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Backseat Driver: Time off

I will be taking time off to go to England tonight and will stay into next week to visit my beloved father who is extremely ill.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:35 AM to commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

Corvette moves into new era of high performance

The fastest, most powerful and most expensive Chevrolet Corvette ever will roar to life at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Boasting a 620-plus horsepower V8 and a price expected around $100,000, the 2009 Corvette ZR1 is the result of General Motors chairman Rick Wagoner's challenge to build the ultimate Corvette.

The ZR1 aims to match the performance of supercars like the 612-horsepower $273,845 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano F1 coupe, which accelerates to 62 m.p.h. in 3.7 seconds.

"Our goal with the ZR1 is to show that an American supercar can deliver performance that beats exotics that cost two, three or four times as much," Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:40 AM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0

GM will sell medium-duty truck business to Navistar

NEW YORK - General Motors will sell its profitable medium-duty truck unit to Navistar International, The Wall Street Journal Online reported on Wednesday.

An announcement is expected on Thursday, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the agreement. The report did not include terms of the sale.

Navistar spokesman Roy Wiley said that while the truck and engine maker was "very excited" at the prospect of buying GM's medium-duty truck unit, he could not confirm that an announcement would be made on Thursday. Navistar is manufacturer and marketer of medium and heavy trucks and mid-range diesel engines

GM, which did not immediately return calls seeking comment, sells the medium-duty trucks under the nameplates Kodiak, TopKick and Isuzu T-Series. It made 59,000 medium-duty trucks in 2006, about 12 percent of the market.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:32 AM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0

EPA rejects states' greenhouse-gas limits on cars

The Bush administration Wednesday derailed an attempt by California and 12 other states to enact the nation's first greenhouse gas-limits on new vehicles, according to USA Today.

The efforts by states to regulate carbon-dioxide emissions that are considered a prime cause of climate change are not necessary in light of the energy bill just signed into law by President Bush, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:18 AM to Environment , Government regulations | Permalink | Comments 0

Energy bill to save 'billions'

President Bush signed into law Wednesday legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into auto showrooms and require wider use of ethanol, calling it "a major step" toward energy independence and easing global warming, according to USA Today.

The wide-ranging energy bill, passed by the House on Tuesday and the Senate last week, also addresses energy standards for light bulbs and appliances.

"We make a major step ... toward reducing our dependence on oil, fighting global climate change, expanding the production of renewable fuels and giving future generations ... a nation that is stronger cleaner and more secure," Bush said at a ceremony at the Energy Department.

"If you drive a car or if you use a toaster or heat your home, this bill is going to save you money," says Brendan Bell, Washington representative of the Union of Concerned Scientists. The environmental lobbying group estimates the vehicle fuel economy changes will save consumers $22 billion a year starting in 2020. In the home, the energy efficiency provisions could save $400 billion in electricity and gas bills by 2030, the group says.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:15 AM to Fuel economy , Government regulations | Permalink | Comments 0

Backseat Driver: Hurd Auto Mall is acquiring Wigwam Saab

Hurd Auto Mall is acquiring Wigwam Saab of North Providence in a deal that closes Jan. 2, according to President Chris Hurd.

"We're very excited about it," he said in an interview. "(Wigwam) has very, very loyal clientele and (the acquisition) fits into our menu of offerings."

"I've always had my eye on Saab," he said. "They have a fantastic product and I have been approaching (Wigwam) for years."

Wigwam President Don Gregson confirmed the deal and said that not only Chris Hurd but his father, the late Judd Hurd, had talked about acquiring the franchise.

Gregson said Wigwam on Charles Street has been selling Saabs since July 1958 when his father ran the dealership. It had previously sold Indian Motorcycles "which explains the name Wigwam."

He said he and his brother Dean decided to sell to Hurd because they wanted to retire along with their sister Drusilla and had been offered a good price by Hurd, who declined to disclose terms of the deal.

"We are very fond of Saab, of our customers and our employees, but the autombile business is very taxing today, both physically and mentally," he said.

"We are happy to sell to Chris Hurd because we have never heard a bad word about him," he added.

Hurd said the Saab franchise would be incorporated into the existing buildings at the Hurd Auto Mall on Hartford Avenue, adding that he expects a number of Wigwam employees to come over to the mall.

He said General Motors was supportive of the deal, partly because it has owned Saab since 2000. Hurd is an exclusive GM dealer, with buildings devoted to Chevrolet, Hummer and Buick-Pontiac-GMC.

He also said he intends to buy a Saab from Wigwam. "I want to start driving one now," he said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 2:26 PM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0

Limerock club signs up 100 members, to renovate track and facilities

Lakeville, CT – Skip Barber, President of Lime Rock Park, has announced the Club at Lime Rock Park has signed up 100 members and officially commenced operations, according to a news release.

At a member meeting and holiday party held this past weekend, Barber announced the 2008 schedule of 60 member track dates, with more than 40 dates scheduled for May, June, July, August, and September.

Barber also announced Lime Rock Park has hired a general contractor, Mohawk Construction out of New Britain, Conn., and expects to announce the selection of a paving contractor soon. Site preparation to upgrade the track will begin this winter.

“We are very pleased to have more than one hundred member commitments and ... to begin major renovations on our historic, fifty-year-old track," Barber said. "Earthwork will begin soon and we will complete many of the track upgrades by the end of 2008.”

Construction is being funded by revenue raised through the sale of Club memberships. When Barber unveiled The Club last summer, he stated that 300 memberships would be sold to raise funds for track and facility improvements.

