Japanese Coast Guard is also hurting. What’s worse is that Japan’s population is dwindling due to a low fertility rate of just 1.3 children per woman. It is expected that the population will drop from 127 million to just 90 million by 2055, with 40% of that number being over 65s. As the nation enters its third decade of economic stagnation, university students worry whether they can find steady employment or support their families. A third of Japan’s workforce is temporary workers or “Freeters” that flit from one available job to another. Such workers are unable to qualify for unemployment benefits, and make up more than three-quarters of the nation’s jobless. In these dark times, it’s no wonder -and a sad fact- that more than 30,000 people a year have committed suicides since 1998. Japan’s Prime Minister, Nato Kan, is aware of the burgeoning crisis. His solution is to open up the country; reducing trade barriers and tariffs and loosening regulations to make the country a more attractive proposition to outside investors. A free trade agreement with the U.S. and other nations, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, is also under consideration. Though it could lead to Japan’s economic revival and cheaper imports, it could also cause significant job losses and social dislocation of the rural classes. Analysts are convinced that the nation needs to find new growth areas such as green energy, software engineering and health care to help prop up the failing economy. More so, however, Japan needs to change its national mindset. Perceived to be rooted in conformism and census, it is seen by some to be too insular and too slow to change and respond to crisis. Without change, Japan has little hope of a short term recovery. Of course, this is just one opinion. As always, our readers are encouraged to voice theirs in the comments. By Tristan Hankins link: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/12/japans-economic-future-in-doubt.html

High Demand for German Luxury Cars in the U.S. and China TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2010 Germany’s car market has definitely seen better days, as sales in the first 11 months of 2010 are down 25.2% compared to the same period last year. However, strong demand for luxury cars in the U.S. and China is keeping premium automakers like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz busy during the holiday season and, most importantly, profitable. “2010 was expected to be a tough year all round” John Lawson, a London-based analyst at Citi Investment Research, wrote in a report. “But rich China sales have leapt (and) foreign exchange has been very supportive”. As a result, German manufacturers have shortened Christmas holidays and are keeping some of their production facilities open between Christmas and New Year’s. State-side, the premium segments have seen an 11.1 percent increase in demand, outperforming the overall market growth. Audi has profited the most from the economical rebound, with sales up 23.6% for the year through November. Mercedes follows closely behind, with an 18.6% increase, while BMW takes third place with +11.6%, according to Autodata Corp. The Chinese market fared even better, registering a 40% increase in the luxury car segment, also led by the Ingolstadt-based carmaker. Nine of the ten top selling premium vehicles in China are German, with Lexus securing just one spot on the list. Furthermore, the uphill trend is expected continue over the next five years. “The luxury car segment is expected to keep double-digit growth in the next five years, with the booming number of second-time buyers who are eager to distinguish themselves and keen to prove their social status”, J.D. Power said in a December report about the Chinese market. By Csaba Daradics link: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/12/demand-for-german-luxury-cars-is-up-in.html

Report: BMW, Mercedes experiment with upscale car-sharing by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Dec 29th 2010 at 6:39PM If you think that joining in on the car-sharing party means that you'll be stuck behind the wheel of a low-buck auto, prepare to be amazed. According to AutoWeek, both BMW and Mercedes-Benz are diving into the car-sharing world with programs designed to allow users to experience a slice of luxury without having to foot the hassles associated with car ownership. BMW on Demand will provide drivers with a 1 Series for as little as €16 per hour in Europe (around $21 USD/hr). Those wanting a little more room can opt for a 5 Series for the low price of €23/hr ($30/hr), including servicing and cleaning. Daimler, meanwhile, is working on a similar program in both Austin, Texas and Ulm, Germany, though that program will serve up products from the company's Smart line. Users can reserve trim levels and colors on line or by phone, use the vehicle for as long as they like and drop it off in convenient car-sharing parking spaces. The time behind the wheel is automatically calculated and the user's bank account automatically debited. Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz are delving into car-sharing to confront a growing lack of interest in ownership from younger generations and increased traffic in urban settings, even though some research has shown that the use of a single shared vehicle can contribute to the loss of as many as nine to 15 personal cars. link: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/29/report-bmw-mercedes-experiment-with-upscale-car-sharing/

