The End Of Saab?

The End Of Saab?

Bad news for Saab fans today. Koenigsegg, like Penske with Saturn, backed out of the deal, leaving GM with another brand it doesn't want...
Google Chrome's Secret Plan

Google Chrome's Secret Plan

Google is making news this week unveiling a prototype of its new OS, which is basically a stripped down Linux based wrapper for their Chrome...
Buick Manual? NFW!

Buick Manual? NFW!

Amazing news .  Buick may start selling a Regal in the U.S. with a manual transmission .  I'm blown away. This is definitive proof that ...
Aptera Death Watch?

Aptera Death Watch?

Should we start an Aptera Death Watch, TTAC style? Not yet, but maybe soon. Aptera's difficulties in getting financing, which is very mu...
Housekeeping

Housekeeping

Google Ads are now gone. They were cluttering up my blog, and though they were paying a little, it wasn't a significant amount. Enjoy.
GM's Repayment Plan

GM's Repayment Plan

In today's news , GM is going to begin repaying its government loan. Sort of. Most of GM's government debt, which came from the TARP...
Don't Boycott GM

Don't Boycott GM

I have talked to a few people, and read many more on web forums, who will not buy any GM or Chrysler products because they took a government...
Ford's New Inflatable Seat Belt

Ford's New Inflatable Seat Belt

Update : Wes Sherwood of Ford Safety PR has left answers to my questions in the first comment. Thanks Wes! Ford unveiled a new inflatable ...
Open Question To Chrysler/Fiat

Open Question To Chrysler/Fiat

A question for Chrysler:  why are you going to keep building the Jeep "Pavement" Compass?  How does this product advance your bran...
Exotic Car Sighting

Exotic Car Sighting

This evening, MI northern 'burbs. Can you name it? (sorry, a little blurry, I don't often shoot photos in my car)
Will GM Pay Us Back?

Will GM Pay Us Back?

This is a big question these days, and many observers say "no".  According to Rasmussen , most Americans don't expect GM to be...
Mosler For Pres? Heh.

Mosler For Pres? Heh.

Warren Mosler, hedge fund manager and supercar builder, may be running for President.  One of Mosler's proposals is a national 30mph spe...
Gettelfinger On Marchionne

Gettelfinger On Marchionne

This morning on Paul W. Smith's morning talk show (AM760), Ron Gettelfinger was a guest.  Paul W. tried to extract comments from Gettelf...
Car Buying Advice

Car Buying Advice

A friend of mine is working on a purchase of a new vehicle.  She called me in terror the other day and said "they told me I should get ...
Video: OnStar Calls Hennessey

Video: OnStar Calls Hennessey

Tuner Hennessey Performance was testing a 700HP Cadillac CTS-V, and after pulling 0.99g, got a call from OnStar. "Vehicle Event Detect...
Internet COTY Voting

Internet COTY Voting

The "Internet Car Of The Year" awards are open for the final voting, here . My picks: Car: Camaro SS .  The return of a muscle car...
Will GDI kill HEV?

Will GDI kill HEV?

As things currently stand, gasoline hybrid electric vehicles ("HEV" as opposed ot plug-in hybrid vehicles, or "PHEV") co...
GM Marketing Backfire?

GM Marketing Backfire?

So after a few weeks of voting, GM's TheBestCarWins.com web site has the following results: Fuel Efficiency: Toyota (Prius, not Land Cru...
No Zip Ties For Buick

No Zip Ties For Buick

From Fritz Henderson's recent web chat: 15:24 [Comment From Ray Wert ] Will Buick seek to add white, plastic floor mat zip-ties in a b...
Future Cop Cars

Future Cop Cars

Now that GM has announced that they will bring their Australian RWD V8 sedan to the U.S. as a police car, there is a clearer picture of what...
Honda Crosstour?

Honda Crosstour?

I haven't digested all of its stats and photos yet, but from what I see so far, the Honda Crosstour looks like an answer to a question n...
GM Sort Of Leaving RenCen?

GM Sort Of Leaving RenCen?

According to a story in the Detroit News ( here ), GM is considering moving many employees out of downtown Detroit's only modern high-ri...
How A V6 Beats A V8

How A V6 Beats A V8

Q: How does a V6 out-run a V8 with more displacement? A : On a high altitude hill climb where the V6 has twin-turbos compressing the intake...
Saturn Dead?