Memberships to the The Club carry a one-time fee of $110,000 which includes applicable Connecticut Dues Tax of $10,000. The length of membership is fifty years, and can be passed down in the immediate family or resold through The Club.

Barber said a topographical survey of the track has been completed and preliminary engineering work is underway.

“We will not change the original footprint or character of the track, but I believe we can make it a little slower and safer, as well as wider and smoother.” After the paving company is selected, Barber will announce the paving schedule.

The improved Lime Rock Park will feature a member clubhouse, renovated press facility, exclusive members pit lane, renovated bathrooms, and new water/drainage systems.

For more information, visit www.limerockclub.com.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:47 AM to Racing | Permalink | Comments 0

CAFE Won’t End Automakers’ Troubles

President Bush's signature on the new energy legislation raising the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) mileage standard won't end the industry's fuel-economy torment, according to thecarconnection.com
Tom Stephens,, the executive in charge of General Motors' powertrain group, said this week the real challenge for the auto industry is the new legislation calling for limits on greenhouse gas, which is pending in California and 20 other states.

The California greenhouse gas proposal amounts to a 43-mile per gallon fuel economy standard, one senior GM executive told TheCarConnection.com.

So far, the industry's efforts to block the California proposals in court have been frustrated. Only last week, the industry lost a key fight in a Fresno courtroom when a federal district judge ruled that California had the right to apply its own fuel-economy rules under federal law.

The continuing court battles and new rulings by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, giving states more latitude to limit emissions of carbon dioxide, will have a huge impact on the industry, Stephens said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:30 AM to Fuel economy , Government regulations | Permalink | Comments 0

GM raises prices 1.5%, will offer buyouts to 5,200 workers

DETROIT — General Motors said Tuesday it is raising prices on its 2008 model year vehicles an average of 1.5% to help cover increasing steel and commodity costs, according to the Associated Press.

The increases are effective with vehicles invoiced to dealers starting Wednesday and will not affect vehicles already in dealer inventory, the automaker said.

The price of most cars and trucks will increase by $100 to $500, but the prices of certain vehicles in more competitive segments will not increase at all, said Mark LaNeve, GM North America vice president for vehicle sales, service and marketing.

GM's U.S. sales dropped 11% in November from one year earlier, hurt by falling demand for trucks as well as cuts in sales to low-profit rental car fleets. GM's sales were down 6% for the first 11 months of the year.

Separately, GM said it will offer buyouts and retirement incentives to 5,200 hourly workers represented by the United Auto Workers.

GM would not reveal how many workers it expects to leave under the program, but said 5,200 are eligible.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:29 AM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0

EU Proposes CO2 Emission Cuts for Cars

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Carmakers would be required to cut carbon dioxide emissions in new cars sold in Europe starting in 2012, a move that could add almost $1,900 to the price of automobiles, under rules proposed Wednesday by the European Commission, according to the Associated Press.

The plan, which needs the backing of European Union governments, would put a heavier burden on producers of larger and heavier cars to meet new binding emission limits and would fine all carmakers that sell vehicles in the 27-nation bloc if they exceed the target, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said.

"Passenger cars account for about 12 percent of overall EU carbon dioxide emissions and emissions from transport are continually increasing," Dimas said. "The aim of the legislation is to reduce CO2 emissions from cars in order to help fight climate change."

Automakers, many of which tried to water down the plan, would be forced to reduce average emissions of CO2 from new passenger cars sold in the EU from around 160 grams per kilometer to an average 130 grams per kilometer in 2012.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:42 AM to Environment , Government regulations | Permalink | Comments 0

Ford May Pick India's Tata as Preferred Bidder for Jaguar

Ford may choose India's Tata Motors Ltd. as the preferred bidder for its U.K.-based Jaguar and Land Rover brands, a person familiar with the deliberations said, according to Bloomberg.

The selection would allow Ford to negotiate exclusively with Tata before reaching a final agreement. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., another India-based manufacturer, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s One Equity Partners LLC buyout unit have also been candidates, people familiar with the bidding said in September.

Ford wants to sell the units to focus on its money-losing North American operations. John Gardiner, a U.K.-based Ford spokesman, said no decisions have been made and the automaker expects to announce an agreement early next year.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 2:33 PM to Ford | Permalink | Comments 0

GM to offer new round of buyouts to hourly workers

DETROIT - General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Tuesday it has reached an agreement with the United Auto Workers union to offer a new round of buyouts to its U.S. hourly workers, according to Reuters.

GM said the buyouts will include a combination of early retirement incentives and other programs similar to the ones offered in 2006.

Specific program details will be rolled out to employees beginning in January, the automaker said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 2:27 PM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0

Ford lifts freeze on merit raises for salaried employees

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford has lifted a freeze on merit raises for salaried employees as the automaker continues to work on its turnaround, according to the Associated Press.

The average white-collar worker will get a 2.7% pay increase in April, The Detroit News reported Saturday. Ford says the increases will be contingent on business conditions, and based on employee performance.

"Our intention to pay them next year is a sign of the progress the company is making," Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said. "While we haven't completely turned the corner yet in our turnaround efforts, the progress we have made puts us in a position where it is financially feasible to pay them again."

Ford last gave out merit increases in 2006.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 2:21 PM to Ford | Permalink | Comments 0

Higher Auto Mileage Standards Coming

WASHINGTON -- Congress by a wide margin approved the first increase in automobile fuel economy in 32 years Tuesday, and President Bush has signaled he will accept the mandates on the auto industry, according to the Associated Press.

