Your Source For Finding Free Articles On All Your Favorite Topics. / en Sun, 8 Nov 2009 03:30:09 GMT /Article/The_Rumors_about_Ram_Separation_Are_True/5851 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:25 GMT It has been announced before that Ram would separate from Dodge and function as an individual brand which makes commercial vehicles. Fiat is already planning and expansion of the Ram vehicles for 2012. This spring Italian automaker has purchased Chrysler which owns several brands including Dodge. A lot of changes in the American company have been made since then; one of them is that Fiat thinks Ram is so popular that it should become a separate brand which specializes on commercial autos such as pickup... 6938d87a2066aea9e3c37dbd2064b3ac /Article/Fresh_approach_excites_UAW_dealers_cautious_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5842 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:20 GMT Throughout Metro Detroit and across the nation, workers, politicians and dealers waited and watched Wednesday as Chrysler made its pitch to turn the company around with new products and a fresh approach to manufacturing and marketing. Union leaders representing Chrysler workers in the United States and Canada hailed the promise of overhauling plant operations. The "world class manufacturing" concept is intended to eliminate waste, increase safety and encourage teamwork. It also eliminates a layer of... 403869cf1aee6d3a01eff67114dddbc2 /Article/Aftermarket_auto_ware_there_for_the_long_haul_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5840 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:18 GMT Next week, Las Vegas turns into aftermarket heaven. Roll out the rally cars, billion-horsepower engines and every conceivable electronic device -- and some you couldn't imagine -- replica rattlesnake seat covers, bamboo floor mats and more rims than a junkyard and you'll begin to picture SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association trade show. Anything and everything that can be affixed, attached, screwed on or bolted down to a car or truck is on display at the private show, which begins Tuesday and... 78a9201f80537126e17aa258c2de5316 /Article/Best_be_prepared_for_rough_weather_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5837 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:14 GMT These simple tips from the National Safety Council can help drive down the risk of accident, even in bad weather: • Floor mats. Something as simple as floor mats can have a major impact on driving safety. But the days of one-size-fits-all floor mats are gone. Most mats, even aftermarket mats, are now designed for specific vehicles, and drivers should be sure to use only a mat designed for their vehicle. Many vehicles these days also have anchors or clips to secure mats. You should always check to... b6bb61b46fc61a34fa142af86ec44d28 /Article/Michelin_cables_aim_for_safer_jump_starts_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5836 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:13 GMT Winter's coming. That means stocking up on de-icer fluid for the windshield washer reservoir and digging out the old snow scraper and jumper cables. Or you might want to buy a new set of jumper cables because the technology has just taken a big leap forward. It used to be you had to be very careful to connect the positive and negative terminals of your vehicle's battery to those of the car that you're jumping or that was jumping you. But with Michelin's new Smart Jumper Cables, there's no such... 4ac5070f3bb6e1e8159c94340cefc2d5 /Article/Ariz_shop_revives_vintage_cars_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5835 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:12 GMT -- Tucson's classic cars are the keys to success for the Saguaro Automotive Group. The business is geared toward breathing new life into vintage automobiles through repair and restoration. Its 6,000-square-foot facility buzzed with activity on a recent weekday afternoon. A 1966 Corvette in the showroom awaited minor upgrades to raise its technical inspection score with the National Corvette Restorers Society. Another Corvette, a 1979 model, sat parked at a work station for a custom paint job and full... 79282865644d55a9299715de5098560b /Article/Detroit_area_car_shops_ramp_it_up_at_SEMA_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5834 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:10 GMT By now, most Detroiters are getting their hot rods, exotics, and muscle cars bundled up for a long winter's nap. But in Las Vegas, this week's SEMA convention is supercharging enthusiasts from across the globe. This industry-only trade show lays out an unrivaled smorgasbord of custom vehicles and hardware. Organized by the Specialty Equipment Market Association, the event features about 2,000 booths -- in 2 million square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Center -- hawking