German luxury cars in high demand, but not in Germany 10:28 AM If you're interested in a German luxury car, you're probably not German. Business is booming for BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Porsche, a nice turnaround from a slow 2009,the Detroit News reports. Plants are so busy that some are apparently avoiding the end-of-the-year shutdown and running this week to try to catch up with demand. Demand, that is, in export markets like China, Brazil and the U.S. But not in Germany. There, in the fatherland, German luxury is still just that, a luxury. Sales slipped 25.2% in the first 11 months of the year. How much is demand up. Nine of the 10 top selling luxury nameplates in China are German, says the News. The sole exception is Toyota's Lexus ES, according to J.D. Power and Associates. link: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/12/german-luxury-cars-in-high-demand-but-not-in-germany/1

LUXURY CAR DEMAND SHORTENS THE HOLIDAY SEASON FOR GERMAN PLANT WORKERS By Drew Johnson The Christmas and New Year’s holidays are typically a slow time for the world’s automakers, but German luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW are working overtime to keep up with booming foreign demand. New cars sales have actually declined more than 25 percent in Germany over the last 11 months, but strong demand from China and the United States is keeping production rolling along at full capacity. In fact both Mercedes-Benz and BMW are keep factories open during their normal Christmas to New Year’s shut down. “2010 was expected to be a tough year all round,” John Lawson, a London-based analyst at Citi Investment Research, wrote in a report. “But rich China sales have leapt (and) foreign exchange has been very supportive.” Mercedes’ U.S. sales are up 18.6 percent so far this year with BMW posting an 11.6 percent gain. Volkswagen’s Audi brand has seen even more success, increasing U.S. sales by 23.6 percent. As a whole, the U.S. market is up 11.1 percent. China is also proving to be a booming market for German luxury car makers, with sales up there 40 percent. Although we’re sure not all of the workers are thrilled about a the extra hours, it should give the luxury brands a boost going into 2011. link: http://www.leftlanenews.com/luxury-car-demand-shortens-the-holiday-season-for-german-plant-workers.html

Mahindra trying to back away from another U.S. deal? by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Dec 27th 2010 at 8:29AM After Mahindra notoriously backed out of a deal with a U.S. supplier, Compact pickup fans are still licking their wounds over the news that the company's trucks won't be coming to our shores anytime soon. As it turns out, Global Vehicles USA may not be the only American company to have been wronged by Mahindra. According to The Post-Standard, electric car start-up Bannon Automotive LLC has filed a law-suit against both Reva Electric Car Company of Bangalore, India and Reva's parent company, Mahindra & Mahindra. Bannon Automotive claims that the two broke a deal that gave Bannon exclusive rights to both build and sell the vehicle here in the states. As part of the suit, Bannon Automotive is seeking to force the Reva Electric Car Company to give the American manufacturer a license to build the NXR electric car and to prevent any other company from doing the same. Bannon had previously said that the NXR would be able to travel up to 120 miles on a single charge and would cost somewhere between $17,000 and $25,000. Bannon had signed a memorandum of understanding with Reva in October, but after Mahindra bought the company, it was made clear that the NXR wasn't ready for manufacture here in America. Meanwhile, Bannon is convinced that Mahindra is planning to make or sell its own electric car in the U.S. without its former partner. Thanks for the tip, Christian! link: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/27/mahindra-trying-to-back-away-from-another-u-s-deal/

Rumormill: Marussia bringing seven new models to Frankfurt by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) on Dec 27th 2010 at 11:01AM If you're going to make it in the exotic supercar business, it helps to have two things: a substantial lineup and an F1 team. The Ferrari case, first of all, goes without saying. McLaren has the latter covered, and is in the process of kicking the former into high gear. Spyker bought its own F1 team, and though it subsequently sold it, look at the Dutch automaker now: they own Saab. Lotus is following the same path with not one, but two F1 teams, and an aggressive model rollout plan. Now Marussia looks poised to follow the same path. The exotic Russian automaker recently bought into the Virgin Racing team, so they've got one aspect covered. All they'll need now is a big ambitious model lineup. Cue the latest news. According to the rumormill, Marussia Motors is planning on rolling out seven new products at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the fall. Included in the reported plans are a coupe, SUV, sedan and a city car. If this is all sounding familiar, look no further than Lotus, which set a new precedent with five new concepts at the Paris Motor Show this past autumn. Along with the new vehicles, Marussia is reportedly hard at work expanding its distribution base, with new showrooms planned for London and Monaco, penetration into the American market in the works and factories slated to open in Germany and Belgium. The plans are nothing if not ambitious, but in this market, that could be exactly what the Doctor Zhivago ordered. link: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/27/rumormill-marussia-bringing-seven-new-models-to-frankfurt/

Even though no Oldsmobiles made the list in this thread, I was glad to know my selections prompted a prototype story and discussion.