The energy bill, boosting mileage by 40 percent to 35 miles per gallon, passed the House 314-100 and now goes to the White House, following the Senate's approved last week.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:50 PM to Fuel economy , Government regulations | Permalink | Comments 0

Frugal, Before Americans Cared

AMONG automaker start-ups, the efforts of Powel Crosley Jr. followed a path taken many times by idealistic industrialists: creating a car for the masses, without much regard for whether the masses wanted one or not, according to the New York Times.

That single-mindedness, together with the practice of naming the car for its originator, often proved a one-way ticket to fiscal and automotive oblivion.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:55 AM to Collecting | Permalink | Comments 0

Books: Glory of Cars, Even Parking

A book can make an appreciated and lasting gift. Here are some possiblities, all related to automobiles in some way but most of them of interest to the general reader, not just to car buffs, according to the New York Times.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:47 AM to Fun | Permalink | Comments 0

The value of communications: Chrysler's moves are signs of trouble

The new bosses at Chrysler LLC have made many good decisions so far -- hiring Toyota executive Jim Press, signing a cost-cutting labor deal with the UAW and moving to trim slow-selling models.

It's got a chance to make another wise choice now, but the early signs are not good, according to Detroit Free Press columnist Mark Phelan.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:38 AM to Chrysler , commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

US Economy Drives Oil Prices Down

VIENNA, Austria -- Oil prices fell Monday as concerns about the U.S. economy overrode expectations of increased fuel demand from a winter storm pummeling the United States with snow, sleet and freezing rain, according to the Associated Press.
Prices initially opened higher, in response to the wintry conditions. But by midday in Europe, light sweet crude for January delivery had shed 48 cents to $90.79 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:35 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Backseat Drive: Four-Wheel Drive and Third Seats

It's the biggest cliche in auto journalism: Who needs 4-wheel drive to go to the mall?

Yes, it is customary to mock the ads on TV which disguise suburban mice as 4-wheel drive monsters thundering across the American plain with mesas in the background, or creating rooster tails of snow as they cruise through two feet of the stuff with pine trees in the background.

(Other vehicles are never in the background.)

But after Thursday night's snow storm, many of us were glad we had either 4-wheel or All-wheel drive. It certainly made driving easier and all it took was a couple of 2-wheel/rear drive vehicles getting stuck to hold up traffic and create gridlock for hundreds.

Whether one needs a Hummer for those few days a year when suburban driving does turn into an outdoor adventure is debatable. But that is beside the point.

As was recently pointed out to me by Matt Fields who runs the communications office at Consumer Reports' auto test track in East Haddam, Conn., people don't just buy the vehicles they need; they often buy the vehicles they think they need.

That is one of the great undefinable aspects of auto marketing.

But while gas prices in this country remain half the price of Europe let alone most other nations, it's a fair bet that people will continue to pay the extra dollar for the safety they think they get from the 4-wheel drive and higher visibility of an SUV or crossover or CUV (crossover utility vehicle).

And when it occasionally snows, they will be rewarded.

At the same time, do so many vehicles need to have that third row of seats? I've had a reverse third seat in two Volvo station wagons over the last four years and have hardly ever had to use it despite having a family.

The third row seems to be a hand-down from the minivan, the forerunner to the SUV in terms of popularity, which was specifically designed to be a people pusher. But those third seats, which certainly add to the weight of a vehicle, are beginning to get pretty tight in the crossovers. And are they really used that much?

- Peter C. T. Elsworth

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 12:32 PM to commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

Honda expects a surge in 2008

Honda expects its U.S. sales to increase between 3% and 5% in 2008 despite a slight drop in the overall market, said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda auto operations, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Total light vehicle sales in 2008 likely will be around 15.7 million, Mendel said Thursday during a visit to metro Detroit. Total U.S. sales are expected to finish at 16.3 million this year.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:08 AM to Honda | Permalink | Comments 0

Historic fuel deal is reached

WASHINGTON -- Three decades of fighting over fuel economy ended Thursday, as the U.S. Senate approved a 40% increase in mileage standards for cars and trucks, giving a green light to rules that will force Detroit automakers to spend billions of dollars upgrading their models, according to the Detroit Free Press.

By agreeing to a stripped-down energy bill in an 86-8 vote, the Senate cleared a path for the fuel economy hike to pass the House next week. The White House said President George W. Bush would sign the bill, after Democrats failed by one vote to save a $21.8-billion tax plan from a Republican filibuster.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:04 AM to Fuel economy , Government regulations | Permalink | Comments 0

Storm sets record, another storm on the way

Providence area set a record for the day yesterday with 8.2 inches of snow. And while temperatures will be warmer today, they will drop to well below freezing tonight.
Then more snow on Saturday night with another storm moving in on Sunday, according to the Providence Journal.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:52 AM to Driving | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Prices Rise on Demand Forecast

Oil prices rose Friday on forecasts that oil demand would grow faster than previously expected next year with new buyers in the market. Gains were held back, however, by the dollar gaining strength against the euro.

The International Energy Agency raised its forecast for world oil demand growth in 2008 by 170,000 barrels a day to 2.5 percent, compared with 2.3 percent in its previous report. It said overall demand was now expected next year to reach 87.8 million barrels a day, according to Dow Jones Newswires and reported by the Associated Press.

The forecast assumed continuing robust oil demand growth in non-OECD countries, where subsidies protect people from the impact of high oil prices, and normal winter weather.

