Editorial: Clunker of a bill | detnews.com | The Detroit News
The one thing the federal government ought to be able to do well is give away money. But Washington initially has bungled the Cash for Clunkers program for struggling automakers and dealers by not processing certificates in a timely manner. We agreed with Michigan's congressional delegation when the bill was passed that it was too anemic to do much real good. Congress set aside $1 billion, enough to move roughly 250,000 vehicles. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, had asked for at least $4...

LaHood: Car rebates will stop unless Senate acts | detnews.com | The Detroit News
-- The Obama administration will suspend the "cash for clunkers" program unless the Senate provides $2 billion more for the popular car incentive plan, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Sunday. He said he expects the current $1 billion pool to be exhausted by the end of this weekend. The House approved an additional $2 billion on Friday and the administration is pressing the Senate to go along before its summer vacation begins at week's end. "If we don't get the $2 billion from the Senate ... we...

Lordstown, Ohio, hangs its hopes on the new Chevy Cruze | detnews.com | The Detroit News
When the Lordstown General Motors Co. plant reopens today after an extended summer shutdown, about 2,600 fewer employees will be reporting to work than a year ago. Those who still have a job are thankful but have been battered by a tumultuous year that began with high hopes when GM selected the Lordstown plant for a new product -- the Chevy Cruze -- then quickly spiraled down as GM floundered amid the national economic meltdown and declared bankruptcy on June 1. Lordstown's story is being told in auto...

Concours d'Elegance a classic attraction | detnews.com | The Detroit News
The annual Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance will feature more than 200 vintage vehicles. The event on Aug. 2 will include "The Best of Detroit" -- 80 cars showcasing Detroit design from the 1920s through the 1960s. This is the 30th anniversary of the car show, which costs $25 for adults and is held on the grounds of Meadow Brook Hall on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester Hills. The Concours also will feature a 1954 Fiat 8V Supersonic, a 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II, and the North American...

Automotive history comes to life at Sloan Museum | detnews.com | The Detroit News
For many people it's a well-kept secret. For those at the hub of car culture, it's a must-visit location. At the Sloan Museum, Flint's dramatic history as the birthplace of General Motors comes to life. The museum's namesake -- Alfred Pritchard Sloan Jr., the former president and CEO of the giant auto manufacturer -- is a name out of General Motors' rich and storied past. It is a truly dandy museum, laid out like a circular drive around a park. Visitors can see photographs of the fabled 1936-37 Flint...

Flame thrower, smoke screen make for blazing ride | detnews.com | The Detroit News
If the idea of flames shooting our your vehicle's tailpipes is appealing, or if you like the idea of making your car generate billows of smoke without wearing out your tires, AutoLoc's Flame Thrower and Smoke Screen kits will make sure your car stands apart from the crowd. Note, however, that such kits are designed for use away from traffic. You're not going to activate them during the Woodward Dream Cruise, but if you're at a car show and there's plenty of room -- and no kindling around -- you can put...

Concours d'Elegance salutes the finest Big 3 iron, fins and ragtops | detnews.com | The Detroit News
When the futuristic Fiat 8V Supersonic -- styled like a Ghia -- debuted at the 1953 Paris Motor Show, it was an immediate stunner. Journalists pegged the aluminum-bodied sports car built by a famous coachbuilder on a Fiat chassis as a legitimate rival to Ferrari and Maserati. U.S. automakers -- always on the lookout for the next styling hit -- were equally impressed and quickly snapped one up when it became available for sale. It seemed a bargain compared to another sensation introduced at the same time...

P-51 Mustang roars at Oshkosh | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. raised $250,000 for the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program Thursday, auctioning off this one-of a kind aviation-themed Mustang at the organization's AirVenture gathering in Oshkosh, Wis. The Mustang AV-X10 "Dearborn Doll," which sports a paint scheme inspired by the World War II P-51 Mustang fighter and the 10-millionth engine to roll off the line at Ford's Romeo Engine Plant, was purchased by Tom Gonzalez of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. [source]

A Huge Collision Took Place in Germany
A terrible auto crash happened in Germany on one of the autobahns after a heavy rain. Several cars lost control, which lead to a series of collisions. More than 66 people are reported to be injured. 259 cars collided in the late Sunday afternoon on the A2 autobahn near Brunswick, northern Germany. The road connects Berlin and the Dutch border near Braunschweig and Hanover. Many people were heading that day to Germany where the school holidays started. Three major pile-ups happened on the 20 mile stretch...

$1 billion 'Cash for clunkers' program to kick off Monday | detnews.com | The Detroit News
-- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will release a final regulation today, clearing the way for the launch of the $1 billion federal "Cash for Clunkers" program. The program gives buyers of new, more fuel-efficient vehicles up to $4,500 in government rebates to turn in cars and trucks up to 25 years old that in most instances get less than a combined highway/city fuel efficiency of 18 miles per gallon. NHTSA's final rule will explain the process for registering dealers, the manner in...