Happy Birthday !!! May it be the best day....

Buick a king of the road without having traveled it Jerry Hirsch / Los Angeles Times Los Angeles— The sinister-looking black coupe sits in a corner of the showroom floor, oozing macho and muscle. Square headlights. Evil sneer for a grille. Six cylinders of turbocharged fury. This new car is 23 years old. It's a Buick Regal GNX, and in 1987 car enthusiasts including celebrity collectors Reggie Jackson, Burt Reynolds and Sylvester Stallone snapped them up. probably qualify for Obama's Refi… More info... This menacing Buick — one of only about 500 — still sports its original $29,389 sticker on the window. Experts say it could sell at auction for north of $120,000, especially since most of its surviving siblings have many more miles of rough roads under their fenders. Why this GNX still sits there in Signal Hill, Calif., amounts to a miscalculation by the dealership, Boulevard Buick, which tried unsuccessfully to boost its profit by auctioning it to the highest bidder. "This was a car that was meant to go fast and driven hard," said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson, the Arizona rare and classic auto auction house. "So when you find one in virgin condition sitting unsold at a dealer, that is bulletproof provenance." The GNX was the last and greatest in the Grand National series Buick launched in 1982 and named after the NASCAR racing series. Essentially a souped-up version of the Buick Regal, Grand Nationals had a unique appeal: They could blow the doors off many cars, yet pass for family sedans. With the passage of time, the GNX has become the most sought after of the Grand Nationals, and the car in Signal Hill may be the most coveted of all. "People talk about that car. It is a legend," said Lee Westrope, a GNX owner and car collector from Nuevo, Calif. When the dealership was given a GNX to sell, it put the car up for an auction in hopes of juicing the sales price. Not a single buyer stepped up. The Willinghams, who own Boulevard Buick and paid GM $26,856 for car, decided not to take a loss on what they thought would be their most profitable car ever. Now and then an enthusiast who recognizes the GNX for the rarity it is comes by to ogle it, and once in a while someone asks about buying the car. "We had visions of making big money," said Brad Willingham, of Boulevard Buick. "Now it's part of our heritage." From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20101223/AUTO01/12230351/Buick-a-king-of-the-road-without-having-traveled-it#ixzz18wdTlbUD

It did minus the t-tops. The rear window made it into production, but as you said not the t-tops.

I hope you will get that chance to do so.. I really do.

I missed this submission contest. I would have had a few: 2000 Oldsmobile Profile: 1977 Oldsmobile Toronado XSR 1985 Oldsmobile FE3-X Husrt Olds Cultlass Concept: 1992 Oldsmobile Anthem: 1990 Oldsmobile Expression: Oldsmobile Intrigue OSV: 1986 Oldsmobile Incas:

The Pontiac G8 ST. I understand. You are frustrated by empty promises.

At least you are close to seeing your dream come true.

Report: Future Mitsubishi models may each get their own EV variant by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Dec 21st 2010 at 2:29PM Word on the web is that Mitsubishi is bracing for the electrification of the automobile in a big way. According to Motor Trend, the Japanese automaker is in the midst of developing all of its future products so that they easily support an EV drivetrain or an internal combustion get up. That line of thinking seems to mesh well with the rumors of the upcoming hybrid crossover from Mitsubishi. The lumbering beast will supposedly take plenty of cues from the PX-MiEV that showed up at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show, with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine working in conjunction with a pair of electric motors. Additionally, Motor Trend seems to think that the current Montero is a likely platform to adopt a battery pack. The SUV may have died off from the American market, but it's still alive and kicking in Asia and Europe, and a little help from an electric motor would go a long way toward inching the vehicle's fuel economy down to more manageable levels. And what of our beloved Lancer Evolution? From the sounds of things, even it might show up with electron-power in the near future, with the gasoline engine kicking at the rear tires and the front axles spun by a motor or two. link: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/21/report-future-mitsubishi-models-may-each-get-their-own-ev-varia/

I hope Caminos dream will come true. It will be nice to see someone's dream come true and they get the car they waited for and longed for. This will be interesting to see.