On Friday, light, sweet crude for January delivery rose 20 cents to $92.45 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by the afternoon in Europe.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:46 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Gas Prices Spur Consumer Inflation

WASHINGTON -- Consumer inflation surged by the largest amount in more than two years in November, led by gasoline prices. The cost of clothing, airline tickets and prescription drugs also jumped, according to the Associated Press.

The Labor Department said its closely watched Consumer Price Index rose 0.8 percent last month, the biggest one-month increase since a 1.2 percent surge in September 2005, when the country was hit by rising energy costs in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:45 AM to Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

Toyota expects sales will be up 3% next year

WASHINGTON -- Despite a shaky U.S. economy and the prospects of slower auto sales through the first half of 2008, a top Toyota sales executive said the automaker expects its U.S. sales to grow another 3% next year, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales, also said Toyota expects to come close to its goal of selling 200,000 Tundra full-size pickups this year, even though that will require selling almost 23,000 this month.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:32 AM to Toyota | Permalink | Comments 0

Ford Gets Sirius With Travel Link

Ford is about to weave services from Sirius satellite radio into its vehicles much more tightly with the addition of Travel Link to its Sync system, according to thecarconnection.com

The automaker already offers the satellite radio service to its U.S. customers, but soon it will team with Sirius to add a range of new features to its high-tech Sync infotainment system. Among other things, Sync users will be able to access real-time traffic and weather, along with fuel prices, movie timetables and more.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:31 AM to Ford | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil falls on worries over U.S. economy

LONDON - Oil prices fell on Thursday, pressured by fears over the health of the economy of top oil consumer the United States, according to Reuters.

Oil had surged more than $4 in the previous session, following central bank action to ease tight credit conditions in the financial system that could hurt the U.S. economy and depress oil demand.

U.S. light, sweet crude futures fell $1.25 a barrel to $93.14.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:23 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil above $94, still nervous about U.S. economy

LONDON - Oil prices were steady near $94 on Thursday after a surge of more than $4 in the previous session, which followed central bank action to ease tight credit conditions in the financial system that could hurt global economic growth, according to Reuters News Agency.

U.S. light, sweet crude futures fell nearly $1 a barrel initially, but then recovered to stand 15 cents higher at $94.54 by 8:19 a.m. EST.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 5:40 PM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

New Jersey Governor Appointed Group to Study Issues of Teenage Driving

In the six years since New Jersey enacted legislation imposing more restrictions on young drivers, including a graduated licensing system, to address its leading cause of death of teenagers and young adults, the number of accidents involving 17- to 20-year-old drivers has declined, according to the New York Times.

Still, 44 young drivers were killed last year in New Jersey crashes, according to the highway traffic safety division. And vehicle accidents remain the No. 1 killer of young people across the country, claiming thousands of lives each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

This year, Gov. Jon S. Corzine appointed a group called the Governor’s Teenage Driver Safety Study Commission, which is to deliver its report in March. The commission is analyzing a wide range of issues, including driver education, passenger restrictions for young drivers and penalties for newer drivers who violate traffic laws.

The co-chairman of the governor’s commission, Christopher D. Rafano, who is also a municipal prosecutor and Democratic Middlesex County freeholder, said that as far as recommendations, “Everything’s on the table.”

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 5:12 PM to Teenage Drivers | Permalink | Comments 0

Teenagers and Cars: A Deadly Mix

Each year, nearly 6,000 American teenagers die in car accidents involving teenage drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to the New York Times, and more than 300,000 are injured.

The cost, in property damage and health care expenses, is $14 billion. The economic fallout will come as no surprise to anyone who has had to insure a male driver under 21.

Driving in the digital age has presented added worries. The cellphone owned by the 17-year-old girl who crossed the median into an oncoming tractor-trailer in one of this year’s most horrific teenage accidents was found to be texting just before impact. It is not known which of the five girls who died in the fiery collision near Rochester was using it.

“Nobody would want to see the crash photos I’ve collected,” said Ralph Miro, Trauma/E.M.S. coordinator for Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut. In 24 years as a paramedic, he has assisted at the worst roadside carnage.

The relentlessness of the slaughter and grief compelled him in 1998 to start a statewide driver education program aimed at high school students called the Hard Truth. Presented with the help of volunteers from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Mr. Miro’s road show, with its graphic accident scene and emergency-room slides and heart-rending testimony from victims and offenders, is heavily booked all over Connecticut — especially during prom season.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 5:09 PM to Safety | Permalink | Comments 0

G.M.’s Fuel-Cell Test: 100 Cars, No Charge

AS Honda prepares to lease a handful of fuel-cell cars to consumers, General Motors is offering its own hydrogen cars free, according to the New York Times.

G.M. is preparing a January rollout of Project Driveway, which will park more than 100 Equinox Fuel Cell crossover wagons with selected drivers in Westchester County, N.Y.; Orange County, Calif.; and Washington, D.C.

G.M. said the research project would give it the world’s largest fleet of fuel-cell cars driven by consumers, who can apply for no-cost, three-month tests of the Equinox at chevrolet.com/fuelcell. For recipients of the Equinox, each valued at up to $1 million, G.M. will even cover the cost of hydrogen fuel and insurance.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:46 PM to Alternative fuels , GM | Permalink | Comments 0

European Automakers Likely to Build Plants in United States

DETROIT — The dollar’s falling value is making European automakers eager to build more vehicles in the United States, even as American car companies continue to shift production to other, lower-cost countries, according to the New York Times.

