Compact Caliber to give way to Dodge Dart.

Several Dodge models have come to the end of the line in 2011, including the Nitro SUV, the Dakota pickup truck and the compact Caliber. The Caliber may …

New vehicle sales continue upward bound.
The last time new car retails sales topped one million units in a month the federal government was pushing its “cash for clunkers” program. That program artificially inflated sales, but …

Chrysler Group formalizes SRT brand with new Viper.
The Dodge Viper rolled off into the sunset in July 2010, nearly two decades after it was introduced, helping to distinguish and then elevate the Dodge name. A …

No plans to offer Chinese Fit in the United States.
Neither Chery Automobile Ltd. nor BYD Auto will have the honor of being the first Chinese automakers to sell its cars in North America. That honor …

Five passenger hatchback gets fuel efficient engine.
TORRANCE, Calif. — Honda announced on Wednesday that it is making available a 2.4-liter four cylinder engine for two-wheel-drive versions of its Crosstour crossover. This 16-valve engine will be …

New roads and repairs shouldn’t mean higher taxes survey finds.
America’s infrastructure of roads, bridges and tunnels need constant maintenance, but most states have fallen behind in the work. Much of that blame has been put …

Bankrupt Saab cancels new vehicle support.
Owners of Saab vehicles purchased after the automaker was sold by General Motors are learning that their warranty coverage has been suspended. That decision was announced by Saab following its …

Chinese suitor withdraws support following GM’s rejection of Youngman deal.
The General Motors Company may no longer own Saab, but the automaker still influences how the Swedish automaker conducts its business. Because Saab relies on GM …

Former V-Vehicle company closes its San Diego headquarters, reduces staff.

In June 2009, V-Vehicle Company stepped into the limelight, announcing that it “…had reached an agreement with the state of Louisiana and the local area of …

Upstart police cruiser manufacturer seeks federal government loan guarantee.

Not one car has been built yet, but law enforcement personnel across the country have been made aware of the E7, a purpose-built police cruiser from Carbon …

Larger Enclave gets a smaller sibling.
GM has decided to give the Buick Enclave an encore. Literally. The automaker announced this week that the Buick Encore will make its debut at the North American International Auto …

Upscale brand gains access to new boutique creative agency.
The Ford Motor Company is getting serious about its beleaguered Lincoln brand, announcing jointly with its communication services company WPP that it has established a “new luxury-oriented …

Compact Hyundai Elantra’s 40 MPG claims are being challenged.
The Hyundai Elantra was all-new for model year 2011, a compact car that has adopted the Sonata’s fluidic design and successfully readapted it to a small car …

Ford seeks to one up a Toyota hybrid again.

When the Ford Fusion Hybrid was introduced for the 2010 model year, this midsize sedan immediately trumped the Toyota Camry Hybrid by delivering class-leading fuel efficiency among …

NTSB recommendation carries no legal authority.

The National Transportation Safety Board has called for a nationwide ban on the use of personal electronic devices by drivers when operating a vehicle. The safety recommendation comes following the …

First electric vehicle from Mitsubishi claimed by Hawaiian.

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is now on sale in the United States, but the very first retail sale was not to a mainland customer. Yesterday, Bryson and Bridget Nishimura …

Thousands of Americans continue to die monthly in vehicular accidents.
The U.S. Department of Transportation shared some very good news this week: the number of traffic fatality deaths in 2010 fell to 32,885 people, the lowest …

March 1 pay out for shareholders of record.
If you’ve held Ford stock for many years, you’ve seen its fortunes rise and fall and rise once again. In November 2008, Ford shares were trading below $1, …

Automaker to send 6,000 Camrys from Kentucky to S. Korea.

Who would have ever thunk it? Toyota, which once flooded the U.S. market with cheap imports is now building cars in the U.S. and exporting them …

Dodge revives a heritage name.

The all-new Dodge compact that will hit the market in 2012 will sport the Dart name. That news was released by the Chrysler Group today which also announced that the 2013 …

Industry sales jump by 14 percent over November 2010.

There isn’t anything pretty about statistical information. Unless you’re a statistician.
We’ve been reporting U.S. auto sales for several years now, in keeping with our “auto trends” theme. …

Will this be a December to remember?

Car dealer managers across the country have rethunk their year-end staffing strategies. Until recent years, December sales were among the lowest for the year. However, in 2009, December was …

New crossover design introduced at Tokyo Motor Show.

The 2011 Tokyo Motor Show has started, but one of the biggest hits this year may not come from one of the home team automakers. Instead, Volkswagen has …

Quick response designed to reassure Volt customers.
Seeking to avoid a public relations crisis on par with Toyota and its unintended acceleration debacle, General Motors has responded quickly to reports that its extended-range Chevrolet Volt is …

Thanksgiving weekend travel is on the upswing.
If you’re not already “there yet,” then you have our sympathies. Millions of Americans have hit the road to their Thanksgiving destinations, with traffic a huge concern in many …

Thrifty Nano receives upgrades for the Indian market.

The Tata Nano is the world’s cheapest car and by cheap we mean two things: its low, low price point and its build quality. The former describes a …

New Malibu set for early 2012 debut.
General Motors will be flipping conventional wisdom on its head when it introduces its all-new and next generation 2013 Chevrolet Malibu in early 2012. Instead of offering its standard …

By Harrison Card
NASCAR season concludes with a nail-biter.
Tony Stewart is the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion and is also the winner of the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Stewart gained the championship the old-fashioned way: …

Compact crossover set for spring 2012 debut.

America’s best-selling compact crossover SUV is the Ford Escape, a five-passenger vehicle available in front- and all-wheel-drive. This model has been sold since 2001 and is prized for its …

Honda’s influence in America.
Washington — The American Honda Motor Company, Inc., got its start in 1959, becoming one of the first Asian automakers to set up a presence in the United States. Initially, Honda sold …

Ohio plant to benefit from significant investment.
The Chrysler Group will be investing $1.7 billion in it hottest brand, which is Jeep. Today, CEO Sergio Marchionne announced that it will pour $500 million into its Toledo …

Supercharged 2013 Mustang makes L.A. debut.

Hot Boss 302 gains new graphics, more power.
The 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 has broken cover, the latest iteration of this classic sports car. The newest model, to be released …

Super fast SUV makes SoCal debut.

German automaker Mercedes-Benz will roll out just one new product at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show this month and that vehicle is the performance version of its midsize M-Class …

By Harrison Card
Chase for the Sprint Cup concludes next Sunday.
Once again, Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart finished one place ahead of the other. However, this week at Phoenix, it was Carl Edwards in second and …

Motor Press Guild to Announce Winner at L.A. Auto Show.

The official announcement is still two days away, but the Motor Press Guild will use the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show as the backdrop for its …

2011 L.A. Auto Show debut for updated Flex.

Ford’s boxy Flex crossover has defied the odds and is soldiering on despite some reports that this vehicle will be discontinued. Flex sales are down by more than …