Latest Car News

Recall Alert: Chevy Cobalt, Pontiac G5, Saturn Ion

Posted: Nov. 03, 2009 10:11:34 a.m.

General Motors has issued a recall order for about 52,000 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5 and Saturn Ion vehicles from model years 2006 and 2007 in order to correct a defect that could lead to a vehicle fire. Only vehicles originally sold or currently registered in certain states in the southwestern U.S. are included in the recall.

In a recall notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the automaker explains, "the plastic supply or return port on ...

Volkswagen, MIT Develop In-Car Robot

Posted: Nov. 02, 2009 09:11:13 a.m.

If you thought the voice-activated navigation system in your car was cool, you ain't seen nothing yet. Your next car could come with a far more advanced navigation aide - one that can hold up its end of a conversation.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Volkswagen and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are working together to develop "a dashboard-mounted robotic device that uses myriad sources of information to help you plan travel routes, dodge traffic jams, find heretofore unrealized ...

GM Will Offer Free Oil Changes to Pontiac, Saturn Owners

Posted: Nov. 02, 2009 09:11:24 a.m.

Saturn and Pontiac loyalists depressed about the impending death of their favorite auto brand have one thing to look forward to: free oil changes.

General Motors, Kicking Tires reports, will soon begin "offering free oil changes at a Chevy, Buick or GMC dealer" to about 1.6 million Pontiac and Saturn owners. Little is known about the deal. "Final details on the offer" will be made available later this week, "including if it's just a single oil change per ...

GM Insists: We Don't Need More Bailout Money

Posted: Nov. 02, 2009 09:11:25 a.m.

General Motors will not need any more federal aid, its chairman says.

The Washington Post reports, "General Motors chief executive Fritz Henderson was in Washington on Wednesday visiting with the company's major shareholder -- that is to say, the U.S. government." In a meeting with reporters, Henderson insisted that, under "any reasonable planning scenario," GM "will not request more federal aid. The amount of financing provided was sufficient."

GM faces a potential backlash over reports that its former financing ...

Study: Bad Driving May Be Genetic

Posted: Nov. 02, 2009 09:11:30 a.m.

Next time someone cuts you off in traffic, fails to signal a lane change and nearly sideswipes your car, or travels 40 on the highway, go easy on them. They might not be able to change.

Jalopnik reports, "According to a study published in the neurological science journal Cerebral Cortex, there's a gene responsible for bad driving." Up to 30 percent of America's drivers may have it.

Eureka Alert explains, "People with a particular gene variant performed more ...

White House, Web Site Battle Over Cash for Clunkers

Posted: Oct. 30, 2009 10:10:14 a.m.

The Obama administration and a prominent automotive website are locked in a war of words over the effectiveness of the Cash for Clunkers program.

The Detroit News reports, "The White House said the influential automotive news Web site Edmunds.com's harsh analysis of the impact of ‘Cash for Clunkers' was ‘faulty' and ‘implausible.' Edmunds CEO Jeremy Anwyl shot back that the White House was ‘shooting the messenger.'"

The argument began when the website published an analysis arguing that the ...

Cadillac Easily Wins its Sport Sedan Challenge Race

Posted: Oct. 30, 2009 10:10:06 a.m.

Bob Lutz came in seventh, but he won.

Motor Authority explains, "Last month, during a discussion with journalists about General Motors' new 'May the Best Car Win' marketing campaign," General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz "laid down the challenge to any journalist to a duel with the Cadillac CTS-V to see if any comparable car could topple the Caddy." The challenge was later extended to the general public, and yesterday, seven drivers (three of them journalists) selected from a pool ...

Chrysler to Bring Live TV to Cars

Posted: Oct. 30, 2009 10:10:58 a.m.

Listen up, kids. You want to talk mom and dad into a Chrysler. Got that? A Chrysler.

It's the only one with Spongebob.

Edmunds Inside Line reports, "Chrysler said it will roll out a live mobile TV option starting in late December that will be available on several 2008-'10 models with factory DVD entertainment systems." The TV service will be available on the Chrysler Town & Country, Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Journey, Dodge Nitro ...

GM Extends 60-Day Return Option

Posted: Oct. 30, 2009 10:10:53 a.m.

Very few people have returned a new GM car since the company announced its 60-day money-back guarantee program in September, but the offer may have helped boost GM's sales. So the company is extended the campaign beyond its planned November 30 end date.

Kicking Tires reports, "GM is extending the program through the end of 2009 and slightly beyond, ending Jan. 4. Buyers can opt for the guarantee which allows them to return a new vehicle after 30 days ...

The Auto Bailout Isn't Over; GMAC May Get More Aid

Posted: Oct. 29, 2009 10:10:22 a.m.

If you hoped the auto bailout had ended when Chrysler and General Motors emerged from bankruptcy, you might want to stop reading.

The Detroit News reports, "The Treasury Department plans to inject up to $5.6 billion in new capital in GMAC -- the latest effort to help the auto finance giant, a government official confirmed late Tuesday."  The government will accept preferred shares of stock in return.  "The new government infusion would be on top of $12.5 billion in ...