Fiat, the Italian carmaker, is the latest company to suggest that it may build a plant in the United States. Its chief executive, Sergio Marchionne, told Automotive News Europe for an article published Monday that its sports car brand, Alfa Romeo, needs a North American plant to be profitable. Alfa Romeo is returning to the United States next year after a 13-year absence.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen of Germany is scouting locations for a plant in the eastern United States. It was the first foreign carmaker to open an American factory, in New Stanton, Pa., but closed the factory in 1988.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:40 PM to Auto industry | Permalink | Comments 0

U.S. Senate Democrats to revive energy bill

WASHINGTON -- Senate Democrats said Tuesday they planned to revive their energy bill with a 40% increase in fuel economy standards on Thursday thanks to changes in a controversial tax plan, but Republicans said the bill still fell short of having enough votes and faced a certain veto by President Bush, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The bill passed the House last week, but fell seven votes short of the 60 needed in the Senate to block a Republican filibuster. Opponents, including a couple of Democrats, objected to a $21-billion tax provision and requirements on electric utilities to generate up to 15% of their energy from renewable sources.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:38 PM to Fuel economy | Permalink | Comments 0

GM dominates list of finalists for car, truck of the year

General Motors accounts for four of the six finalists for 2008 North American Car and Truck of the Year, the panel of journalists who present the award announced in a news conference at Cobo Center in Detroit today, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Cadillac CTS sport sedan and Chevrolet Malibu midsize sedan are finalists for car of the year. The Buick Enclave crossover SUV and Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid SUV are finalists for truck of the year. The other finalists are the Honda Accord midsize sedan and Mazda CX-9 crossover SUV.

The winners will be announced at a news conference of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit Jan. 13.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:35 PM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0

Auto industry suit against Calif. rejected

SACRAMENTO — Handing a major defeat to the auto industry, a federal judge ruled Wednesday that California can regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, according to USA Today.

The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Anthony Ishii in Fresno clears one of the hurdles in California's effort to regulate tailpipe emissions from cars, trucks and sports utility vehicles.

Automakers sued the state over the tailpipe standards it approved in 2004, which would force automakers to build cars and light trucks that produce about 30% fewer greenhouse gases by 2016.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:33 PM to Fuel economy | Permalink | Comments 0

What your CEO drives says a lot

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-12-10-ceo-cars_N.htm?loc=interstitialskipCars often are big attention grabbers. That's especially true when it comes to what the CEO drives, according to USA Today.

Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton famously drove a pickup. Warren Buffett, worth $42 billion, drove a silver 2001 Lincoln Town Car with Nebraska plates THRIFTY until he auctioned it for charity on eBay last year for $73,200.

When Alan Mulally moved from Boeing to be CEO of Ford last year he caught flak for calling his Lexus the finest car in the world just when Ford was introducing him as its new leader. Now, he "rotates through an array" of Ford vehicles, Ford spokesman Mike Moran says.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:25 PM to Popular culture | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Prices Jump on Inventories, Fed

NEW YORK -- Energy futures rose sharply Wednesday after the government reported unexpected declines in supplies of crude and heating oil last week and the Federal Reserve announced a plan to help banks weather the credit crisis, according to the Associated Press.

Crude supplies fell 700,000 barrels during the week ended Dec. 7, according to a weekly inventory report from the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration. Analysts had expected a 100,000 barrel increase.

Light, sweet crude for January delivery rose $4.37 to settle at $94.39 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and January heating oil futures jumped 12.02 cents to settle at $2.6432 a gallon. It was crude's highest close since Nov. 27.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 4:15 PM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Employees' car choices don't go unnoticed by their bosses

Is it a wise career move to show up at work in a car that's nicer than the one your boss drives?

Depends on which CEO you ask, according to USA Today.

Forty-four company leaders responding to an informal USA TODAY survey said they had an opinion on the question, and 26 of them said it was OK to pull into the parking lot driving wheels a cut above. That would fit the image of CEOs as free-market disciples who allow underlings to buy what they want — even if they upstage the boss.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:46 PM to Popular culture | Permalink | Comments 0

Gas Prices Drop Below $3; Crude Over $90

NEW YORK -- Gas prices fell below $3 a gallon Tuesday for the first time since Nov. 4, extending a trend that's expected to last through the heavily traveled Christmas and New Year's holidays, according to the Associated Press.

Oil futures, meanwhile, rose above $90 a barrel as traders anticipated the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates Tuesday afternoon. News that several crude oil pipelines in the Midwest were shut down due to ice storm also boosted crude prices.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:42 PM to Crude oil market , Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

Seven Jeep copies celebrate Led Zeppelin reunion.

How much would you pay for a pair of VIP tickets to see tonight's one-off Led Zeppelin reunion gig in London, asks thecarconnection.com

If they included a champagne reception and access to the aftershow party as well, would you pay $70,000? Oh yes, and you get a limited-edition Jeep Patriot as well.

With just three days to go to one of the most eagerly anticipated gigs in rock history, RGVA, a U.K.-based vehicle branding company, is offering just seven of the exclusive 4x4s. Each is a 2.0-liter CRD Sport edition, with air conditioning, cruise control, two-tone leather, privacy glass, six-speed manual gearbox, remote central locking, and a premium sound system.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:31 AM to Chrysler | Permalink | Comments 0

Fuel-efficiency gauges start appearing in non-hybrids

Fancy fuel-economy gauges are so popular in gas-electric hybrid vehicles that Toyota is studying whether they might provide a cheap way for drivers of its conventional cars to save gas as well, according to USA Today.