VW, Fiat, Ford face probe in Brazil on auto-parts policies Automotive News Europe -- December 16, 2010 14:03 CET BRASILIA (Bloomberg) -- Brazil's antitrust agency ordered an investigation into automakers Volkswagen AG, Fiat S.p.A. and Ford Motor Co. to find out whether their policies toward auto parts suppliers are abusive. The agency, known as Cade, wants to determine if the automakers are “abusing their economic power and illegally exercising their property rights on the auto parts,” Cade said Thursday in Brasilia. The investigation was requested by Brazil's federal association of partsmakers, known as Anfape, which claims the automakers, based on their intellectual property rights, are using lawsuits and other means to hinder competition from independent partsmakers. The automakers' rights are supported by Brazil's law on patents and intellectual property, and confirmed by multiple judicial decisions, Fiat and Ford lawyers said during Cade's session today in Brasilia. Volkswagen's lawyer made no comments. Anfape is asking Cade to “restrict in a generic way” the law on intellectual property and patents, said Fiat's lawyer Lauro Celidonio Gomes dos Reis Neto. The judicial system “has already considered Ford's behavior legitimate,” said Ricardo Inglez de Souza, a lawyer for the the automaker. Volkswagen gets the largest share of auto sales in Brazil, followed by Fiat, General Motors Co. and Ford, according to November data from the National Vehicle Manufacturer's Association. Fiat announced yesterday it will invest 3 billion reais ($1.77 billion) in a new car factory in Brazil, as it seeks to boost sales in the Italian company's second-biggest market by revenue. Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101216/ANE/101219875/1424#ixzz18Hyi0SRg

Fiat, Toyota, Ford lead European car-sales drop Opel/Vauxhall was the only major European volume maker to post a sales gain in November, thanks to cars such as the new Meriva, shown. Automotive News Europe -- December 15, 2010 08:16 CET PARIS (Bloomberg) -- Fiat S.p.A., Toyota Motor Corp. and Ford Motor Co. led an eighth-consecutive monthly decline in European car deliveries as fallout from last year's government incentives hampered a recovery in the region's largest markets. Registrations fell 6.5 percent to 1.11 million cars in November from 1.18 million a year earlier, Brussels-based industry association ACEA said today in a statement. Eleven-month sales dropped 5.1 percent to 12.7 million cars. Fiat group sales including the Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo brands fell nearly 24 percent to 74,195. Toyota recorded November's second-biggest sales decline, with a 20 percent drop to 44,670 registrations. Ford was third with a 15 percent slide to 85,856 cars. Volkswagen AG, including the VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat brands, recorded a 5.2 percent decline to 235,614 vehicles. A 12.2 percent rise in Skoda sales and 2.4 percent volume growth at Audi helped offset a 13.6 percent decline in VW brand sales in November. "Sales of the VW brand were once more disappointing...largely because the current generation of the best-selling Golf is entering its third year on sale, and the Golf and Polo appeared to generate a lot of orders though scrappage, especially in Germany," market analysts IHS Automotive said in a research note. Renault group sales dropped 12.1 percent with a 16 percent decline for the Renault brand offset by a 6.6 percent increase at the automaker's low-cost Dacia brand. Renault sales dropped because the company chased volume and market share during the early part of the year with aggressive incentives and discounting and is now reining in this strategy, IHS Automotive said. French rival PSA/Peugeot-Citroen registered a 9.5 volume drop with Citroen sales falling 15 percent compared with a 4.5 percent fall for Peugeot. The recovery in eastern European markets helped Hyundai Motor Co. to post gains in November. Hyundai brand recorded a 6.4 percent increase to 30,087 sales, lifting its market share so far this year by 0.2 percentage point to 2.6 percent. GM Europe bost GM's registrations for Opel/Vauxhall and Chevrolet advanced 4.2 percent to 98,319 with Opel's volume up 6.5 percent and Chevrolet sales rising 3.6 percent. An Opel spokesman said the new Meriva minivan as well as strong sales for the Astra compact and Insignia large car helped boost the brand's November sales. Opel's growth took place across Europe, the spokesman told Automotive News Europe in a emailed response to questions, adding that the current customer order intake trend indicates a solid base for further market share gains in the coming months "so we are confident to be able to record another strong month in December." European sales at BMW jumped 19 percent last month to 66,050 cars as the company won buyers with the X1 compact SUV and new-generation 5-series sedan. Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz brand led the Stuttgart-based group's 2.5 percent gain to 60,002 vehicles. Italy slump hits Fiat Market disparities lingering behind the stimulus programs widened as a recovery gathered pace in smaller European countries without their own mass-market manufacturers to support, which offered little or no incentive spending. Italian registrations slumped 21 percent, the biggest decline after Greece and Spain, contributing to Fiat's 24 percent plunge in regional sales to 74,194 cars. The year-on- year comparison was worsened by a surge at the end of 2009 in Italy, where customers rushed to qualify for government incentives before the payments expired. The French market shrank by 11 percent in November. A trade-in bonus of 1,000 euros ($1,330) was cut by 250 euros in both January and July. The contraction helped drag down European registrations last month by 12 percent to 115,487 cars at Renault SA and by 9.5 percent to 144,542 at PSA/Peugeot-Citroen SA. “French sales have been getting a stimulus all the way, so we still don't know where the real market is,” said Philippe Houchois, a London-based analyst at UBS. “We're seeing a more contrasted picture,” Houchois said before the figures were released. While Italy, France and their carmakers are still struggling, “Germany is better than expected and its premium carmakers are finally beginning to stabilize.” Markets that had few or no subsidies, or where scrapping incentives halted more than a year ago, are showing improvement. The decline in the German market, where the subsidy stopped in September 2009, slowed to 6.2 percent from 20 percent in October. Eastern Europe's sales growth jumped to 22 percent from 12 percent. The UK saw an 11.5 percent drop in November sales while sales in Spain slumped 25.5 percent For detailed November and 11-month European sales by automaker and country, see PDF above right Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101215/ANE/312159977/1193#ixzz18C64dvwJ

