Main page | July 12, 2007 »

Bid on Bumblebee

Now's your chance to bid on Bumblebee, according to USA Today.

The 1977 yellow Chevy Camaro featured in the Transformers movie is up for sale on eBay by Paramount Pictures, with proceeds to go to the Fisher House Foundation, which provides housing for families of wounded or ailing military personnel. The Camaro doesn't change into a giant alien robot, of course, but it is a functioning vehicle.

The auction can be found under "movie props" at transformers.ebay.com. Other items for sale include the AllSpark Cube, and Captain Witwicky's code-etched glasses. Bidding for the car ends July 18.

Posted by   at 3:38 PM to Popular culture | Permalink | Comments 0

Big 3, UAW tackle health care

The United Auto Workers could end up taking responsibility for billions of dollars of retiree health care costs if Detroit's Big Three automakers can make the costly and complex transfer enticing for the union in this summer's contract talks, according to USA Today.

A deal might mirror Goodyear Tire and Rubber's recent union contract, under which Goodyear agreed to invest $1 billion into a fund controlled by the United Steelworkers to cover current and future retirees' health care expenses. Goodyear pushes a $1.2 billion liability off its balance sheet while the steelworkers' union gains an asset that protects retired workers' benefits and can't be touched by creditors should Goodyear ever file for bankruptcy.

Posted by   at 3:32 PM to Chrysler , Ford , GM , Unions | Permalink | Comments 0

Ford says hydrogen cars close to production

The relatively quick-and-easy answer to foreign oil dependence and automotive greenhouse gas emissions is circling the grounds every day at Orlando International Airport in Florida, according to a top Ford official, USA Today reports.

It's a utilitarian 12-passenger parking lot shuttle bus powered by a 6.8-liter internal combustion hydrogen engine, which Ford officials said is their hydrogen technology closest to mass production.

Posted by   at 3:29 PM to Alternative fuels , Environment , Ford , Fuel economy | Permalink | Comments 0

Refinery woes shoot gas prices up

Gasoline prices are exploding in some regions, zooming as much as 20 cents in a day in the Midwest as a key Kansas refinery remains flooded and as gasoline stations recover big increases in wholesale costs they've been swallowing for at least a week due to problems at other refineries, according to USA Today.

Posted by   at 3:27 PM to Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

Many teens admit risky driving habits

Teen drivers admit that they're prone to text messaging, talking on cellphones and hauling their friends around in the car, USA Today reports.

A joint survey conducted by AAA and Seventeen magazine of 1,000 teens in April showed young drivers engage in risky behavior behind the wheel, prompting safety advocates to call for parents to be more aware of what their kids are doing when they leave with the car keys.

On average, 10 teens die every day in vehicles driven by themselves or other teens. Fatal accidents for 16- and 17-year-old drivers jump 20% in July and August, making them the deadliest months for teen drivers.

Posted by   at 3:25 PM to Safety | Permalink | Comments 0

GM hikes incentives amid pickup battle

The pickup discount fight escalated today as GM announced increased rebates and more low-interest financing options in an effort to boost sales that sagged in June, according to USA Today.

GM, which has been trying to reduce incentives and raise purchase prices closer to the sticker, announced that it would offer up to $2,000 in cash discounts or financing from 0% to 4.9% on regular-cab models of its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups.

Posted by   at 3:23 PM to GM , Sales | Permalink | Comments 0

Gas Prices Jump 2.5 Cents Overnight

Gas prices jumped 2.5 cents overnight as the closure of two refineries in the Midwest continued to curb gasoline supplies in the Midwest and Plains states, according to the Associated Press.

Oil and gasoline futures, meanwhile, settled lower after a government inventory report presented a mixed picture of the domestic refining industry.

Posted by   at 3:21 PM to Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0