"A group of engineers is looking at whether it makes sense to adopt to other cars," says Paul Williamsen, national manager of the product training facility for Toyota's Lexus division.

The gauge would show motorists when they are driving most efficiently, discouraging wasteful moves such as jackrabbit starts.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:26 AM to Fuel economy | Permalink | Comments 0

Backseat Driver: Dodge Challenger SRT8 is a true beauty

We are a bit backwoodsy here in New England when it comes to auto shows.

We may give them hifalutin names - the New England International Auto Show (Boston), the Connecticut International Auto Show (Hartford) and the Northeast International Auto Show (Providence) - but when it comes to auto shows, the top ones are ranked by the number of concept cars which are unveiled.

And while a number of concept are unveiled at the New York International Auto Show, most New England shows have to put up with concepts that are long out of the bag.

(I guess all these shows are "international" because they have foreign marques like Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Nissan; the glossier marques like BMW and Mercedes-Benz don't even make an appearance at the Providence show.)

So it was at the recent Boston Auto Show where such "concepts" as the 2010 Chevy Camaro Z28, the Jeep Trailhawk and the Chrysler Imperial were a treat to see but not exactly new.

At the same time, the Dodge Challenger SRT8 concept, which was first shown at last year's Detroit Auto Show - excuse me, the North American International Auto Show - is just gorgeous and a treat to see however late.

Indeed, not only is the production model due to be displayed at the Chicago Auto Show - it's actual name! - in early February, but Dodge dealers started to take orders last Monday and its selling like hotcakes.

Chrysler is only making 10,000 of the 2008 Challengers,which are priced at $38,000, and dealers have already taken over 6,000 deposits for the vehicles.

Listen, I am no muscle car man - I drive an old granola crunchy Volvo wagon - but I can recognize beauty when I see it. This car certainly has a juicy powertrain - a 6.1-liter V8 - to give it the raw oomph of the old Challenger, but it also has the lines refined to New VW Beetle level of sophistication.

It is smoothed out with just the right touches of power trim - the pipes, the stripes, the tires - to echo not only the car itself but an entire era as well.

I fell in love with this car and can readily understand why it is roaring out of the showrooms before it has even arrived!

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 2:20 PM to Chrysler | Permalink | Comments 0

Energy bill vote pushed to today amid opposition

WASHINGTON -- Congressional Democratic leaders pushed back a vote on an energy bill with a historic increase in fuel economy standards until today, in the face of growing opposition from Senate Republicans, President George W. Bush and even some Democrats, according to the Detroit Free Press.

As outlined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the bill would include new requirements for renewable fuels, the elimination of $21 billion tax breaks to oil companies and other sources of revenue, and require electric utilities to generate 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:41 PM to Fuel economy | Permalink | Comments 0

Ford Recalls 1.1 Million Vehicles

WASHINGTON -- Ford Motor Co. said Thursday it is recalling 1.17 million trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans to fix an engine sensor that could lead to engine stalling, according to the Associated Press.

The recalled vehicles are all from the 1997-2003 model years with 7.3 liter diesel engines, including the Ford E-Series van, Excursion full-size sport utility vehicle, and F-450 Super Duty and F-550 Super Duty trucks.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:14 PM to Ford | Permalink | Comments 0

Gas Prices Fall While Oil Futures Rise

NEW YORK -- The pressure of higher gasoline prices on consumers eased further Thursday as retail gas fell a cent and edged back toward a national average of $3 a gallon. Crude oil futures advanced, according to the Associated Press.

Prices at the pump averaged $3.034 overnight, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. Retail gas has been falling for several weeks since peaking at $3.112 as crude oil was approaching $100 a barrel.

Analysts expect gas prices to keep falling as long as oil is also generally in a decline, and they say gas could return to mid-October levels of around $2.76 a gallon.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 1:11 PM to Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

Bologna Motor Show Surprises with Intros

Bologna, Italy - Ford continued its roll-out of new small vehicles with the reveal of the new Ford Focus wagon at the Bologna Motor Show, which hosted a few international debuts in the waning days of the 2007 auto show season, according to thecarconnection.com.

The Bologna show also played host to a number of other introductions, including a HUMMER H3 Black Edition and the Porsche Boxster RS60 Spyder, which will be produced in limited quantities. Fewer than 2000 units will go into showrooms worldwide, Porsche officials said.

Renault also rolled out a restyled version of the Modus and Mahindra and Mahindra, the Indian car maker with global ambitions, showed off a version of the GOA sport-utility vehicle that it hopes to sell in Europe.

By and large, European carmakers, judging from the remarks during the Bologna show, are cautious about 2008. The turmoil in financial systems has undermined consumer confidence in key markets such as the United Kingdom and Germany.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 12:26 PM to Shows | Permalink | Comments 0

MINI to build Sport Activity Vehicle in Austria

Back in 2001 it was a matter of pride for BMW that it was building the all-new MINI in the U.K., home of the original city car that was launched in August 1959, according to thecarconnection.com.

Using the former British Leyland plant at Cowley, Oxford, gave the car credibility even though it was a German project. But that was before the cute car became a global sales phenomenon, spawning a cabriolet and now the Clubman estate.

