Cosmetic repair firms join forces | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Sometimes you see a new product or business and think, "Wow, that's a really good idea. Why haven't I seen that before?" This was exactly the case when I heard about what Larry Smith was launching. Smith is the affable owner of Autometric Collision, on the board of the Meadow Brook Concours, and one of Detroit's pre-eminent car nuts. His collection includes all manner of vehicles ranging from the advanced 1938 Stout Scarab engineered by William B. Stout, the man behind the legendary Ford Tri-Motor...

Car the center of designer's space | detnews.com | The Detroit News
-- An MRI exam of Holger Schubert's head might reveal an inner space of bare, winter-white walls, polished concrete, wall-to-ceiling glass and halogen lighting. "I like very pure, minimalistic, empty space," says the 41-year-old product designer. Schubert's home, under construction on two acres in the Brentwood neighborhood of West Los Angeles, will be a symphony in spareness: three glass boxes as the main living quarters, a pool house with cantilevered roof, a Japanese tea house and a glass-walled...

White House unveils new fuel efficiency standards, tailpipe limits | detnews.com | The Detroit News
-- The Obama administration today unveiled its proposal setting fuel efficiency standards at 34.1 mpg by 2016 and recommending the first-ever federal limits on tailpipe emissions. The government said the policy will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 950 million metric tons, save the average car buyer more than $3,000 in fuel costs and conserve 1.8 billion barrels of oil. The proposed national program would require model year 2016 vehicles to meet an estimated combined average emission level of...

China challenges U.S. tire tariffs | detnews.com | The Detroit News
-- President Barack Obama's decision to impose heavy tariffs on Chinese-made tires may prompt China to retaliate against U.S. auto and poultry exports. China took its case to the World Trade Organization Monday, after Obama ordered additional U.S. tariffs on Chinese tires for three years, including 35 percent in the first year. The increases come on top of the current 4 percent tariff. Besides challenging the tire tariffs before the WTO, the Chinese government said it would investigate on its own to...

$2.5 billion approved for 'clunker' replacements | detnews.com | The Detroit News
-- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said today his department has approved $2.5 billion in vouchers to pay car dealers in the "cash for clunkers" program. "Every dealer will be repaid on or before the end of September," LaHood said. Dealers submitted 690,000 applications for reimbursements totaling $2.877 billion before the program closed in late August. About 5,000 government workers and contractors have been processing applications. The number of workers was boosted after dealers complained of slow...

Tougher market expected for U.S. in Europe | detnews.com | The Detroit News
-- Detroit's automakers are occupying less space at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, and in the European auto market, after shedding brands and assets to get through a global industry downturn that hit them especially hard. General Motors Co. will essentially be fielding one brand in Europe -- Chevrolet -- once it completes the sale of its two European brands, Saab of Sweden and Germany's Adam Opel GmbH, which GM has owned since 1929. Ford Motor Co. is more successful in the region, but it also will be...

New fuel standard rolls in at 34.1 mpg | detnews.com | The Detroit News
-- The Obama administration's proposed standards for fuel efficiency and tailpipe emissions will raise vehicle price tags by more than $1,000, depress sales by 58,000 and cost more than 5,000 auto industry jobs in 2012, a government analysis said Tuesday. But the plan, which sets fuel efficiency standards fleetwide at 34.1 miles per gallon by 2016 and establishes federal tailpipe emission limits for the first time, also has compelling benefits, the administration said. They include a 950 million metric...

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show
The 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show is going to be the largest one this year. It is opening tomorrow, on September, 15. This is not only the major German exhibition, but the largest one worldwide, so all automakers are working for the best presentations at the show. It is obvious than all German manufacturers will present their best models there. Some great debuts will take place tomorrow: the production versions of Audi R8 convertible, BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Mini...

VW showcases range of new models in Frankfurt | detnews.com | The Detroit News
-- In a scene reminiscent of General Motors in its happier days, Volkswagen AG rented out a big hall here to display a slew of new models. They ranged from humble Volkswagens to roaring roadsters, in the most extravagant soiree of the Frankfurt Motor Show. The variety of cars on display "demonstrate that we have not only the widest range of brands but the best, and something for every customer," said Volkswagen Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn. Among the new models was an ultra-clean VW-brand electric...

Autos ready to shine anew | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Last fall, as auto executives gathered for Europe's biggest car show, the industry teetered on the precipice of the worst downturn in 30 years. This week, executives from a recomposed auto industry convene in Frankfurt in a cautiously optimistic mood: "The worst is behind us," said Christoph St�rmer, an analyst at forecasting firm IHS Global Insight. Now, he said, "the feeling is, we've passed it, we've survived it, we're still in business." Still, industry executives and analysts remain apprehensive...