everything from complete cars... 180b3b931ed17dbdb4e0701bcb67dde4 /Article/Federal_auto_czar_in_Detroit_today_to_discuss_stimulus_grant_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5829 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:25 GMT -- The White House auto recovery czar will meet in Detroit with energy workers and political leaders to discuss a local $83 million federal stimulus grant that's part of a $3.4 billion effort to modernize the U.S. power grid. Ed Montgomery, head of the White House Council on Auto Communities and Workers, is scheduled to visit DTE Energy Co.'s headquarters Thursday. He and others will outline the grant to DTE Energy, which the utility is matching so it can install a network of 660,000 advanced electric... c5ed1a7dca55414c33a9d5ff570e4b8f /Article/Reliability_pays_off_in_long_run_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5830 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:25 GMT Without Uncle Sam's largesse, you're not likely to get a decent price on a trade-in today. That car that grandma only drove to church on Sunday with low miles and all the extras that you got and now want to use to get something a bit more hip? Chances are you'll be offered far below the book value from a dealer. Sell it on your own instead. Especially if you've got a Toyota, Honda or Ford, the top brands for reliability, according to the 2009 Annual Car Reliability Survey from Consumer Reports magazine... bb96a0bb428b8a0a718c1a35ed9ee4a9 /Article/Senate_committee_calls_Delphi_s_salaried_pensions_devastating_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5828 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:23 GMT -- A Senate committee criticized the disparate treatment of the pensions of Delphi Automotive LLP's hourly and salaried retirees and demanded more information on how the decisions were made by the Obama administration. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, noted at a hearing Thursday that the Troy-based auto supplier had terminated its pension plans covering 70,000 workers -- the fourth-largest ever takeover in terms of people covered. In July... 7a54e7110c4ac872a712f50bdc5a90b1 /Article/White_House_Edmunds_in_war_of_words_over_clunkers_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5826 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:22 GMT -- 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." Edmunds said cash for clunkers cost taxpayers $24,000 per vehicle sold. Nearly 690,000 vehicles were sold during the $3 billion cash for clunkers program that offered up to $4,500 rebates, officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System, but Edmunds.com... 8797bc30f67d92be32aecb68e9fc0283 /Article/Senate_panel_seeks_Delphi_answers_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5824 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:21 GMT -- A Senate committee, distressed by the different treatment of Delphi Automotive LLP's salaried and hourly retirees, wants to know how the decisions were made by the Obama administration. In July, Delphi saddled the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. with responsibility for the pension plans of 70,000 Delphi workers and retirees. That move was estimated to cost the PBGC, the government's pension insurer, about $6.25 billion. Recent estimates put it as high as $6.7 billion. Under agreements with Delphi's... 63e9963bca7daecc195f3ee479f2d677 /Article/Reilly_s_world_is_growing_larger_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5823 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:20 GMT Nick Reilly, executive vice president of General Motors Co., works out of a skyscraper in Shanghai, a Chinese port city halfway across the globe from the company's Detroit headquarters. Most of his senior-level GM colleagues are asleep when he's working, and they arrive at their offices as he's preparing to go home. Even though Reilly is far away, he is emerging as GM's second most important executive after CEO Fritz Henderson. As the new head of GM's international operations, the British executive runs... 84f7f00e994e4f3dedce3de562430e35 /Article/Fesler_Moss_revives_vintage_Camaro_package_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5820 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:18 GMT Sometimes you have to turn back the clock to go fast forward. First, we turn back four decades, to the birth of the Chevrolet Camaro and that very special souped-up version known as the COPO, that string of letters representing the abbreviation for how to work the order form to get what amounted to a factory-built hot rod. Next, we turn back just a few years, to when automotive engineer Jon Moss was head of what amounted to General Motors' toy shop, the specialty vehicles group that did things such as... 28f4ea9f0f0f7fe547b4f57791228e5e /Article/Backlog_of_clunkers_still_await_recycling_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5819 