STOP IT: RAM JOINS TOYOTA, RECALLS 76,000 TRUCKS OVER BRAKE ISSUE By Mark Kleis Earlier today, Leftlane reported that Toyota would be recalling its 2011 Sienna over braking concerns, and now Chrysler’s Ram truck brand joins the list of brands announcing recalls due to brake related safety issues. For the Ram trucks, the problem interestingly stems not from a traditionally known core component of the brake system, but rather from a cap for the power steering fluid system. Due to the cap allowing excessive vent pressure levels, the brake pedal can be slow to return to its normal position, which leaves the brake lights on longer than intended. To make sense of the issue, one would need to understand that the Hybroboost brake system runs off of the power coming from the power steering pump, which has the advantage of being far more powerful than a traditional braking system. The issue is limited to 76,122 trucks, model years 2010 and 2011, and on trucks equipped with a Cummins diesel engine and the Hydroboost brake system. Ram is scheduled to officially begin replacing the caps when the recall gets underway in February. link: http://www.leftlanenews.com/stop-it-ram-joins-toyota-recalls-76000-trucks-over-brake-issue.html

Chrysler recalling 76,000 Ram pickups over braking concerns by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Dec 14th 2010 at 4:31PM Chrysler is recalling 76,112 Dodge Ram trucks for a problem that may result in brake pedals that don't return as quickly as they should. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the issue is specific to 2010 and 2011 model year diesel trucks. Models made between March 2009 and October 2010 may have been built with power steering reservoir caps with "excessive vent pressure levels." Somehow, the faulty power steering cap causes the brake pedals to be slow to return. We aren't entirely clear on how the power steering cap impacts the braking system, but NHTSA says that the danger isn't that drivers won't be able to stop their trucks – the brakes release when they should. Instead, the vehicle's brake lights will stay illuminated for too long, increasing the likelihood of an accident. Chrysler says it has received 175 reports of the issue, but it has received no reports of any accidents or injuries stemming from the defect. Chrysler will notify owners of affected trucks that it will inspect and replace the power steering reservoir cap for free as necessary. Hit the jump to see the full NHTSA campaign report. Gallery:Review: 2009 Dodge Ram [source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] Show full PR text Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s): DODGE / RAM 2010-2011 Manufacturer: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC Mfr's Report Date: DEC 07, 2010 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V616000 N/A NHTSA Action Number: N/A Component: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID Potential Number of Units Affected: 76122 Summary: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 DODGE RAM TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 2009 THROUGH OCTOBER 2010. SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINE AND A HYDROBOOST BRAKE SYSTEM MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH A POWER STEERING RESERVOIR CAP WITH EXCESSIVE VENT PRESSURE LEVELS THAT MAY RESULT IN BRAKE PEDALS THAT ARE SLOW TO RETURN. Consequence: BRAKE LIGHTS THAT ARE SLOW TO EXTINGUISH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. Remedy: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR CAP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403. Notes: CHRYSLER SAFETY RECALL NO. K33. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV . link: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/14/chrysler-recalling-76-000-ram-pickups-over-braking-concerns/