The next stage, as widely predicted, is a MINI Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), and there's simply not room at Cowley to build it. The answer has come in the form of Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:59 AM to BMW | Permalink | Comments 0

Nardelli tells staff Chrysler to lose $1.6 billion this year

A week after a top-level Chrysler LLC executive told a bunch of college students that the automaker was spending more than it was making, CEO Bob Nardelli delivered a similar message to a group of the company's engineers and designers, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Chrysler is poised to lose $1.6 billion this year, Nardelli reportedly said.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:54 AM to Chrysler | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Prices Fall to About $87 a Barrel

Oil prices dropped to about $87 a barrel on Thursday, the lowest in six weeks, after a report showed an increase in U.S. supplies of gasoline and distillates, according to the Associated Press.

The market also was buoyed by a rise of crude supplies at a key U.S. terminal.

Traders shrugged off news like OPEC's decision to keep production levels steady and a big drop in overall U.S. crude stockpiles and took profits before prices fell further.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:51 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Greenhouse Villain Could Be a White Knight After All

The European Union is serious about reining in the release of gases that contribute to global warming. As of Jan. 1, 2011, air-conditioning systems for all new European-made vehicles must begin the switch to a refrigerant other than the current formulation, known as R134a, according to the New York Times.

If there is a familiar ring to this development, it’s because the predecessor of R134a was itself banned for environmental reasons. While the effects on the earth’s atmosphere are different this time, the scramble by automakers to comply seems every bit as urgent.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:08 AM to Environment , Government regulations | Permalink | Comments 0

House may get fuel bill today

WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prepared Tuesday to bring a massive energy bill, with several provisions that the White House has warned could draw a veto from President George W. Bush, to the House floor as early as today, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Pelosi's office said Tuesday that the bill would include $21 billion in repeals of tax breaks for oil and gas companies, as well as standards requiring public power utilities to generate 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Republicans and several business groups oppose both clauses and could block the bill in the Senate. Democrats are expected to pass the bill in the House, thanks to the deal on fuel economy standards setting a new target of 35 m.p.g. by 2020.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:05 AM to Fuel economy | Permalink | Comments 0

If there is a recession, auto production cuts likelier than incentives

If the United States slips into a recession next year, it could unfold very differently in Detroit than it did in 2001, according to Detroit Free Press business writers Tim Higgins and Jewel Gopwani.
That time, automakers offered generous incentives to buyers in the wake of 9/11, rather than let demand fall and plants go idle. GM kicked off the no-interest loan craze with its Keep America Rolling campaign.

Incentives won't go away, but this time it appears that automakers are more likely to accept fewer sales at higher prices. Automakers are already choosing to cut production to meet reduced demand.

To be clear: No Detroit automaker is talking recession publicly, but on Monday, GM and Ford both announced lower production plans for the first quarter of 2008 -- the lowest since at least the recession of 1991.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:01 AM to commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

White edges out silver as most popular color for autos

DETROIT — After seven years leading the pack, silver has given up its title as the most popular vehicle color in North America, losing out by a small margin to white and pearl white, according to a study done by DuPont Automotive Systems reported by USA Today.

White's rise in popularity is a sign that some new color, possibly red, blue or black, will emerge as North America's favorite hue in the next year or so, DuPont says. In the 55 years that DuPont, which manufactures vehicle paints, has released the study, white usually emerges as a favorite for a year or two in between changing trends.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:57 AM to Auto industry | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Rises After OPEC Holds Quotas Steady

Oil prices rose sharply to about $90 a barrel Wednesday as OPEC members said they would keep output ceilings steady, according to the Associated Press.

Expectations that a weekly U.S. petroleum supply report due later Wednesday would show a small decrease in crude inventories also supported prices.

Light, sweet crude for January delivery added $1.61 to $89.93 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by afternoon in Europe.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:55 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

OPEC Holds Production Steady, Oil Rises

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- OPEC decided Wednesday to keep its output ceilings steady in a move that propelled crude toward $90 a barrel, but plans to review the situation early next year, according to the Associated Press.

The move by the 13-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting countries appeared to reflect OPEC concerns that it would be counterproductive to raise overall production quotas at a time when prices have retreated about 10 percent from recent record highs.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:53 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Ford and G.M. Plan to Trim 2008 Output

DETROIT — General Motors and Ford, struggling to keep turnaround plans on track, both said Monday that they would cut production in the first quarter because of slowing sales, according to the New York Times.

G.M. said it expected to produce 950,000 vehicles from January through March, down 11 percent from the same period in 2007. Ford said it planned to build 685,000 vehicles in the first quarter, a 7 percent decline.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 12:53 PM to Ford , GM | Permalink | Comments 1

Malibu, Cadillac CTS among Car and Driver's 10 best

The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac CTS have been named by Car and Driver magazine as among the 10 best cars sold in the U.S., each for the first time, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Honda Accord made the list for a 22nd time.

The BMW 3-Series and the Chevrolet Corvette were included for the 17th and 14th year in a row respectively.

Car and Driver editors rated vehicles on performance, driving satisfaction and value.

Rounding out the top 10 were the Honda Fit, Mazda MX-5, Mazdaspeed 3, Porsche Boxster/Cayman and Volkswagen GTI.

General Motors was the only domestic auto manufacturer to have a car named. No SUVs or trucks made the list.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 12:50 PM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0

Gasoline prices could fall as crude oil wavers

The price of oil — within winking distance of $100 a barrel last week — has fallen and can't get up. Futures prices for light, sweet crude hovered around $88 a barrel Tuesday.