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:16 GMT -- Cash for Clunkers may be history for car shoppers, but the program's largesse lives on in recycling yards around the country. A torrent of traded-in clunkers have arrived at auto recyclers in the past two months and are still waiting to be drained of fluids, stripped of valuable parts and eventually flattened for scrap. At some disposal facilities, Ford Explorers, Chevy Blazers, Chrysler Town & Country minivans and other popular clunkers are parked bumper to bumper on several acres, many marked "C4C"... dc3981135f28bff8578eb6595d3c498e /Article/Recovery_will_stem_from_fresh_designs_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5818 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:13 GMT Some of the auto industry's biggest hits have roots in a company's darkest days, demographic shifts or a defining moment in history. The strongest and most creative regroups -- even going as far as betting the ranch -- have delivered a triple or a home run in the form of the bubbly Taurus or the minivan. It's unclear when and how bright the light at the end of the current dark tunnel will shine, but the seeds of a sustained recovery will have their roots in the styling studio. Development begins... 9b4640ed36ad1ad500ae515d57be48d7 /Article/Recyclers_want_more_time_to_dispose_of_clunkers_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5809 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:46:46 GMT -- Trade-ins from the Cash for Clunkers program are piling up and auto recyclers are seeking more time to meet the deadline for disposing of all those vehicles. At some places, Ford Explorers, Chevy Blazers, Chrysler Town & Country minivans and other popular clunkers are parked bumper to bumper on several acres, many marked "C4C" on their windows, waiting to be drained of fluids, stripped of valuable parts and eventually flattened for scrap. "I've got a parking lot of almost 4,000 vehicles right now,"... e11818ec8ae7dbf8ef419e7b7fa33828 /Article/No_strike_language_riles_UAW_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5805 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:46:42 GMT A misunderstanding over "no-strike" language in a proposed amendment to the United Auto Workers' contract with Ford Motor Co. has sparked a backlash from some workers who accuse union leaders of giving up their most potent negotiating tool. The Detroit News has learned that the language, which was included in recent contract changes the UAW negotiated with General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC, was mandated by the Obama administration as a condition of its bailout of the two companies. It was... ad9c9397e41fada02b557dac97fef418 /Article/Grill_sizzles_with_hot_rod_power_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5801 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:46:39 GMT The Hot Rod Grill looks like a 350-cubic-inch "small block" Chevrolet V-8 on an engine stand, but instead of valves and pistons on the inside, the manifold pivots open to reveal a two-burner, 30,000-BTU propane-fueled barbecue grill. The Hot Rod Grill is the creation of Ryan Bluestone of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., where his family also produces Insta-clean automotive and industrial parts cleaning equipment. Bluestone, 29, admits his inspiration for the Hot Rod Grill was probably "too many beers." In fact... 9753ade4ac5b96f8b667f2c4bee65f90 /Article/Noise_issue_creeps_up_on_electric_cars_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5800 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:46:38 GMT If you have driven a pure electric or hybrid car you will know the problem. You can be ready to move off from a parked position and people standing around the vehicle do not get out of the way. And it's simply because the traditional cue, engine noise, is absent. Now, as a growing band of advanced plug-in hybrid and battery-powered models -- cars that use their batteries most, if not all the time -- nears production, the problem is gaining more attention. Custom sounds possibleAuto industry safety... d8defea954ff39779e56b8316847108e /Article/Green_off_Hybrid_models_put_to_the_test_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5798 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:46:34 GMT "I want a hybrid." I've heard that from more than one reader, and I have come to realize that most people don't really know a thing about hybrids. Not all hybrids are created equal and not every hybrid will fit into every garage the same. First, let's define "hybrid." These are cars that run on gas and electric drivetrains. Some carmakers don't like the idea of hybrids because they have to create two powertrains for a single vehicle. Consumers, however, don't seem to mind. These cars are not the final... 