General Motors, Chrysler executives defend dealership closings
Facing criticism by lawmakers, they tell a House panel the cuts are painful steps needed for the automakers' survival. Under withering criticism in Congress, executives of General Motors Corp. and Chrysler on Friday called the closings of hundreds of dealerships painful steps needed to right-size the auto giants. Down-on-their-luck dealers said the moves would needlessly devastate their local economies and livelihoods.

Motor mouth: What a load of silly old app
So there I was last week in a meeting with a TV company (oh, okay, it was ITV) that was going perfectly well until someone said: “I think what we need here is something that will actively mirror this idea’s long-term creative niche, yeah?”

GM, Chrysler execs defend dealer closings

The gloves are off with Ducati's 2010 Streetfighter S
Ducati is unstoppable. The Italian manufacturer was the only major motorcycle brand to see its sales hold steady throughout 2008, despite the economy's race toward the wall.

GM, Chrysler execs defend dealer closings
GM and Chrysler executives defended the closings of hundreds of dealerships as House lawmakers questioned whether the decisions would save any money.
What's on at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009
Try summarising the Goodwood Festival of Speed for the uninitiated and you could get it badly wrong. Calling it a car show risks conjuring up visions of vehicles marooned on show stands, awaiting intimate inspection by strange men with unkempt beards and a whiff of WD-40 about them. You could say it’s a race meeting, but when did the drivers at a race meeting last do burnouts in the middle of the track for the crowd’s amusement, then hang out with spectators, drinking Pimm’s?

Honda toasts 50 years in the U.S.

Honda toasts 50 years in the U.S.
Honda s first U.S. product lineup featured only motorcycles, ranging in size from tiny 50cc scooter to bikes in the 300cc range.

Henderson expects to remain CEO of GM
GM’s chief executive said Thursday he expects to remain at the helm of the automaker when it emerges from bankruptcy protection but added that nothing was guaranteed.

Chinese automaker may make bid for Volvo

Chrysler says Fiat takeover complete
The move allows the U.S. automaker to emerge from bankruptcy six weeks after filing for Chapter 11 protection, and again puts the company in foreign hands. For the second time in a decade, Chrysler finds itself in foreign hands.

Chinese automaker may make bid for Volvo
A person briefed on the matter says a Chinese automaker is considering buying Ford Motor Co.'s Volvo unit.

Supreme Court won’t block Chrysler-Fiat deal

GM picks next chairman: AT & T ex-chief
Edward E. Whitacre Jr. lacks experience in the auto industry, but he probably won't handle daily operations. He will become chairman when General Motors exits bankruptcy. Edward E. Whitacre Jr., the newly anointed chairman of General Motors Corp., isn't exactly what you'd call a car guy.

Supreme Court won’t block Chrysler-Fiat deal

The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for Chrysler’s sale to Fiat, turning down a last-ditch bid by opponents of the deal.

Cycle girl

Gas prices rise in California, U.S.
But the peak is probably near, barring a major emergency that crimps supply of oil or gasoline, analysts say. California again had the dubious distinction of having the highest gasoline prices in the continental U.S. over the last week, the Energy Department said Monday.

Chrysler sale on hold, but for how long?

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Monday delayed Chrysler’s sale of most of its assets to a group led by Italy’s Fiat, but didn’t say how long the deal will remain on hold.

Cycle girl
I was doing that put-yourself-down girl thing with Georgie Thompson, the Sky Sports presenter: “Oh we’ll be rubbish, we’ll come last, it’ll take us eight hours ... ”, while all about us, thousands of long, lean male cycle nuts throbbed with vigour. Then she said: “I did 72 miles last weekend.” I returned to the isolation of unreadiness. Such was the start of my participation in the recent Macmillan Cancer Support Etape Caledonia.

Targeted Chrysler dealers in a race to the end

Hundreds of Chrysler dealers across on the automaker's "hit list" are scrambling to dispose of their inventory by Tuesday when their franchise agreements are slated to be terminated.

A 2009 take on 1903

A 2009 take on 1903
Now at least poor-man riders who want to fake the experience of a vintage Hog have some options, one of them being the $2,500 Ridley Motorcycles 1903.

Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.33 VVT-i
My daughter has just bought her first car. Ordinarily this would be no big deal. All daughters buy a first car at some point. But the daughter I’m talking about is only 10 years old.