If prices continue at less than $90, gasoline retailers could afford to pass along the past week's 20-cent drop in their wholesale prices, according to USA Today. The price of oil accounts for roughly two-thirds the price of gasoline, the latest government data say.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 12:47 PM to Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0

High gas prices help sales of thriftier cars

High gas prices took their toll on the auto industry last month, decimating sales of larger vehicles but pushing smaller, cheaper and more fuel-thrifty models and gas-electric hybrids out the door, sales figures released Monday show, according to USA Today.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 12:45 PM to Sales | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Rises Amid OPEC Uncertainty

Oil prices fell Tuesday on speculation that OPEC oil ministers would increase production during a meeting later this week, according to the Associated Press. A new U.S. intelligence report concluding that Iran halted its nuclear weapons development program in 2003 also helped push prices lower.

Light, sweet crude for January delivery was down 92 cents to $88.39 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Europe. Earlier Tuesday, it rose as high $89.98.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:49 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

Ford, Toyota Sales Are Flat; GM Down

DETROIT -- Automakers reported mixed U.S. sales results for November on Monday, with some new or more fuel-efficient models performing well despite consumer malaise over high gas prices and the weak economy, according to the Associated Press.http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AUTO_SALES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-12-03-14-12-56

General Motors, the biggest automaker by U.S. sales, said its sales dropped 11 percent, hurt by falling demand for trucks as well as cuts in sales to rental car fleets. Ford and Toyota both reported flat sales for the month. Nissan's sales rose 6 percent.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 2:56 PM to Ford , GM , Sales , Toyota | Permalink | Comments 0

Power: Younger Buyers Avoiding Domestics

A new study from J.D. Power & Associates offers some new insight into the steep cost American carmakers are paying for what is seen a sluggish response to rising fuel prices. The new Power study also underscored the importance of perception in consumer attitudes toward various vehicles and brands, according to thecarconnection.com.

While older buyers who purchase domestic vehicles are more likely to avoid certain models because they are imports, younger consumers who purchase import vehicles are more likely to avoid models because they are of domestic origin, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Avoider Study.

Among import buyers for example, the younger the person is, the more likely they are to avoid models because they are of domestic origin, the study found.

The study was based on responses from more than 35,000 owners who registered a new vehicle in May 2007, and it examines the reasons consumers fail to consider particular models when shopping for a new vehicle.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 11:16 AM to Auto industry | Permalink | Comments 0

Chrysler, VW Getting Closer?

The ink is hardly dry on the Chrysler-Daimler divorce papers, but already, another German carmaker could be waiting in the wings for the American carmaker, according to thecarconnection.com
David Cole, chairman of the Center For Automotive Research, said competition is forcing automakers to consider options they might not have contemplated only 12 months ago.

"There is going to be another round of mergers in the auto industry and the one company that matches up well with Volkswagen is Chrysler," he noted.

Volkswagen already has a joint project with Chrysler to develop a new minivan, which will be assembled by Chrysler in the next couple of years and will be sold in the U.S.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:55 AM to Chrysler , VW | Permalink | Comments 0

Former GM Chief Smith Dies

Roger B. Smith, the man who set General Motors on a new and controversial course in the 1980s, has died in Detroit after a brief illness, according to thecarconnections.com. He was 82.

Smith joined General Motors in 1949 after serving as a radioman for Admiral Arleigh Burke during World War II. He was at the center of major events at the automaker, having served early on in his career to GM´s legendary Alfred P. Sloan. After working for Sloan, Smith moved steadily up through the organization during its post-World War II heyday, earning a reputation for financial acumen.

That acumen was challenged as Smith was named chairman just as the industry was shaken by a surge in oil prices, following the 1979 Iranian revolution, and new competition from Japan.

He later became the object of ridicule with the release of Michael Moore's groundbreaking satire, "Roger and Me."

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:54 AM to GM | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Prices Fall Ahead of OPEC Meeting

Oil prices fell Monday in a volatile market on speculation that OPEC may still boost output at its meeting this week despite last week's sharp price drop, according to the Associated Press.

Light, sweet crude for January delivery was down 67 cents to $88.04 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midafternoon in Europe. The contract had earlier traded as high as $89.94 and as low as $87.47.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:51 AM to Crude oil market | Permalink | Comments 0

November auto sales due today, lowest figures in decade seen

With the 11th month of 2007 U.S. auto sales results set to be released, a clearer picture will emerge as to how the year will end up for each auto company, brand and model, according to the Detroit Free Press's Tim Higgins.

Industry sales this year are expected to be the lowest in a decade. Earlier estimates for how November will look don't appear upbeat. Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis at the Power Information Network, a subsidiary of J.D. Power and Associates, said that through Nov. 25, retail sales industrywide were down 7%. But Libby cautions that the auto companies can make interesting moves in the final month of the year in attempts to boost sales.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 10:13 AM to Auto industry , Sales | Permalink | Comments 0

Fuel economy deal gives automakers some wiggle room

This year's battle over tougher fuel economy standards has featured environmentalists demanding unbreakable guarantees for more-efficient cars and trucks, while automakers defended flexibility to meet an uncertain future.

Friday's compromise represented a split decision, according to the Detroit Free Press's Justin Hyde.
The deal negotiated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. John Dingell, a Dearborn Democrat, will force U.S. automakers to make a 40% improvement in their vehicles' mileage to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

The proposal sets those targets, which the industry loudly opposed for much of this year, as the floor for federal regulators: They cannot set lower standards, but could impose a higher goal if they see fit.

Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth  at 9:47 AM to Fuel economy , Government regulations | Permalink | Comments 0