011d09e372abd401c3a9992e17caaa6b /Article/Mercedes_C_Class_might_Be_Built_in_the_U_S/5792 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:20 GMT While American auto manufacturers are moving their production to Mexico and China, the foreign companies come to the U.S. to assemble cars in the country where they are going to be sold. It appears to be cheaper to move the production to the U.S. than to import the assembled vehicles from other countries. Mercedes-Benz has just announced that it also wants to expand production of C-Class vehicles to the North American country. The plan is in the consideration right now, but if it is approved, the... 7cbba4c95fb77481a8ef0e7e3f66b31f /Article/Drivers_Give_Names_to_Cars/5791 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:19 GMT According to the survey held by Swinton, the British leading high street retailer of car insurance, 80% of drivers give some kind of pet name to their vehicle. The majority of cars with “names” belong to women: 88% ladies tend to make up a name for their autos. Mainly the choice is based on the color of the vehicle, but some prefer to call it after a favorite celebrity 13% or after the driver’s lover 4%. It is also interesting, since English language does not give genders to nouns, people can make... 84037f8abdc7b8d8eacf830b2e080762 /Article/Magna_Is_Building_Parts_for_Mercedes_SLS/5786 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:17 GMT Magna Steyr is a big company, known for building parts for such vehicles as BMW X3, Saab 9-3 convertible, Chrysler 300C and Jeep Grand Cherokee. It also gained popularity in headlines after having teamed up with Russian VAZ and purchased Opel from General Motors. Now the company is growing more and plans to start partnership with other auto manufacturers. The Canadian-Austrian auto parts giant has settled an agreement with Mercedes-Benz which gives it permission to build aluminum bodies for... fbf433061f49e3d9f7c4e30f4646c8f2 /Article/Automakers_are_using_more_recycled_materials_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5781 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:16 GMT Detroit's automakers are finding new uses for worn-out jeans, discarded plastic bottles and manufacturing rubbish -- they're recycling them for use in new vehicle parts. With the rage over going green hitting the marketplace, auto companies are looking for ways to make their vehicles more sustainable, not just under the hood but behind the wheel. They're incorporating more recycled materials into interiors, upholstery and moldings, and partnering with suppliers to develop new bio-based products to... a5527c9046a29cdff619dd0bc616b2b4 /Article/Mayor_Bing_s_SUV_lease_criticized_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5778 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:13 GMT -- Mayor Dave Bing is now being chauffeured in a $59,205 Yukon XL Denali delivered to the city on Wednesday, a move that is drawing criticism from unions and his rival in the Nov. 3 election. The mayor's staffers say the decision to lease the SUV with heated-leather seats, a Bose stereo system and satellite radio is out of his hands because Police Department officials say they need it to do their job. "It is the Police Department's decision. This is their requirement," said Karen Dumas, the mayor's... f11f7d1d83d02679302718c2ca2b884e /Article/Detroit_conference_to_focus_on_plug_in_electric_vehicles_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5777 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:12 GMT Entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders looking for ways to plug into the emerging electric vehicle market will find an outlet this week. Starting Monday, more than 600 people will descend on the MotorCity Casino in Detroit for a three-day conference dedicated to the making, marketing and deployment of plug-in electric vehicles. The inaugural event, called "The Business of Plugging In," brings together leaders from the automotive and utility industries, as well as researchers, policymakers... fb8314c3727071c4afafac1adf1517eb /Article/Road_rage_s_causes_and_prevalence_debatable_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5775 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:09 GMT After watching yet another car whiz past me, while I -- and hundreds of other well-behaved Detroiters -- waited patiently in a construction zone on I-696 near Van Dyke, I was proud of the general politeness of the other drivers. There were narcissists, for sure, but none of us who were passed dished out vigilante justice by shooting out the tires of the offending drivers. This reality presented a sharp contrast to a recent survey I came across. In the annual AutoVantage Road Rage Survey, Detroit ranked... bc366de1ffa205d1186fd896370f000d /Article/Subtext_of_a_driving_hazard_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5774 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:08 GMT -- To boss: "u will hv story in 5 mins" To husband: "u pickd up m yet? u r l8 