Saturn Dead?

Bad news for Saturn.  Penske just announced that they are backing away, because they are concerned about vehicle availability from GM going ...
On Paddle Shifters

On Paddle Shifters

More and more cars now ofter steering wheel mounted shift levers for cars that have fully automatic transmissions. These are an imitation o...
The Truth About TTAC

The Truth About TTAC

The Truth About Cars (TTAC) was started by Robert Farrago, an auto blogger whose calling cards were coprolalia and an obsession with predict...
Review: 2010 Ford Taurus

Review: 2010 Ford Taurus

I thought I would make an effort to test-drive a 2010 Ford Taurus, since it is an important product for Ford, and I am familiar with the pre...
The UAW/CAW Car List

The UAW/CAW Car List

The UAW and CAW have released a list of vehicles which they endorse, because they are assembled by unionized plants in North America.  There...
GMC Terrain Reaction

GMC Terrain Reaction

The other day, I had a chance to take a close look at a GMC Terrain which was probably a GM employee drive-home, or perhaps a press fleet ca...
Equinox Vs Escape Math

Equinox Vs Escape Math

In his recent web chat, GM's Bob Lutz stated that the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox "trounces" the Ford Escape Hybrid. I'll ride...
Lutz "Best Car" Chat

Lutz "Best Car" Chat

Bob Lutz had a web chat on the topic of the new GM "return it if you don't like it" marketing campaign, "May The Best Car...
Aptera Wants It Both Ways

Aptera Wants It Both Ways

In order to be able to build and sell a super-efficient vehicle legally, Aptera takes advantage of the federal motor vehicle regulations whi...
People Want PHEVs, But Cheap

People Want PHEVs, But Cheap

A fascinating survey was publshed by Pike Research (here: http://www.pikeresearch.com/newsroom/48-of-consumers-interested-in-purchasing-a-pl...
Galileoscope: It Really Works!

Galileoscope: It Really Works!

I got my Galileoscope in the mail the other day, and I am really impressed. It has a large, heavy, real glass objective lens. The eyepiec...
Read Pete.

Read Pete.

If you aren't reading Peter DeLorenzo, you should be. He's got a lot to say, and it is usually well said. http://www.autoextremist...
Creepy Metal Detector Guy

Creepy Metal Detector Guy

I went for a walk to today, and went past a local construction site where the city is re-modeling a municipal park. A metal detector guy ha...
"I Just Sent You An Email"

"I Just Sent You An Email"

Some people at work have this annoying habit of sending you an important email, and then popping into your cube (Yes, I work in a cubicle ...
Chrysler--Looking Shaky

Chrysler--Looking Shaky

Have you noticed the lack of positive news about Chrysler?   How Chrysler's sales numbers continue to slide year-over-year, even after C...
Audi Mocks Volt

Audi Mocks Volt

In an interview with MSN Autos, Audi of America president Johan de Nysschen mocks would be buyers of the Chevrolet Volt as "idiots...
Spotted A 2010 Buick LaCrosse

Spotted A 2010 Buick LaCrosse

The other day, I stopped by my local Murray's Auto Parts store to buy some high quality washer fluid.  Pulling in next to me was a new B...
Chevy Mocks Volvo, I Mock Chevy

Chevy Mocks Volvo, I Mock Chevy

In a new ad campaign, GM's Chevrolet division points out the passion that some of their classic cars inspire.  Link: http://blogs.edmund...
GM Debadges Itself, Finally

GM Debadges Itself, Finally

Finally, GM has come to its senses and is removing ( http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125115331402254991.html ) that stupid little square GM ...
Bill Frist Trades Down

Bill Frist Trades Down

Bill Frist said in a Larry King Live interview that he Cash-For-Clunkered a Chevrolet Suburban to get a Toyota Prius.   He didn't have t...
Fiat 500 to Mexico?

Fiat 500 to Mexico?

According to the WSJ ( http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125046466790535335.html ), Fiat will bring assembly of it's b-car 500 (aka Cinque...
The Woodward Pre-Cruise

The Woodward Pre-Cruise

On Thursday evening I went over to Birmingham and shot some photos of the pre-cruise cruising. It was very busy. I apologize that the phot...