Consumers care more about what's in the dash -- not under the hood

Consumers care more about what's in the dash -- not under the hood

GM to sell Saturn brand to Penske

General Motors Corp. has a tentative deal to sell its Saturn brand to former race car driver and dealership group owner Roger Penske, both companies said Friday.

Opel ‘will be brand name to attract Russian buyers’
Vauxhall cars in Britain will be rebranded under the Opel name in an effort to appeal to the Russian car market, according to the former managing director of Rover.

Earth to California: Learn how to drive!

Earth to California: Learn how to drive!
We re No. 48! At least that s where California ranked among the 50 states in an annual National Drivers Test.

Judge: Chrysler has good case for franchise cuts
The judge overseeing Chrysler’s bankruptcy case said Thursday that the automaker has a good case for cutting 789 of its dealer franchises as part of its ongoing restructuring.

Another electric car maker aims for California market

Another electric car maker aims for California market
Add Coda Automotive to the list of companies that want to sell electric cars in California.

Auto execs defend dealership closures

The chiefs of General Motors and Chrysler told skeptical lawmakers on Wednesday they have too many dealers to support their slimmed-down operations.

Ford, GM sales inch up from April to May

GM's Hummer brand to be sold to Chinese company
The bankrupt automaker announces that it has reached an agreement with Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. Terms of the deal, which could save 3,000 jobs, are not disclosed. Jerry Hirsch Reporting From Los Angeles Reporting From New York -- A Chinese heavy-equipment maker's move to acquire General Motors Corp.'s Hummer brand has its executives and dealers excited about the possibility of overseas sales growth and more fuel-efficient models.

Ford, GM sales inch up from April to May

U.S. sales of cars and light trucks rose 13 percent in May when compared with April, even as two of the nation's automakers grappled with reorganizations.

Great British weekend: Dorking, Surrey
The train wound its way through 265 acres of vines, the view down the valley of a town against a backdrop of wooded slopes. A nice little place in France? Italy, perhaps? No, we were looking down at Dorking, one of Britain’s most traffic-choked towns.

Ford pulls ahead as GM, Chrysler get 'rinse'

GM's bankruptcy: What consumers need to know
Along with the biggest bankruptcy filing by a manufacturer in U.S. history comes big questions for current or potential owners of General Motors vehicles.

Ford pulls ahead as GM, Chrysler get 'rinse'

With GM and Chrysler both in bankruptcy, a relatively healthy Ford stands to benefit, even its its two struggling Detroit rivals gain the advantages of powerful government backing.

Clock ticks on toward GM bankruptcy filing

Clock ticks on toward GM bankruptcy filing

GM was making final preparations Sunday for its bankruptcy protection announcement after bondholders accepted a sweetened deal, smoothing the way for a reorganization.

Opel ‘will be brand name to attract Russian buyers’
Vauxhall cars in Britain will be rebranded under the Opel name in an effort to appeal to the Russian car market, according to the former managing director of Rover.

GM was once ‘Heartbeat of America’

GM was once ‘Heartbeat of America’

The GM that helped move the world from horses to Chevys and Cadillacs is expected to file for bankruptcy protection Monday and will likely emerge a shadow of its former self.

Richard Hammond on origins of caravanning
A long time ago, before Boeing invented the 747 jumbo jet, goods had to be transported on the backs of donkeys. And when you have people moving cargo around you have people called robbers who like pinching stuff. Very annoying when you’ve walked for several hundred miles across a desert with heavy bags of spices strapped to your donkey and some bloke with a sword and an Errol Flynn moustache nicks it off you.

Mazda6: Lowborn car sure cleans up nicely

Mazda6: Lowborn car sure cleans up nicely
The Grand Touring package gives it the luxury of a Lexus without the snotty attitude. I was born into desperate peonage in eastern North Carolina, and then things went downhill. My parents assembled our house out of twigs, leaves and dryer lint.

Chrysler awaits ruling as GM bankruptcy looms
Chrysler LLC could be hours away from a ruling on its plan to sell most of the company to a group led by Italy's Fiat, a big step toward its goal of a speedy exit from bankruptcy protection.