4 class!" Phone rings: "Hello? Hi, Mom. Yes, yes, we're fine. The boys are fine. No, the weather is good. If you saw it on the Weather Channel, why are you calling me to ask? Yes, I'll make sure the boys wear jackets. Gotta go, Mom, I'll call you back." To boss: "ok gimme 10 mins" From husband: "whats 4 dinner 2nite?" OK, not responding to that one. So here it is -- my multitasking confessional. Driving, talking, texting. Oh... dc24b6afdfcd4b24b53ba47c30a30adf /Article/Small_cars_need_work_to_outdo_90s_model_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5770 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:02 GMT I have this hot car fantasy that just won't go away. Oddly, it doesn't involve a Porsche 911 and an autobahn. Nor an Audi TT on the Pacific Coast Highway. Not even -- in what will come as a shock to many who know my "Mad Men" fixation -- Don Draper and a 1963 Cadillac Eldorado. No, I daydream about downshifting off Ford Road and wheeling my own 1997 Escort to the apex of the crescent-shaped drive at Ford Motor Co.'s Dearborn headquarters, eagerly awaited by a huddle of senior managers and designers. In... 96102bbc2fa1ae365e09808f84766a5c /Article/Pest_control_pickup_takes_a_bow_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5769 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:01 GMT Bryan Baker was watching "Verminators," a Discovery Channel television reality show about a pest control company, ISOTECH Pest Management Inc. What caught Baker's attention wasn't just the bugs, rodents and other crawly creatures that were being exterminated, but the fact that ISOTECH's pickups were equipped with truck caps produced by A.R.E., the Massillon, Ohio-based company where Baker works as director of marketing. Baker did some checking and learned that 90 percent of ISOTECH's fleet of more than... db2fcc495bfabba8bc7f08e593258800 /Article/J_D_Power_study_Young_folks_may_love_cars_less_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5768 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:01:58 GMT Is the love affair between cars and young people starting to cool? That could be the case, according to a new study of auto-related online commentary among teens and young adults by J.D. Power and Associates. Between January and August, the market research company analyzed hundreds of thousands of "conversations" on auto-related sites such as Autoblog, personal blogs and social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. The goal was to gauge the perceptions of Generation Y those born in the 1980s and 1990s... ac9ff5b47483eccd2e7b69326b592457 /Article/A_cheaper_Corvette_that_doesn_t_compromise_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5767 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:01:55 GMT There's always been a Corvette void. It's that dead space between models that other carmakers have filled -- making their offerings look less expensive and, thus, more attractive. The rocket ship $100,000 ZR1 sits atop the mountain, while the fiery $75,000 Z06 remains parked nearby, looking slightly agitated. Then there's the $49,000 base model Corvette -- the Cooper Manning of the Corvette family. It's the oldest, but no one brings it up in conversations about performance. Even the $26,000 price... 5b483a60a934ecde99ff77ce3cf9fb84 /Article/Car_the_center_of_designer_s_space_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5759 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:17:59 GMT -- 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... cb6aa86fb642b8be2853d27dc8748100 /Article/Analysts_predict_the_sales_shape_of_2010_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5760 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:17:59 GMT -- Auto executives and analysts are digging deep into the alphabet to find the letters to describe the kind of recovery they expect from the industry's deepest downturn in 30 years. "I think we're going to have a different recovery shape in Western Europe, central Europe and Eastern Europe," said Wayne Brannon, head of General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet brand in Europe. "A lot of people are telling me that Western Europe is turning the corner. I expect we'll have solid U-shaped growth." Many other... 7c871e3acd6466d3b33485a4452b0cf2 /Article/Cosmetic_repair_firms_join_forces_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5761 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:17:59 GMT 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... 