Chrysler Issues Recall For 2009, 2010 Dodge Ram Pickups Chrysler has announced a recall of certain Dodge Ram trucks from the 2009 and 2010 model years. According to a bulletin issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some of those vehicles may have flawed braking systems, which could increase the possibility of an accident -- not just for Ram drivers, but also for the people behind them. The flaw in question affects only diesel models with the hydroboost braking system. As per the NHTSA bulletin, those units "may be equipped with a power steering reservoir cap with excessive vent pressure levels that may result in brake pedals that are slow to return". Obviously, any impediment to braking is a major safety hazard for drivers. Unfortunately, the problem also affects the trucks' brake lights, which may be similarly slow to bounce back. That might not be a big deal for Ram drivers themselves, but it could cause folks behind them to brake unnecessarily, which might also cause collisions. Chrysler has said that it won't begin repairing the affected vehicles until February 2011, which seems like a fairly slow fix time -- especially when considering that 76,122 vehicles are at risk. The repair will involve replacement of the power steering reservoir cap, which will be done free of charge. If you have questions, we encourage you to contact your local dealer, or call Chrysler at 800-853-1403 and reference recall #K33. Alternately, you can contact the NHTSA at 888-327-4236 and ask about recall campaign #10V616000. link: http://www.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1052511_chrysler-issues-recall-for-2009-2010-dodge-ram-pickups

Silverado HD Named 2011 Motor Trend Truck of the Year Chevy sweeps award with Volt winning Car of the Year award FREE PRESS STAFF Chevrolet has swept Motor Trends car and truck of the year awards. The Chevrolet Silverado HD was been selected as the 2011 Motor Trend Truck of the Year, the publication announced this weekend. Chevrolet also earned the 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year award for the Chevrolet Volt, the industry's first electric car with extended-range capability. It is the first time since 2006 that one brand has won both Motor Trend Car and Truck of the Year awards in the same year. Chevrolet and Buick won both awards in 1979. The truck award was presented to GM CEO Dan Akerson before the 111th Army-Navy Game at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. Chevrolet is the Official Vehicle of the Army-Navy Game. "On the outside the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD appears to have been given a subtle makeover, but it's what's under the skin that makes this truck a winner," said Motor Trend Editor-in-Chief Angus MacKenzie. "Chevy engineers focused on three key areas - powertrain, frame, and suspension - to deliver a truck with significantly improved capability and more refinement." The new 2011 Silverado HD built in Flint, Mich., and Fort Wayne, Ind., was introduced this summer, featuring new frame and suspension designs, and a more powerful Duramax diesel engine with 397 horsepower, 765 lb.-ft. of torque, and 11 percent better fuel-economy. As a result, the 2011 Silverado HD is capable of towing up to 21,700 pounds, or carrying 6,635 pounds of payload. The new Silverado HD also offers available confidence- and control-related features specifically for towing including electronic trailer sway control, hill start assist and smart exhaust brake system. The full report from Motor Trend appears in the February issue of the magazine (on newsstands in early January) and online at www.motortrend.com. Read more: Silverado HD Named 2011 Motor Trend Truck of the Year | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20101212/BUSINESS0101/101212012/Silverado-HD-Named-2011-Motor-Trend-Truck-of-the-Year#ixzz180z6qiGz

Will the next Holden Commodore go front-wheel drive? by Jeff Glucker (RSS feed) on Dec 10th 2010 at 5:01PM Since 1978, the Holden Commodore has been roaring across the land down under. It's worn a plethora of body styles ranging from coupe and sedan to wagon and ute, brought the Pontiac G8 to American soil and sold over 44,000 units last year in Australia. During its run, the Holden Commodore has been a rear-wheel drive vehicle, but new reports state that the front-engine/rear-drive layout may not be in the cards for much longer. The next-generation Commodore is going to appear by 2015 and it's possible that General Motors may switch it to a front-wheel drive car. The goal is increased fuel-efficiency for GM's large cars and the front-wheel drive platforms are the ones set up to deliver the highest fuel efficiency. The Holden Commodore could ride on the Super Epsilon II platform, which will also make its way into the next Chevrolet Impala and the upcoming Cadillac XTS. Sure, we understand why an automaker would look to make this change but it doesn't mean we have to like it. We prefer our Maltidas waltzing and our Commodores drifting. link: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/10/will-the-next-holden-commodore-go-front-wheel-drive/