Despite deal, bankruptcy for GM is ‘probable’

A brief history of General Motors Corp.
Some key events in General Motors' history:

Despite deal, bankruptcy for GM is ‘probable’
The government’s new road map for General Motors would briefly send it into bankruptcy, erase most of its debt and eventually have it emerge leaner and stronger.

Chrysler in court for key bankruptcy hearing

GM says offer to exchange equity for bondholders' debt has failed
The deal was less generous than terms given to the government and the UAW. A bankruptcy filing within a week is nearly certain. General Motors Corp. announced today that its offer to bondholders to exchange their debt for equity in the company had ended with "substantially less" participation than required by the Obama administration, likely guaranteeing a bankruptcy filing for the legendary automaker within the next week.

Chrysler in court for key bankruptcy hearing
The future of Chrysler hung in the balance as it made its case in bankruptcy court to sell the bulk of its assets to a group headed by Italy's Fiat in hopes of saving itself from liquidation.

GM unlikely to strike crucial deal with bondholders

GM unlikely to strike crucial deal with bondholders
Holders of $27 billion in bonds have until the end of the day to swap at least $24 billion for a 10% share in GM, and all indications are that the vast majority of them are unwilling to accept the deal. With just hours remaining before a key deadline, General Motors Corp. seems unlikely to succeed in striking deals to cut 90% of its debt, which it must do to avoid bankruptcy.

UAW trust to get large chunk of GM shares

GM will give UAW 17.5 percent of its common stock, $6.5 billion of preferred shares and a $2.5 billion note to fund a trust that will take over retiree health care costs starting next year.

Volvo XC60: A svelte safety machine that can push its weight around

Volvo XC60: A svelte safety machine that can push its weight around
The compact SUV includes the company's active collision prevention systems. The automaker's goal and U.S. fuel economy objectives will spur a radical redefinition of tech-aided safety. Sweden is a beautiful, amazing country -- between 2 and 4 p.m. on July 2. Otherwise, it's dark, cold, wet and deeply forlorn, a place of Norse hardship-as-honor, like the landscape of some old Led Zeppelin song.

Workers OK cost-cutting deal with GM Canada
Canadian Auto Workers members voted 86 percent in favor of a cost-cutting deal with General Motors Canada as the automaker bids to qualify for more government loans.
Car Shrink
Q I need some super-cheap transport but don’t live in a city where they have pay-as-you-go hire such as streetcar.co.uk and my journey is too far to bike. Any suggestions?

Why red is the colour of sporting champions
Is it just a coincidence that English football’s three most successful teams â€" Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal â€" all play in red, or does the colour really boost performance and rattle the opposition? And what are we to make of the fact that England were playing in red, instead of the usual white, when they achieved World Cup glory in 1966?

GM gets another $4 billion from government

GM gets another $4 billion from government
GM said Friday that it has borrowed an additional $4 billion from the Treasury Department, meaning the automaker has now accepted $19.4 billion in loans from the U.S. government.
Computer-based phone services tested
Best for: range of services

GM-UAW deal may not stave off bankruptcy

The United Auto Workers struck a deal with General Motors and the federal government Thursday to cut labor costs, close factories and change the way retiree health care is funded.

Chrysler says sales are OK despite bankruptcy

Chrysler to get a brand-new Bob, replacing chairman Nardelli with Kidder
Chrysler may not yet be out of bankruptcy, but it already has a new boss lined up.

Chrysler says sales are OK despite bankruptcy
Chrysler LLC’s Chapter 11 filing so far doesn’t appear to be affecting May sales, a top executive said Wednesday.

Automakers back Obama rule to raise mpg

Determined to reduce vehicle carbon emissions by 30 percent, President Barack Obama on Tuesday announced a requirement for much more fuel efficient cars.

U.S. to require new cars get 42 mpg

U.S. to require new cars get 42 mpg

New cars and trucks will have to get 30 percent better mileage starting in 2016 under an Obama administration move to curb emissions, sources said Monday.

Car dealers fear government scrappage scheme will lose them money
Buyers might be queueing up to trade their old cars for new, but dealers fear that they are going to end up out of pocket.

Chrysler dealers shift into ‘everything must go’

At Chrysler lots across America sit 44,000 potential bargains, cars and trucks that are stuck between shellshocked dealers and a troubled company that no longer wants their services.