056c894bab95be5b4d04e559b04d20a3 /Article/2009_Frankfurt_Auto_Show_Citro�_n_Revolte/5762 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:17:59 GMT The 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show had a lot of great vehicles which might become stars of the new generation. One of them is Citroën Revolte, the plug-in hybrid which became a “graphic quotation” of the famous 2CV, one of the most popular cars in France. Citroën design chief, Carlo Bonzanigo says that Revolte was created specifically for the show because they had to come up with something that could compete the other powerful presentations. The hybrid was named Revolte because it represents “a... 3134b52ae8e6af52bc3694689bba3c01 /Article/House_approves_green_auto_research_bill_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5754 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:17:57 GMT -- The U.S. House overwhelmingly approved a bill Wednesday to boost government funding for green vehicle research -- the latest effort by Congress to aid the struggling auto industry. The bill, which cleared the House on a 312-114 vote, authorizes $2.9 billion over five years, including $550 million in the budget year starting Oct. 1 for the Energy Department to research and develop advanced technology vehicles and components. That's more than $200 million above the current yearly vehicle research... ae38a06f2bc52c675b3aafd930b0e386 /Article/Tailgate_packs_let_vehicles_show_team_colors_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5750 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:17:56 GMT Who would even think about tailgating without wearing your favorite football team's colors? Whether it's a maize-and-blue sweatshirt, a green-and-white cap with a bold "S" on the crown, or a complete Honolulu blue-and-silver ensemble, what you wear is almost as important as the food you serve. This fall, not only can you wear your team's colors, but so can your vehicle. San Diego-based Skinit Inc. offers tailgate packs that allow your car, truck or recreation vehicle to wear your favorite professional... 7741b223df2e3a579f280dff546ef39a /Article/OnStar_prices_lock_out_users_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5753 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:17:56 GMT -- With all due respect to the 63,000 GM car and truck owners who lock their keys in their vehicle every month, I ask this question: Seriously? More than 2,000 of you each day need an OnStar operator to remotely unlock your doors because you've somehow managed to lock yourself outside of your ride. I understand, it happens. A buddy of mine in high school not only locked his keys in his 1982 Camaro, he left them in the ignition with it running. Made for a tough morning for him as we all walked by and... f20aef3fb4a2dab258f0ff62b694606a /Article/Cosmetic_repair_firms_join_forces_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5749 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:17:55 GMT 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... 1a01c0c2330e70dd2899e4954f005e94 /Article/Car_the_center_of_designer_s_space_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5748 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:17:54 GMT -- 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... f4691592a1ebb405da9492744dd66cbb /Article/White_House_unveils_new_fuel_efficiency_standards_tailpipe_limits_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5744 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:54:41 GMT -- 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... d0e676264027541df67623f953bc8130 /Article/China_challenges_U_S_tire_tariffs_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5745 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:54:41 GMT -- 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... edd772149da66a6931618692a5980adc /Article/2_5_billion_approved_for_clunker_replacements_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5742 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:54:38 GMT -- 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... 22ddc45b47805f91242a3862c8e9f3b0 /Article/Tougher_market_expected_for_U_S_in_Europe_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5739 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:54:35 GMT -- 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... abe9c319ea34e9b7fc3a7085f1e6ba57 /Article/New_fuel_standard_rolls_in_at_34_1_mpg_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5737 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:54:33 GMT -- 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... 7fa04249ac22de0ac71984d7f1445d4e /Article/2009_Frankfurt_Auto_Show/5735 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:26:21 GMT 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... d6742827ed21e09a80485d9d9e763871 /Article/VW_showcases_range_of_new_models_in_Frankfurt_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5734 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:26:15 GMT -- 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... 734a2d8936ae9c307effb0e4ebce8c58 /Article/Autos_ready_to_shine_anew_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5733 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:26:12 GMT 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... 8c976f804990310ab985b0835c2a356d